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Have you ever felt unparalleled joy and satisfaction when you found that your condition of genital herpes had been totally and successfully treated with the Valacyclovir treatment and that your sexual partner also found himself/herself overjoyed because they wouldn’t ever have to worry about spreading or getting genital herpes ever again because of the success of Valacyclovir? Read on and find out the doses used for treating this herpes infection and the other herpes virus infections.

The surest and safest way to take Valacyclovir

Before delving seriously into this topic, it’s wise to state that all the possible doses and form of this drug medications presented here may not be conclusive.

Even so, the form of your drug, dose, and how often you take it is usually determined by:

• How you reacted to the first medication dose
• The condition that’s being treated
• The severity of the condition
• Your age
• Other medical conditions you have

Brand:           Valtrex

Generic: Valacyclovir

Drug forms: oral tablet

Drug potencies: 500 mg, 1000 mg

Doses for oral herpes or cold sore

Adult dose (ages 18 – 64 years)

• Standard dose: 2,000 mg, twice per day for 1 day, to be taken 12 hours apart
• Note: Treatment should be administered at the very first sign of cold sore occurrence.

Child dose (ages 12- 17 years)

• Standard dose: 2,000 mg, twice per day for 1 day, to be taken 12 hours apart
• Note: this drug should be administered as the very first sign of cold sore occurrence.

Child dose (0 -11 years)

• It’s known that this drug hasn’t been researched or approved for use as a treatment of oral herpes (cold sores) in children younger than 12 years of age.

Senior dose (ages 65 years and over)

It’s usually the case that kidneys of senior citizens have the propensity not to work as efficiently as they once functioned.

This usually means that their bodies tend to process this and other drug medications more slowly.

This would definitely mean that a greater amount of Valacyclovir will accumulate and stay in your body for a longer period of time.

This in turn will raise your risk of suffering more side effects when you take this medication.

To avoid this happening, your doctor may decide to lower your dose or arrange a different schedule of treatment.

This approach will assist in keeping the levels of drug build up in your body.

Doses for genital herpes

Adult dosage (ages 18 – 64)

• First episode: 1,000 mg taken twice per day for 10 days. For best results, this medication should be administered within 48 hours of the appearance of the symptom.
• Recurring episodes: 500 mg, taken twice daily for 3 days. The treatment should be administered when the first symptom occurs.
• Stopping flare-ups in people with a normal immune system:  500 mg, to be taken twice daily.
• Stopping flare-ups in people with HIV: 500 mg, taken twice per day
• For reducing the risk of transmission to a sexual partner: 500 mg, to be taken once daily.

Child dose (ages 0-17 years of age)

Unfortunately this drug hasn’t been researched for use in treating genital herpes in Children under the age of 18 years.

Senior dose (ages 65 years and over)

It’s very likely that the kidneys of seniors of dosage category may not function as efficiently as they once did.

This will most likely mean that as a senior citizen your body would only be able to process this drug medication only slowly.

Because of this the drug will tend to stay in your body over a longer period of time thereby increasing your risk of suffering from side effect.

In order to avoid the accumulation of this drug in your body, your doctor may provide you with a lower dose of the medication or put you on a different schedule of treatment.

This change can assist in preventing the build-up of this drug medication in your body to undesirable levels.

Doses for shingles

Adult doses (18 – 64 years)

Standard dose: 1,000 mg, to be taken three times daily for seven days

Note:  the treatment should be administered when the first symptoms of the infection appears.

This drug medication functions best if it’s administered 48 hours of the first occurrence of a rash on your skin.

Child dosage (ages 0 – 17 years) 

This drug has not been researched for use as a treatment of shingles in children younger than 18 years.

Senior dosage (ages 65 years and over)

It’s more than likely that kidneys worn by older adult will tend not to function as efficiently as they did before.

This may result in a slower processing of this drug medication and other drugs by your body.

This in turn may result in an accumulation of a higher volume of this drug medication in your body.

When this happens, a higher amount of the drug  may stay in your body over a longer period of time which will raise your risk of suffering from side effects.

One way of avoiding this development would be for your doctor to prescribe a lower dosage for you or put you on a different schedule of treatment.

What this can do for you is to keep the levels of this drug medication from building up in your body to undesirable levels.

Doses for Chickenpox

Adult doses (ages 18 – 64 years)

• Standard dose: 1,000 to be taken 3 times per day for seven days
• Note: The treatment should be administered when the first symptom of the infection appears.

It’s known that valacyclovir works best if it’s administered within 48 hours of the first sign of a rash appearing on your skin.

Child dose (ages 2 – 18 years)

• Standard dose: 20 mg per kilogram of the child’s body weight, to be taken 3 times per day for 5 days.
• Maximum dose: 1,000 mg, to be taken 3 times daily.
• Note: the treatment should be administered at the earliest appearance of a sign or symptom.

