Azithromycin

Common Brand Names

Zithromax, Azeath, Azifast, Azinam, Zithrocare

Overview

Azithromycin is an antibiotic medicine.

It's used to treat infections including:

• chest infections such as pneumonia
• ear, nose and throat and nose infections such as sinus infection (sinusitis)
• skin infections
• Lyme disease
• some sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

It can also be used long-term to prevent chest infections in people who keep getting them.

Azithromycin is from a group of medicines called macrolide antibiotics. Macrolide antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that cause the infection.

Important Facts

• You'll usually take azithromycin once a day. Try to take it at the same time each day.
• Take azithromycin capsules at least 1 hour before food or 2 hours after eating. You can take tablets or liquid with or without food.
• For most infections you should feel better within a few days, but it's important to finish your full course of medicine.
• The most common side effects of azithromycin are feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, headaches, or changes to your sense of taste.

• Some people get a fungal infection called thrush after taking a course of antibiotics like azithromycin. Symptoms of thrush in the mouth include redness and itching. Women may get vaginal itching.
• Carry on taking this medicine until you've finished the course, even if you feel better. If you stop your treatment early, the infection could come back.