Azithromycin Information

Azithromycin is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic related to erythromycin .

It is prescribed for adults to treat certain mild to moderate skin infections; upper and lower respiratory tract infections, including pharyngitis (strep throat), tonsillitis, worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pneumonia; sexually transmitted infections of the cervix or urinary tract; and genital ulcer disease in men.

In children, Azithromycin is used to treat middle ear infection, pneumonia, tonsillitis, and strep throat.

Antibiotics will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections.

Azithromycin Mechanism

Azithromycin is effective against a wide variety of bacteria organisms such as Hemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and mycobacterium avium, and many others.

It is unusual in that it stays in the body for quite a while, allowing for once a day dosing and for shorter treatment courses for most infections.

Azithromycin, like all macrolide antibiotics, prevents bacteria from growing by interfering with their ability to make proteins. Due to the differences in the way proteins are made in bacteria and humans, the macrolide antibiotics do not interfere with humans' ability to make proteins.

Azithromycin Special information

Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding: If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. You should take Azithromycin during pregnancy only if it is clearly needed.

It is not known whether Azithromycin can make its way into breast milk. If the drug is essential to your health, your doctor may advise you to stop breastfeeding until your treatment is finished.