Child dose (ages 0 – 1 year)

Unfortunately, valacyclovir has not been researched or approve as treatment of chickenpose in children who are younger that two years of age.

Senior doses (ages 65 years and over)

It’s most likely that the kidneys of older adult may not be functioning as well as they used to work.

This can result in your processing drugs more slowly than before which means that a greater amount of drug may stay in your body for a longer period of time.

When this happens, your risk of suffering more side effects would increase.

This development can be avoided by your doctor who may prescribe a lower dose of this medication for you to take or place you on a different schedule of treatment.

These changes can assist in preventing this medication for accumulating too much in your body.

Bottom line

We’ve turned over all the pages to bring to you what we believe is the most appropriate ending to our joint quest of identifying and understanding the type of doses, their potencies, the right time for taking them and what your doctor can do especially for the older citizens to prevent them from suffering more side effects from the accumulation of valacyclovir in their bodies. We sincerely hope you’ve learnt as much as we did!

Once you learn something really impressive about a drug medication such as Valacyclovir and its ability in treating highly irksome conditions like herpes, it’s simply not enough. Something inside urges you on to discover more features about such a medication. You begin to wonder about its nature, how it’s taken, how it really works and more importantly, if it provides any important warnings before you actually start using it. Read on to find out.

What is this drug medication?

Simply put, Valacyclovir is a drug medication which is available under prescription provided by a doctor. It comes in tablet form and meant to be taken by mouth.

This drug medication is available as a branded drug called Valtrex but it’s also available as a generic drug. It’s normally the case that generic drug versions are much cheaper that the brand-name version.

The main difference between the generic and brand version is that the former isn’t usually available in all the potencies or forms as are the brand-name drug medications.

In some cases, this drug medication may have to be taken as an additive in a combined therapy where it is taken in combination with other drug medications.

Why Valacyclovir is used in medication therapy

The main target for this drug medication when used to heal diseases is the treatment of viral infections which are caused by a group of viruses known as herpes simplex viruses.

There are 4 of these viral infections in all and comprise oral herpes, genital herpes, shingles and chickenpox. Let’s have a look at each of them:

• Oral herpes:  this type of viral infection gives rise to cold sores.

These are infections of small but painful sores that can appear around your mouth.

They are contagious and can be spread by kissing or other ways of contacting others physically with the infected part of your body.

• Genital herpes: This is spread primary when couples engage in sexual activity. Symptoms of the infection also involve the appearance of small but painful blisters in the genital zone.

It’s possible for you to spread the genital herpes infection to your sexual partner even when you don’t yet have any symptoms.

What valacyclovir does is to ease or prevent the reoccurrence of flare-ups of genital herpes in people who possess a functional immune system, or people who have HIV.

• Shingles:  This infection is also caused by the same virus that’s responsible for causing chickenpox (varicella zoster).

Like the other infections the symptoms for shingles also involve the occurrence of small but painful blisters that appear on the skin.

Shingles can also take place in people who’ve already suffered from the chickenpox virus in the past due to contact with a person who had skin infection.

Chickenpox: This infection causes the development of an itchy rash of small, red bumps that can resemble the appearance of pimples or the bites of insects.

The pimply rash has not limits when spreading across the body and can trigger a flu-like symptom such as high fever or fatigue.

The valacyclovir drug medication is capable of providing an easing treatment for chickenpox in children of ages 2 to 18 years who have normally functioning immune systems.

Special unique features of Valacyclovir

Valacyclovir is an oral tablet of different doses that’s normally used for the treatment of infections caused by a group of viruses known as herpes simplex viruses.

It’s used to treat cold sores (oral herpes), shingles and is sometimes used to treat or stop recurring flare-ups of genital herpes.

Valacyclovir comes in a tablet form that should be taken orally in the mouth and swallowed with water.

This drug medication is available in both as a brand and generic drug medication (valacyclovir) with Valtrex as its brand name.

Important warnings when taking valacyclovir

Blood disorders hinder the treatment: In some people, valacyclovir can causehemolytic uremic sysndrome (HUS) orthrombocytopenic pupura (TTP).

These two conditions involve extremely low levels of red blood cells and platelets in your body and you are warned that TTP or HUS can actually have fatal results (cause death).

You’re especially susceptible to the effects of these conditions if you’ve undergone transplants of bone marrow or a kidney.

You’re also susceptible to their effects if you suffer from advanced conditions of HIV or AIDS.

Kidney failure is also problematic: It’s been known that this drug medication can actually stop you kidneys from functioning, This can happen if you’re on a high dose of valacyclovir and you are also suffering from current kidney problems.

Taking other drugs that may damage your kidneys, if you’re suffering from dehydration, or if you’re over 65 years of age.

Central nervous system: if you’ve been taking this medication at higher doses than what your doctor prescribed or if you are suffering from kidney disorders, the drug can build up in you system.

