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What is azithromycin?
Azithromycin is in a group of drugs called macrolide antibiotics. Azithromycin fights bacteria in the body. Azithromycin is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria, such as respiratory infections, skin infections, ear infections, and sexually transmitted diseases. Azithromycin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

Pricing information provided by drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of azithromycin?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

• chest pain, uneven heartbeats;

• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or stomach pain;

• dizziness, tired feeling, or headache;

• nervous feeling, sleep problems (insomnia);

• vaginal itching or discharge;

• mild itching or skin rash;

• ringing in your ears, problems with hearing; or

• decreased sense of taste or smell.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I take azithromycin?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. The dose and length of treatment with azithromycin may not be the same for every type of infection. Take each tablet or capsule with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. To use the oral suspension single dose packet: Open the packet and pour the medicine into 2 ounces of water. Stir this mixture and drink all of it right away. To make sure you get the entire dose, add a little more water to the same glass, swirl gently and drink right away.

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What is the most important information I should know about azithromycin?
Do not use azithromycin if you have ever had an allergic reaction to this medicine or similar drugs such as erythromycin (E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, E.E.S.), clarithromycin (Biaxin), telithromycin (Ketek), or troleandomycin (Tao). There are many other medicines that can interact with azithromycin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect azithromycin?
Many drugs can interact with azithromycin. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using: digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps); carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); phenytoin (Dilantin); pimozide (Orap); theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair, Theochron); warfarin (Coumadin); another antibiotic, especially clarithromycin (Biaxin) or erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S, Ery-Tab); a calcium channel blocker such as diltiazem (Cartia XT, Diltiazem, Tiazac), felodipine (Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), nimodipine (Nimotop), verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS);

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Azithromycin has been assigned to pregnancy category B by the FDA. Animal studies failed to reveal evidence of fetotoxicity. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Azithromycin should only be given during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

In one study comparing azithromycin and erythromycin, 15 pregnant women received one gram of azithromycin for the treatment of chlamydial infection. The period of gestation during which the drugs were given was not specified. Azithromycin was better tolerated than erythromycin, and no adverse fetal outcomes were reported.

Azithromycin is excreted into human milk. The manufacturer recommends that caution be used when administering azithromycin to nursing women.

In one lactating woman receiving azithromycin 500 mg/day, azithromycin milk concentration measured 1.3 and 2.8 mcg/mL 1 hour after the first dose and 30 hours after the third dose, respectively.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to azithromycin, erythromycin, or any macrolide or to any ingredient in the formulation.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking azithromycin?
Do not use azithromycin if you have ever had an allergic reaction to this medicine or similar drugs such as erythromycin (E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, E.E.S.), clarithromycin (Biaxin), telithromycin (Ketek), or troleandomycin (Tao). Before taking azithromycin, tell your doctor if you have: liver disease; kidney disease; a heart rhythm disorder; or a history of Long QT syndrome. If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication. FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
If you have been diagnosed with a disease for which an antibiotic is needed, you must complete the prescribed course of treatment. Even if you start to feel better, do not skip any doses and remember to take the medication until it is all gone.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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