Azithromycin: Uses, How It Works, Medicines

Courses are often short, commonly 3 to 5 days, and some infections are treated with a single larger dose. Because azithromycin leaves the body slowly, its effect continues for several days after the last dose. Your doctor decides the dose and length; take the full course as prescribed.

Advice differs: the US label says the tablets can be taken with or without food, while the NHS advises taking them 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Follow the instructions on your pack or your doctor's advice, and keep antacids apart from the dose.

Azithral 500 is a brand name. Its tablet contains azithromycin alone, 500 mg per tablet, so the medicine is azithromycin. Other brands also sell azithromycin in different strengths, and some may add other ingredients, so check the ingredient list and strength on the pack.

No. Azithromycin works only against bacteria, so it does not treat colds, flu, COVID-19 or other viral infections. A doctor decides whether an infection is bacterial. Using antibiotics when they are not needed adds to antibiotic resistance.

There is no known direct interaction between alcohol and azithromycin. Alcohol can add to dizziness or an upset stomach, which are possible side effects, and being unwell is a reason to take care. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.

Azithromycin can be used in pregnancy and breastfeeding when an infection needs treatment, but only a doctor should decide this. Small amounts pass into breast milk, so tell your doctor if the baby has diarrhoea, vomiting, a rash or thrush.

Both are antibiotics for bacterial infections but belong to different families: azithromycin is a macrolide and amoxicillin is a penicillin. They act on bacteria differently and suit different infections. A doctor chooses between them, and penicillin allergy matters when choosing.

Follow the course your doctor prescribed, for as many days as advised. Because azithromycin stays in the body for several days, a short course can still be a complete one. Do not keep leftover tablets for another illness; tell your doctor if you feel worse.

Neither the azithromycin label nor NHS guidance lists an interaction with paracetamol. They do different jobs: paracetamol eases fever or pain, while azithromycin treats a bacterial infection. Keep paracetamol within its daily limit from all products combined, and follow each medicine's own instructions.

Yes. Antibiotics upset the normal bacteria in the gut, so loose motions are a common side effect. Drink plenty of fluids. Get medical help quickly if diarrhoea is severe, watery or does not stop, or contains blood or mucus, even weeks after the course. Ask a doctor before taking anti-diarrhoea medicine.

Doctors in India may prescribe azithromycin for typhoid (enteric fever). The ICMR antibiotic treatment guidelines include it, partly because typhoid bacteria are often resistant to older medicines. Typhoid needs a doctor's diagnosis, usually with a blood test. Fever has many causes, including dengue and malaria, which antibiotics do not treat.

Most sore throats are caused by viruses and get better on their own, so an antibiotic does not help them. When a bacterial infection such as strep throat is likely, a doctor may prescribe an antibiotic; azithromycin is one option, mainly for people who cannot take penicillin-type antibiotics.

Serious liver problems are rare but have been reported. Get medical help urgently if you notice yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, or severe tiredness or stomach pain. Tell your doctor beforehand about any liver or kidney disease, because azithromycin is used with caution when either is severe.

Yes, when a doctor prescribes it, usually as a syrup (oral suspension). A child's dose depends on body weight, so give only the dose the doctor sets and measure it with the syringe or cup supplied, not a kitchen spoon. Do not give a child adult tablets unless the doctor says so.

For most infections, people start to feel better within a few days, according to NHS guidance. Keep taking it for as long as prescribed, even after you feel better. If you are not improving after a few days, feel worse or get new symptoms, see your doctor, as the infection may need a different medicine.

Each contains 500 mg of azithromycin per tablet, so the medicine and strength are the same. Brands differ in maker, price, inactive ingredients and tablet appearance. Check the ingredient list and strength on the pack, since some products add other medicines, and ask a pharmacist if you are unsure.