When valacyclovir accumulates in your body, it can result in the occurrence of side effects that can impact your brain. Symptoms of these side effects can include:

• Delusions – you tend to believe in things that aren’t true
• Hallucinations – you tend to hear and see things that are not real)

The symptoms may also involve seizures, agitation and confusion.

If you are experiencing these side effects, you should stop taking the drug medication and immediately call your country or area emergency phone number for medical attention.

Warnings for other groups

Pregnant women:  This drug medication is categorized as a B pregnancy drug which simply means two things:

• Researches carried out on animals have failed to show any risks to the fetus when the mother is given the drug.
• Insufficient studies have been carried on human subjects to show that the drug poses a threat to the fetus.

In the light of the above findings its sound advice for you to consult with your doctor to tell him/her if you’re pregnant or are planning to get pregnant.

It’s worthy to note that animals don’t always predict how humans would respond to this drug medication so valacyclovir should only be used in a woman who is pregnant when it’s absolutely necessary.

Women who breastfeed: It’s known that this drug medication may enter the breast mild and may cause nasty side effects in the breastfeeding child. You should therefore consult with your doctor if you breastfeed your child,

You may need to stop breastfeeding or to stop taking this drug medication after your consultation. Whichever it is you should follow what your doctor tells you to do.

Seniors: the kidneys of many older adults may not be functioning like they used to so the body may only be able to process this drug medication only slowly.

This means that more of the drug would stay in your body over a longer period of time, giving rise to a higher risk of suffering from more side effects.

Children:  Valacyclovir has not been studied for the prevention of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in newborn babies. Other age limitations have been applied when this drug medication is used on children:

• Oral herpes (cold sores): Approval has been given to the treatment of children 12 years and over.
• Genital herpes: children younger than 18 years shouldn’t be treated with this drug medication against this virus infection.
• Shingles:  children younger than 18 years shouldn’t be treated with this drug medication against this virus infection.
• Chickenpox: children of 2 to 18 years of age are approved for being given this drug treatment against chickenpox. Children below the age of 2 years are not approved to be given treatment.

Bottom line

Our journey in trying to discover the highlight features of Valacyclovir has been far, wide and in-depth and the result has not been disappointing. We have delved into the very nature of this medication and discovered that that it can actually treat four types of infections which are all caused by the same virus infection. We’ve also been provided with ample information about how you can effectively prevent the spread of the infections. We hope the article has helped you.

When you’ve come across a drug medication that can treat numerous types of conditions, say four or five, you tend to classify such a medication as something special because of its uniqueness. Bit when you come across another such as Valacyclovir that can also treat a number of conditions (4), you become more interested and more confident in the availability of treatments for different types of conditions. Let’s see what valacyclovir is and what it can actually do.

The way Valacyclovir does its work

Valacyclovir is member to a class of antiviral drugs that all work in a similar manner and are therefore used for the treatment of conditions which are the same conditions.

The herpes virus is the principle villain in this article, an virus that circulates and spreads itself inside your body by creating cells that replicate itself.

That the valacyclovir drug medication does here is it makes it more difficult for the herpes virus to propagate and multiply by making more cells in your body.

• What is perhaps perplexing about this drug medication is that it doesn’t actually cure the herpes infection which is evidenced by the fact that the virus can remain dormant but alive in your body even after being bombarded with the valacyclovir drug treatment.

Hence it means that the virus can recur at some future date even though traces of the symptoms of the first infection have dissipated. Despite the recurring ability of the virus, valacyclovir is always at hand to meet the challenge head on when it recurs later on.

Valacyclovir and its side effects

Drowsiness is not one of the side effects caused by drug medication valacyclovir but it does cause other known side effects.

The more common side effects

Some of the more common side effects of drug treatment valacyclovir can include the following:

• Pain in the abdominal area (stomach)
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Normally, these side effects are mild in nature and will most probably dissipate within a few days or sometimes a couple of weeks. 

However, if they persist and refuse to disappear but become worse, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your problem.

The serious side effects

If it so happens that you experience serious side effects, you should promptly call your area’s emergency phone number, especially if the symptoms tend to be life-threatening.

You should also make the call if you definitely feel that you have a medical emergency on your hands, especially when you experience symptoms that can include:

• Kidney failure with symptoms that can include:
  • Swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet
  • Urinating much less than you normally do
  • Severe drowsiness
• Abnormal mood or behavior with symptoms that may include:
  • Coma
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Unsteady movements
  • Seizures
  • Hallucinations
  • Confusion

How to help reduce spreading the herpes virus

By using this drug medication on a daily basis, you can help prevent the spread of the herpes virus to your sexual partner.

In particular you should abstain from any sexual activity with your sexual partner if you are experiencing symptoms that indicate an outbreak of genital herpes is imminent or already in progress.

You can still spread the genital herpes virus to your sexual partner even if you employ safe sex methods while engaged in sexual activity.

