Detailed Drug Information:

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Azithromycin is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic chemically related to erythromycin and clarithromycin (Biaxin). It 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.

PREPARATIONS: Capsules (red): 250mg; Suspension: 100mg/teaspoon; 200 mg/teaspoon.

STORAGE: Capsules should be kept below 30°C (86°F).Suspension should be kept between 5° and 30°C (41° and 86°F).

PRESCRIBED FOR: Azithromycin is effective against susceptiblebacteria causing infections of the middle ear, tonsillitis, throatinfections, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinuses and. It isalso effective against certain sexually transmitted infectious diseases,such as nongonococcal urethritis and cervicitis.

DOSING: Azithromycin should be taken at least one hour before ortwo hours after meals since it may bind to food and not be absorbed fromthe intestine. For most infections, azithromycin is taken once daily for arelatively short course of treatment (usually five days). The first doseis often a "double dose," twice as much as the remainder of thedoses given. For acute bacterial sinusitis, azithromycin way be taken once daily for three days.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Unlike erythromycin and clarithromycin,azithromycin is generally considered free of interactions with most othermedicines. It is recommended that azithromycin not be taken at thesame time as aluminum- or magnesium- based antacids, such as Mylanta orMaalox because antacids will bind the azithromycin and prevent it frombeing absorbed from the intestine.

PREGNANCY: There are no adequate studies of azithromycin inpregnant women. However, studies in animals suggest no important effectson the fetus. Azithromycin therefore can be used in pregnancy if thephysician feels that it is clearly necessary.

NURSING MOTHERS: It is not known if azithromycin is secreted in breast milk.

SIDE EFFECTS: Azithromycin is generally well tolerated. Themost common side effects are diarrhea or loose stools, nausea, abdominalpain, and vomiting, each of which may occur in fewer than one in twentypersons who receive azithromycin. Rarer side effects include abnormalliver tests, allergic reactions, and nervousness.