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|Azithromycin Tablets

Azithromycin

Azithromycin is used for:

Treating mild to moderate infections caused by certain bacteria. It may also be used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat or prevent certain infections in persons with advanced HIV infection. However, Azithromycin will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. It slows the growth of, or sometimes kills, sensitive bacteria by reducing the production of important proteins needed by the bacteria to survive.

Do NOT use Azithromycin if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Azithromycin or to other macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin)
• you are taking pimozide

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Azithromycin:

Some medical conditions may interact with Azithromycin. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement.
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances.
• if you have liver or kidney problems or abnormal heart rhythms

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Azithromycin. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Rifampin because the effectiveness of Azithromycin may be decreased.
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), digoxin, disopyramide, pimozide, or rifampin because the actions and side effects of these medicines may be increased.
• Theophylline because blood levels may temporarily decrease after stopping Azithromycin.

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Azithromycin may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Azithromycin:

Use Azithromycin as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Azithromycin may be taken with food or on an empty stomach. If Azithromycin upsets your stomach, take it with food.
• Do not take aluminum- or magnesium-containing antacids at the same time with Azithromycin. Take Azithromycin at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after antacids.
• Azithromycin works best if it is taken at the same time each day.
• To clear up your infection completely, continue using Azithromycin for the full course of treatment even if you feel better in a few days.
• If you miss a dose of Azithromycin, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Azithromycin.

Important safety information:

• Azithromycin may cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, or lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Azithromycin. Using Azithromycin alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Azithromycin may cause sensitivity to sunlight. Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and other ultraviolet light. Use sunscreens and wear protective clothing until tolerance is determined.
• If severe diarrhea, stomach pain/cramps, or bloody stools occur, contact your doctor immediately. This could be a symptom of a serious side effect requiring immediate medical attention. Do not treat diarrhea without consulting your doctor.
• Long-term or repeated use of Azithromycin may cause a second infection. Your doctor may want to change your medicine to treat the second infection. Contact your doctor if signs of a second infection occur.
• It is important to use Azithromycin for the full course of treatment. Failure to do so may decrease the effectiveness of this treatment and may increase the risk that the bacteria will no longer sensitive to Azithromycin and it will not be able to be treated by this or certain other antibacterial medicines in the future.
• Azithromycin is effective only against bacteria. It is not effective for treating viral infections (eg, the common cold).
• Azithromycin may decrease the effectiveness of your birth control pill. To prevent pregnancy, you may want to use an additional form of birth control.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Azithromycin during pregnancy. It is unknown if Azithromycin is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding, check with your doctor to discuss the benefits and risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Azithromycin:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Diarrhea; headache; loose stools; nausea; stomach pain; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody stools; chest pain; dark red raised areas of the skin; hearing loss; pounding in the chest; ringing in the ears; severe diarrhea; stomach cramps/pain; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include diarrhea; nausea; upset stomach; vomiting.

Store Azithromycin at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Azithromycin out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Azithromycin, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Azithromycin is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people. Do not use Azithromycin for other health conditions.
• If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Azithromycin. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.