Introduction
Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic used to treat many bacterial infections. Azithromycin has relatively broad but shallow antibacterial activity. It inhibits some Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and atypical bacteria, including anaerobic bacteria. In addition to being FDA approved for a wide range of systemic conditions, Azithromycin is on the WHO list of Essential Medicines.
Working
To replicate, bacteria require a specific process of protein synthesis enabled by ribosomal proteins. Azithromycin binds to ribosomal subunits of the bacteria and stops bacterial protein synthesis by inhibiting the transpeptidation/translocation step of protein synthesis and inhibiting the assembly of the 50S ribosomal subunit Label, 5. This results in the control of various bacterial infections.
Onset
Azithromycin works as soon as you take the first dose and achieves peak plasma concentrations within 3-4 hours of intake. The effects of the medication are not immediately noticed. It will take approximately seven days to see the effect of Azithromycin on Chlamydia and around two weeks to resolve the infection completely. The mean terminal half-life of the medication is 2-4 days, and it stays in the system for around 15 days before being eliminated through metabolic wastes.
Side effects
- Mild side effects - loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, changes in the sense of taste
- Moderate side effects - bleeding gums, acidity in the stomach, increased cough, red, irritated eyes, clay-coloured stools
- Severe side effects - irregular heart rate, stomach pain, blood vomiting, jaundiced eyes and skin, unconsciousness.
On noticing an increase in the intensity of Azithromycin side effects, discontinue the use of the medication and get urgent medical help
Contraindications
The use of Azithromycin tablets is contraindicated.
- Females with cases of lower belly pain,
- Males with pain and swelling in the testicles
- Conditions of allergic reactions to the medications
- Cases of severe long-term illness like liver and kidney disorder
FAQ's
Of the various antibiotic uses of Azithromycin, the most benefits of the medication are.
- For sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia, Nongonococcal urethritis, cervicitis and gonorrhoea
- For prevention and treatment of pulmonary conditions caused by pathogens like H.influenzae and S.Pneumoniae in addition to treating community-acquired cases of pneumonia
- In uncomplicated skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, or Streptococcus Agalactia
- For eye and ear infections
As per the CDC Guidelines for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, one dose of 1g Azithromycin, followed by a 500mg dose once a day for two days, is the required strength of the medication for Chlamydial conditions. Studies have shown that the dose mentioned above of Azithromycin works on Urogenital Chlamydia( affecting the urinary and genital tracts), Anogenital Chlamydia( affecting the anus and genital tracts) and Oropharyngeal Chlamydia( affecting throat, mouth, tongue and tonsils) conditions.
You can order Azithromycin online in the UK from registered online portals licensed to dispense Azithromycin medication. Ensure that you order from a genuine site that will provide you with authentic Azithromycin and ensure the pre-delivery and post-delivery precautions like verifying the strength and expiry status of the drug.
Studies have shown that Azithromycin is well tolerated during pregnancy if you have an infection that requires Azithromycin intervention. In analyses performed for individual macrolides, no significant association has been found between azithromycin use during the first trimester in pregnant ladies or any significant congenital disabilities observed in infants. But the medication should be used with extreme precaution to avoid the risk of miscarriage in women.
Clinical studies have proven Azithromycin is effective for acne rosacea and acne vulgaris conditions with satisfactory patient compliance to the medication. Azithromycin has a slightly higher efficacy in the treatment of inflammatory acne lesions in comparison to tetracycline, in addition to being more effectively tolerated by the patient. Azithromycin dose for adults with acne is 500mg thrice weekly for 12 weeks. While for adolescents, the dose is 500mg, thrice weekly for eight weeks.
Researchers and medical experts have observed that an Azithromycin 3-day dose pack prescribed as tablets is as clinically and microbiologically effective as a 10-day regimen of
other antibiotics with similar clinical profiles. Azithromycin 3 day dose pack is enough for treating pneumonia and sinus and throat conditions with improved adherence.
A single dose of Azithromycin 1 gram orally is the usual dose for genital Chlamydia according to the CDC Guidelines for Sexually Transmitted Diseases. For safety reasons and to prevent the risk of overdosing on the medication, instead of a single 1 mg medication, the dose is divided into four 250mg or two 500mg tablets of Azithromycin, keeping in mind the affected body part and the treatment plan of the physician.
Azithromycin is a prescription-only medication and cannot be obtained over the counter in the UK. Azithromycin is FDA-approved for being used for conditions of the lungs, sinuses, skin, and other body parts. It is available in brand and generic versions but only in registered pharmacies dealing with Azithromycin and other antibiotics. Additionally, you can obtain it from selected physician’s clinics dispensing Azithromycin or order it online.
Azithromycin is not penicillin, nor does it contain penicillin. It is a macrolide by nature and belongs to the macrolide antibiotics class of medications that bind to the ribosomes of the invading pathogen to destroy it effectively. Azithromycin is a derivative of the older derivative Erythromycin that kills bacteria or prevents their growth. It can be used in bacterial conditions resistant to penicillin or people allergic to penicillin medication.
It takes Azithromycin approximately seven days to work for Chlamydia conditions. But it can take as long as two weeks for the infection to completely clear from your system. You are advised to refrain from sexual activities during this time to effectively work the medication. Testing for the disease after two weeks will determine whether or not you require further treatment with the Azithromycin drug.
Studies have shown that Azithromycin as routine therapy in Covid‐19 patients is not justified due to the lack of efficacy and potential risk of bacterial resistance that is not met by an increased clinical benefit. Azithromycin does not inhibit Covid cell replication; subsequently, its use is avoided in Covid conditions for the patient’s safety.
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