You should consult with your doctor about how to have safer sex while you’re under the influence of shingles.

Valacyclovir interactions with other medications

An interaction occurs when a substance changes the normal way a drug works following an interactive exchange.

The danger here is that the drug interaction can become harmful or it can prevent valacyclovir from working well.

In order to stop the effects of interactions, your medications should be carefully managed by your doctor. You should therefore inform your doctor about all the medications, vitamins or herbal remedies you are taking.

In order to know for sure how your valacyclovir oral tablet may interact with another substance you’re also taking, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist to find out more about the problem.

Warnings about using Valacyclovir

Several warnings are associated with using this drug medication:

Warning about allergy

Valacyclovir has the propensity to cause severe allergic reactions which are shown by symptoms that can include:

• Breathing difficulties
• Swelling of tongue or throat

When these symptoms develop in your body, you should immediately call your area emergency phone number or make your way to the nearest emergency counter at the nearest hospital.

If you’ve ever experienced an allergic reaction to this drug medication, you must not take it again. Taking it again can be fatal (cause death).

Warnings for people who have certain health conditions

Kidney disorders:  this drug medication is cleared from your body by the filtering action of your kidneys. If you suffer from kidney disease, you may have problems in clearing the drug from your body.

When this happens the drug may accumulate in your body increasing the level of the drug in your system and the risk of more side effects which you are likely to encounter.

This drug medication may also worsen the function of your kidneys and in order to counteract this problem, your doctor can prescribe a lower dose for you to take.

Advanced HIV or a history of transplants: If you suffer from advanced HIV or from a history of bone marrow or kidney transplant, you may have a higher risk of having certain blood disorders.

These conditions are referred to as thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

This can cause a severely low amount of platelets and red blood cells in your body and you should note that both TTP and HUS can cause death.

Bottom line

There are so many different features and unique characteristics of drug medications such as the effectiveness of drug medications, it would be unwise not to know about some of the other unique traits and that’s what this article has tried to do. It began by discussing how this drug medication works and ended with warnings to past, present and potential users with so much more in between. We hope you’ve grasped the pertinent aspects of this drug medication.

When a drug medication such as Valacyclovir goes into action to help first time herpes sufferers escape their misery, it usually takes up to about 10 days (or even longer is some cases) for the herpes or cold sore blisters to heal and dissipate from the effects of this medication. Sure, whatever active ingredient may be responsible for healing the condition but usually it’s the timing that’s critical in the healing process. Read on to learn the reasons why.

Valacyclovir and recurring herpes outbreaks

What’s so disturbing about herpes is its propensity to remain dormant in the body for weeks, months and even years between outbreaks. Dormancy of course means to be temporarily inactive meaning that herpes can stay inactive until such time as something comes by and trigger its awakening.

It’s medically known that on average, people who have the HSV-1 virus infection would experience only about one outbreak in a year, but people with the HSV-2 variant would normally experience four of five outbreaks each year.

It really doesn’t matter how many outbreaks of herpes or cold sore there are in a year, the good news is that Valacyclovir is always on hand to provide a fast and effective solution to the painful and discomforting effects of the herpes infection.

Typically the dose for valacyclovir for patients who suffer from recurring herpes outbreaks has been set at 500 mg which needs to be taken twice daily for a period of three days.

Similar to the administration of valacyclovir to first-time herpes sufferers, doses of this drug medication should be given or taken as soon as you notice the first signs of an outbreak of herpes developing.

In doing so you’ll be ensuring that valacyclovir will provide the user with quick relief in as little as two to three days. When you use this approach you’d be minimizing the herpes symptoms and also reduce the risk of passing genital herpes to your sexual partner.

The difference between HSV-1 and HSV-2

Is there a difference between these herpes outbreaks? Strictly speaking the answer to this question is that there’s no great difference except in their recurring cycles with HSV-1 sufferers expecting to suffer from only one outbreak a year while those who have HSV-2 tend to experience 4 to 5 outbreaks a year.

Treatment for shingles

The typical dose of Valacyclovir for shingles is a big dose of !,000 mg which should be taken three times a day meaning that the dose is divided into three smaller doses that can be taken for the day.

Whatever type of herpes you have, it’s very important that the best way to treat them is to begin administering valacyclovir as soon as you notice the shingles symptoms beginning to appear.

A majority of experts recommend that for best results, the administration of valacyclovir should begin within 72 hours from the time the symptoms of herpes begin to appear.

Valacyclovir (Valtrex) for cold sore treatment

The treatment for cold sores is double that of shingles with two large doses of 2,000 mg. This dose should be divided into doses of 12 hours apart from each other.

Similar to the other outbreaks of HSV, the administering of valacyclovir will set in motion a speedy process for healing cold sores.

However, despite the rapid and effective action of valacyclovir, it will still take from 7 to 10 days for the herpes blisters to heal and fully disappear.

