Azithromycin for Chlamydia

Azithromycin is an antibiotic, effective for curing many bacterial infections. Azithromycin is an Azalide antibiotic belonging to a subclass of macrolide antibiotics. It works by preventing the bacteria that are causing the infection from making some of their own proteins. This prevents the growth and reproduction of the bacteria. Azithromycin also has anti-inflammatory effects and therefore reduces inflammation. These two actions help your immune system to fight the bacterial infection. Azithromycin is used to treat bacteria that belong to groups termed Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Chlamydia and Neisseria infections. These bacteria cause a broad range of infections from skin, ear, nose and throat infections to sexually transmitted diseases. The cure rate for Azithromycin has been reported at 97 %. In other words only 3 out of every 100 people treated with Azithromycin will still have an infection after the antibiotic treatment is completed. This it is why it is important to go back to see your doctor or talk with a health professional to ensure that the treatment has worked. If you still have symptoms you may be within the small percentage of people for whom the treatment doesn’t work.

Trade names for Azithromycin

Your Azithromycin medication may have been given a name by the manufacturer, such as Zithromax, Zmax or Clamelle. These are termed trade names and trade names will be displayed on your medication packaging.

Dose of Azithromycin

Azithromycin has a long lasting effect this means that treatment can be completed in 1 - 5 days instead of the usual 7 - 14 day course of medicine that is required when taking other antibiotics. Follow your doctors or pharmacist instructions about the dose you are required to take. As a general guide;

If you weigh over 45 kg you may only need a single dose at 1 g to treat Chlamydia and for other infections 500 mg may be taken once a day for three days. For children under 45 kg the dose is dependent on the body weight for instance if their bodyweight is between 36 kg and 45 kg usually 10 mg Azithromycin per kg of bodyweight is taken daily for three days.

If you forget to take your daily dose of azithromycin, take it as soon as you remember, as long as it is not time for the next dose because you may then inadvertently double dose (taking two doses at once). The antibiotic becomes concentrated within the tissues quickly and a further (double) dose will not help kill the bacteria but will probably increase the chances that you may experience side effects. You may even experience an overdose from taking too many doses. If this should happen seek medical attention and you may be given medicinal charcoal to counteract the overdose of antibiotic. If you forget to take several doses the antibiotic won’t work properly, the concentration in your tissues will fall and the bacteria will grow again and the infection will build up. The newly increased numbers of bacteria may even be resistant to the antibiotic and it will not work again even if you take the medicine without missing doses.

How to take Azithromycin

Azithromycin may be prescribed in the form of capsules, tablets or as an oral suspension (liquid). The capsules can be taken without eating first, on an empty stomach (approximately 2 hours before or after food). The tablets and liquid may be taken with food, this may minimize any side effects such as nausea or diarrhea. If you are taking the tablets, take a large drink of water with the tablets (to ensure the tablet is washed down into the stomach), this may help to minimize any indigestion or nausea you may experience when taking azithromycin. If you are taking the liquid make sure that the liquid is shaken /mixed before taking each dose, so that each dose will contain approximately the same amount of azithromycin.

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