Azithromycin, Oral/Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antibiotic

Generic and brand names: azithromycin, injection; azithromycin, oral; Zmax Extended Release; Z-pak; Zithromax Injection; Zithromax Oral Suspension; Zithromax Tablets

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is an antibiotic taken by mouth to treat bacterial infections. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

This medicine will not cure viral infections such as colds and the flu.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• an irregular heart rhythm
• kidney disease
• liver problems

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval, even if you feel better. If you stop taking it too soon, the infection may return.

This medicine comes in injection, oral liquid, powder, and tablet forms. You may take this medicine with or without food.

To use the powder, open the packet and pour all the medicine into 2 ounces of water. Mix it well and drink the medicine right away. Rinse the glass with another 2 ounces of water and drink that too.

If you have the liquid form, shake the bottle well before pouring a dose. Measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup.

Do not take antacids containing aluminum or magnesium at the same time that you take this medicine. Take this medicine and antacids 2 hours apart. Your pharmacist can tell you which antacids contain aluminum, magnesium, or both.

The injections are given by your healthcare provider, usually when you are in a hospital. Your healthcare provider may switch you to tablets, powder, or oral liquid when you leave the hospital.

Do not miss any doses. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

Do not take this medicine for other infections unless your healthcare provider approves. Do not use it beyond the expiration date on the label.

Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve in a few days or if it gets worse.

You may need to have lab tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

If you develop diarrhea while you are taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider. Do not treat yourself by taking nonprescription products for diarrhea.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which may lead to painful sunburns. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. Wear protective clothing, a hat, and sunscreen lotion when you need to be outdoors. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your healthcare provider right away.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe or constant diarrhea, yellow skin or eyes, dark colored urine or pale stools, fast or irregular heart beat, blistering or peeling skin rash, unusual bleeding or bruising, chest pain.

Other: Mild diarrhea or loose stools, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, bad taste in mouth, pain or redness at injection site.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antacids (Take 2 hours apart from this medicine.)
• antibiotics such as clindamycin (Cleocin), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin), and erythromycin (EES)
• antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), nefazodone, and sertraline (Zoloft)
• antifungal medicines such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and voriconazole (Vfend)
• antinausea medicines such as aprepitant (Emend), dolasetron (Anzemet), droperidol (Inapsine), and prochlorperazine (Compazine)
• antipsychotic medicines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), quetiapine (Seroquel), risperidone (Risperdal), clozapine (Clozaril), and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene)
• benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), and triazolam (Halcion)
• bromocriptine (Parlodel)
• cholesterol-lowering medicines (statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), and rosuvastatin (Crestor)
• colchicine
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• ergot medicines such as ergotamine (Ergomar), methysergide (Sansert), and dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45)
• immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf, Protopic)
• medicine for irregular heart rhythms such as amiodarone (Cordarone), disopyramide (Norpace), dofetilide (Tikosyn), flecainide (Tambocor), sotalol (Betapace), and quinidine (Quinora, Quinidex, Quinaglute, Quinalan, Cardioquin)
• medicines to treat HIV such as zidovudine (Retrovir, AZT), efavirenz (Sustiva), atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), nevirapine (Viramune), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Fortovase)
• pimozide (Orap)
• St. John's wort
• theophylline
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine, desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Zonalon), imipramine (Tofranil), and protriptyline (Vivactil)
• warfarin (Coumadin).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Do not store in the refrigerator. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light. Discard any unused liquid after 14 days because it loses its strength.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.