Acting quickly is the best solution for herpes outbreaks

If you are worried about cold sores or shingles outbreaks there is a sure solution which you can use by simply acting quickly to ensure that fast relief will be delivered in time to stop an HSV-1 or HSV-2  outbreak.

It’s for this reason that most doctors recommend that valacyclovir should be taken in the first 24-72 hours (1-3 days) after the first appearance of cold sore or other herpes blister is seen to be developing.

If you notice a cold sore or any other herpes outbreak symptoms occurring, you should talk to your doctor about how to administer the treatment and other relief options as soon as you can.

What about the Mylan Valacyclovir 500 mg tablet?

In addition to the huge doses available for treating cold sores and genital herpes (shingles) mentioned earlier, this 500 mg tablet form drug medication was specifically manufactured to tackle the onslaught of genital herpes or shingles.

Nevertheless the treatment can also be used for cold sores in addition to other uses but it does require several days before kicking in.

Instructions on the Valacyclovir 500 mg tablet

This version of the earlier big doses of valacyclovir for cold sore and shingles is taken 3 times a day but your doctor and pharmacist may have other instructions for you to follow that may prove more beneficial for you.

You should nevertheless take it continuously on a regular basis so that you can reap a sustained benefit from its effects.

, More important, you should heed and act on the following instructions:

• Carefully read and follow the instructions inscribed on the label
• Avoid using more of the medication than what has been prescribed
• Avoid using the medication more often than what is prescribed
• Should you miss your dose inadvertently, take it when you remember but if it’s almost time to take your scheduled dose, don’t take your missed dose and take your scheduled dose instead.
• Never double up your doses to make up for the dose you missed
• You may take this medication with or without food

Side effects caused by Valacyclovir

When the above directions are strictly followed, experts claim that the medication will work perfectly, otherwise, it can cause certain side effects which you should have avoided in the first place by following the instructions. If you fail to avoid them, here are some of them for you to remember: Essentially valacyclovir may cause:

• nausea and vomiting;
• headaches;
• stomach ache;
• menstrual pain.
• joint pains.

There’s also the issue of different reactions by different persons to the taking of valacyclovir. If you are in fact experiencing side effects mentioned above in addition to others, you should consult with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help you identify whether or not the drug medication is the cause of the problem.

Bottom line

When you are absolutely convinced that a particular drug medication is one of the best and most popular medications there is, you must have the facts to prove that this is the case. You would positively conclude that valacyclovir is one such medication. Indeed you would pursue the point further by pointing out the pros and cons of the medication and further convince readers that there’s something unique about valacyclovir as we’ve attempted to reveal in this article.

When you come across a drug medication that possesses the ability to treat a variety of conditions, then you have a versatile treatment at your disposal. Drug medication Valacyclovir is one such medication and it would be to your benefit to know and understand as much as you can about this particular drug treatment not only for your own health but for the good of your family, friends and colleagues with whom you may share the good fortune.

How Valacyclovir is used as a drug treatment

There are a variety of uses for Valacyclovir as a treatment for infections caused by different types of viruses.

It’s used in children for treating cold soresthat usually appear around the mouth after being caused by herpes simplexas well as chickenpoxwhen caused by varicella zoster.  

In adults this medication is used for the treatment of shingles which are caused by herpes zostertogether with the treatment ofcold soresthat normally appear around the mouth area.

Genital Herpes is another infection that can be treated with Valacyclovir especially in people who suffer from frequent outbreaks of the infection and administration of this treatmentis done in order to reduce the number of future outbreaks.

Essentially, Valacyclovir is an anti-viral drug, meaning that it prevents certain viruses from growing but unfortunately it’s not a permanent cure for the infections it treats.

It’s known that the viruses that give rise to these infections actually continue to thrive in the body between outbreaks.

What Valacyclovir does is to reduce the severity and therefor pain and discomfort caused by outbreaks of the infections.

It helps the sores that develop to heal and disappear faster, it prevents new sores from springing up and effectively reduces the pain and itching that usually accompany these outbreaks.

This drug medication may also assist in reducing the duration of the pain that lingers in the body after the sores have healed.

Administering Valacyclovir as a treatment

The best procedure you should follow before you actually start takingvalacyclovirconsists of the following:

• Carefully read the Patient Information Leaflet which should arrive with the medication from your pharmacist.You should do this before you start taking valacyclovir and every time you go for a refill. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about anything else you want to know about this drug.
• You should take valacyclovir by mouth, with or without food, according to the doctor’s direction. You should drink lots of fluids while you are taking this medication so you can minimize the risk of side effects.
• Your type of infection, medical condition, and response to treatment will determine the potency of your dose as well as the duration of your treatment. For the treatment of chickenpox in children, weight should also be factored in to determine the child’s dose.
• For getting best results from Valacyclovir, the medication should be used immediately at the first sign of an outbreak, and as directed by your doctor. Delaying treatment man not allow the medication to work as well as expected.
• In the case of an outbreak of chickenpox or shinglesthis drug medication should be administered at the first signs of a symptom or very soon after the outbreak starts.
• For cold sores or genital herpes, this medication should be taken at the appearance of the first sign of the symptom or as soon as the itching, tingling, and burning sensations are felt.
• This drug medication is more effective when there’s a constant amount of the medication in the body. To maintain this constant level of presence, you should take the medication at uniform intervals. To help you remember to take your dose, take your dose at the same time each day.
• The duration of treatment should continue until your supply of tablets run out. However, you should not skip or prematurely stop the treatment without the prior approval of your doctor. You should also inform your doctor if your condition continues or gets worse.

How long to wait before Valacyclovir kicks in?

Normally sold under the Valtrex name tag, the drug medication Valacyclovir is touted as one of the most popular and effective drug medications on the market these days.

It’s used mainly for treating and controlling cold sore infections, shingles and genital herpes.

Admittedly, this drug medication doesn’t cure herpes however, it can help treat the bodily symptoms of HSV-1 and HSV-2. The medication is also used in under prescription form for treating chickenpox that’s caused by the varicella zoster virus.

Various factors are involved in the length of time it takes this drug medication to start working in the body. These factors involve the type of infection you have, your dose of the valacyclovir medication and the symptoms you begin to notice which weren’t there before you began your treatment.

Dissipating cold soars fast with Valacyclovir

If you are a first-time sufferer of a herpes outbreak, then valacyclovir is the most effective treatment provided it’s administered within 48 hours from the appearance of the symptoms

The standard dose of this drug medication for those suffering from a herpes outbreak for the first time is a high of 1,000 mg taken two times a day for a period of 10 days.

It’s known that valacyclovir will immediately go to work as soon as it enters your system, but it can produce a clear improvement several days after being ingested.

It would normally take up to ten days for herpes blisters to finally heal even with the effective help of the valacyclovir drug treatment. However, it’s very important that for achieving best results, the administering of valacyclovir should ideally occur as soon as you notice herpes symptoms showing up.

Sometimes you doctor may prescribe this medication for a longer duration that the 10 days already mentioned or apply a different potency of you dose. It’s always advisable to follow the instructions your doctor gives you.

It’s equally important that you complete the full treatment course even if the herpes blisters have healed and gone before the end of the treatment period.

Bottom line

There’s very little doubt that a great deal of research goes into every drug medication that’s produced and ultimately finds itself in the drug market for sale to the public. The drug medication Valacyclovir is definitely one of them and users attest to its efficacy by the fact that it has continued to be one of the best treatments for herpes more popularly called cold sore due to the different ways it’s used, how it’s administered and how it works in your body.

Every drug treatment has its own side effects that may be categorized into two main kinds, less serious and more serious. On this occasion, the question is: What are the more serious side effects of azithromycin? Side effects may be defined as necessary evils that normally accompany a noble practice – that of offering the most efficacious drug medication to treat the sufferings of ordinary people so they can get along with their lives.

Side effects that you should take note of

Side effects caused by taking antibiotic medication such as azithromycin should be regarded as serious instances that warrant your personal attention.

It’s true that there are side effects that are less serious than others but whether or not they are shouldn’t make you lower your guard. Instead you should be proactive and go into action the moment you feel their onslaught.

Azithromycin’s more serious side effects

It’s a must that your call your doctor immediately if you experience serious side effects or call the emergency number of your area if you believe the side effect is life threatening or that a medical emergency is likely. More serious side effects may include:

• liver problems. The symptoms here may include:
  • fatigue or weakness
  • loss of appetite
  • pain in your belly  or upper abdomen
  • dark urine
  • yellowing of the whites of your eyes or your skin

• QT prolongation, which may cause fast irregular heartbeat. Symptoms of QT prolongation may include:

• a fluttering feeling in your chest
  • gasping during your sleep
  • fainting

• Allergic reactions. Symptoms can include:

• difficulty breathing
  • swelling of throat, face, tongue and lips
  • hives
  • serious skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), or toxic epidermal necrolysis, which may cause symptoms of re, blistering skin or sloughing of your skin (peeling of dead skin cells)

• Diarrhea that’s cause by bacteria Clostridium difficile (C. diff). Included with the diarrhea are symptoms that may include:

• fever
  • abdominal or belly pain
  • nausea
  • loss of appetite

• Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis or narrowing or blockage of part of the digestive system in newborns). Symptoms may include:

• vomiting after eating your meal
  • irritability when feeding
  • failure in gaining weight

Immediately call your doctor or local poison control center if you have an allergic reaction. If the symptoms are severe, call your local emergency number. For your own benefit don’t take this drug again if you’ve ever experienced an allergic reaction from it as taking it again can be fatal.

Azithromycin in the spotlight

There are three major features of azithromycin you should keep in mind:

1. Azithromycin is now available in this generic name and the drug brand name Zithromax.
2. Azithromycin can be given as a tablet or in liquid (suspension) form and taken orally. It can be given as eye drops and intravenously by your health care provider.
3. Azithromycin is mainly used for treating bacterial infections.

Precautionary warnings about azithromycin

• Warning on an irregular heartbeat. It’s a known fact that azithromycin has the ability to cause an abnormal heartbeat known as QT prolongation.

Of greater concern is that this condition can be aggravated if you are already suffering from certain issues with your heartbeat or if you are already taking drugs that may also give rise to QT prolongation.

Older adults are more susceptible to the risk of getting QT prolongation. This QT prolongation problem is very serious and may even be deadly in some cases.

If you are experiencing any issues with the beating rhythm of your heart, you should tell your doctor before you actually begin to take azithromycin.

You also need to tell your doctor about the every other medications you are taking before begin taking the drug.

• Warning on antibiotic-related diarrhea. It’s also a known fact that nearly allantibiotics, in addition to azithromycin, may cause diarrhea. 

It can cause mild diarrhea to severe inflammation of your colon and may even cause death. If you get severe diarrhea, call you doctor especially if it persists even after you stop taking this drug medication.

• Warning on problems for your liver. It’s very rare that this drug medication will cause liver problems. However, if you are already experiencing liver problems, taking azithromycin can exacerbate the functioning of your liver.

It’s possible that your doctor may want to monitor the function of you liver during your treatment with azithromycin.

You may also undergo blood tests to find out how well your liver is functioning. If you liver happens to function poorly, your doctor may have to take you off this drug.

• Warning on myasthenia gravis. It’s also a medical fact that azithromycin can aggravate symptoms of myasthenia gravis. What is myasthenia gravis?

Simply put, myasthenia gravis is a condition that can cause symptoms that involve the weakness of muscles that help the body’s mobility.

This drug medication can also cause another similar condition known as myasthenic syndrome. If you do have myasthenia gravis, make sure you inform your doctor before you start taking azithromycin.

Warnings for other groups

For pregnant Women

No clinical studies on azithromycin have been evaluated for pregnant women. Nevertheless, when it was used by women during pregnancy, the drug has never been found to raise the risk of failed births, birth defects or any other issues.

In one study pregnant rats showed a rise in fetal death and fetal development after birth, but a majority ofanimal studies of azithromycin have not shown any rise in the risk of defects after birth. Be sure to keep in mind that animal studies don’t always reveal what ultimately happens in humans.

For women who breastfeed

Evidence suggests that azithromycin does pass into breast milk of milk producing women. It logically follows that the child being breast fed may develop side effects which may include rash, diarrhea and vomiting.

Breastfeeding women should discuss with their doctor about the safety of breastfeeding while taking azithromycin.

Bottom line

Knowing all the side effects that may be caused from taking azithromycin or amoxicillin is a a very desirable situation when you want to protect yourself from less harmful side effects to the serious side effects that have been discussed in this article. The punch line however is not so much how many side effects that you know but rather, your willingness to precisely follow the directions that your health provider gives to you. By doing so you can avoid so many complications that may impact your health and even your life!

We now come to a very interesting juncture in our read and knowledge of drug medication which has been ushered in by the question: What’s the difference between amoxicillin and azithromycin? The question is interesting because both are antibiotics and we already know that all antibiotics are used for treating bacterial infections so they are similar right? Actually, no, because there are similarities and differences between them which you will discover when you continue reading this article.

Some important facts about amoxicillin and azithromycin

If you have suffered from the effects of a bacterial sinus infection or many other different types of bacterial infections that often occur, there’s a very good chance that you have taken an antibiotic as a remedy.

Whichever antibiotic you took would depend on what the doctor prescribes for you as the right medication for treating your bacterial infection.

Regardless of which one of the two you took, Azithromycin and amoxicillin are two of the most popular antibiotics used for treating bacterial infections, but not viral infections such as the common cold or flue.

Azithromycin

The brand name for Azithromycin is Zithromax which is normally prescribed as Zithromax Z-Pak and is categorized under a group of medications called macrolide antibiotics.

When Azithromycin is fighting against bacteria, it binds itself to the bacteria and prevents it from generating proteins which it needs for it to survive.

Usually, Azithromycin is used for treating pneumonia, sinus infections in the nasal and brain cavities aa well as sexually transmitted diseases and more.

Amoxcillin

The brand name for Amoxicillin is Amoxil on the other hand and is categorized under a family of medications called penicillin or beta-lactam antibiotics.

What Amoxicillin does when attacking bacteria is it prevents them from creating cell walls which kills effectively kills bacteria.

It’s commonly used for treating bacterial infections such as infections of the throat, infections of the ears, pneumonia and other infections.

Despite the fact that they are antibiotics, they do have many differences and as mentioned earlier, you need to read on to know more.

Main differences between azithromycin and amoxicillin

Let’s have a look at Azithromycin first. Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic known by brand name Zithromax which is produced by Pfizer. This medication is usually prescribed in a tablet form and is contained in a Zithromax Z-Pak, which is a six-tablets, 5-day treatment course of azithromycin. It can also be taken in tablet form contained in a Zithromax Tri-Pak for a shorter 3-day course of azithromycin.

Amoxicillin on the other hand is a penicillin antibioticwith the brand name of Amoxil. Unfortunately this brand name is no longer available on the market so this medication is available only by its generic name of Amoxicillin. This drug medication is usually prescribed in capsule form or combined with clavulanic acid (for preventing resistance) under the name Augmentin. Amoxicillin is usually used for treating infections in adults as well as children by indication.

For both of these drug medications, if you happen to be under treatment you should take them precisely as directed by the doctor or pharmacist, and also to complete the full course, even if you feel better soon after taking the treatment.

Conditions treated by amoxicillin and azithromycin

Azithromycin

Azithromycin is used for treating different types of bacterial infections both in adults and children as listed below. However it shouldn’t be used for treating patients who have:

• pneumonia
• cystic fibrosis
• nosocomial infections
• known or suspected bacteremia (bacteria of the blood)
•  patients in hospital,
• debilitated or elderly patients,
• patients with compromised immune system
• patients suffering from asplenia (no spleen).

The following list makes up more of the conditions that can be treated with azithromycin:

• Severe ear infection (otitis media) of children >6 months of age caused by Hemophilus influenza, Streptococcus pneumonia or Moraxella catarrhalis
• Severe bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis caused by Haemophilus influenza, Moraxella catarrhalis, or Streptococcus pneumonia.
• Severe bacterial sinusitis causedby Streptococcus pnewmoniae
• Urethritis and cervicitis due to Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhaeae
• Community-acquired pneumonia due to Chlamydophila pnewmoniae, Haemophilus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenza, Mycoplasma pneumonia, or Streptecoccus pneumonia (children older than 6 months and adults)
• Uncomplicated skin/sin structure infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, or Streptococcus agalactiae
• Genital ulcer disease in men caused by Haemophilus ducreyi (chancroid)
• Pharyngitis/tonsillitis due to Chlamydia Trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhaeae

Similarly, Amoxicillin is also used for treating different types of bacterial infections:

• in a combined triple treatment with lansoprazole and clarithromycin (Prevpac) for patients with pylori-infection and duodenal ulcer
• Ear-nose-throat infections caused by known strains of Streptococcus, pneumonia, Staphylococcus spp., or E. faecalis
• Genitourinary tract infections from coli, P. mirabilis, or E. faecalis
• Eradication of pylori- for lowering the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence
• Skin-skin structural infections caused by known strains of Streptococcus Staghylococcus, or E. coli
• Chronic uncomplicated gonorrhea in males and females caused by gonorrhoeae
• Lower respiratory tract infections caused by known strains of Streptococcus, S. pnewmoniae, Staphylococcus, or H. influenza

A very important aspect of using either azithromycin or amoxicillin in treating bacterial infections is that they should be used precisely according to directions given by the doctor or pharmacist.

Which is more effective of the two antibiotics?

To determine the effectiveness of azithromycin and amoxicillin, several factors should be considered such as:

• the cause of infection should be indicated
• where the infection has taken place
• what antibiotic would be the most appropriate
• the administration of the antibiotic as to dose, time and duration
• the efficacy of the antibiotic

All these were applied in a study that compared a single dose of azithromycin to a 10-day regimen of amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin) for children suffering from ear infections. It was found by researchers that both drugs were both drugs were effective and well tolerated.

Another study done in Brazil involved 100 patients with infectious exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The study concluded that both drugs were also effective in treating the infections and were well-tolerated by the patients.

Therefore the efficacy of both antibiotics has been confirmed so if you suffer from bacterial infection, you should approach your doctor or pharmacist soonest.

He/she will examine your case to decide on using the most appropriate antibiotic for you after factoring in your symptoms, medical history, along with the drugs you’ve taken or are taking that may interact with azithromycin or amoxicillin.

Your only obligation is to precisely follow the directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist until your treatment course ends and not before.

Bottom line

Comparing drug medications or any medication for that matter is not a simple process. It usually involves a dual responsibility of both health provider and you as the person being treated to do exactly what they are supposed to do for the welfare of the patient. A research study is carried out to ascertain drug efficacy; it is then applied to the patient. The patient takes the medication precisely as directed right to the end and the result should be a successful cure!

It comes as no surprise to find that some drug medications can continue for as long as your doctor has prescribed and directed. By following these directions, you can be confident that the best medical care has been provided for you. You may wonder for instance why azithromycin is given only for 3 days in a special Azithromycin 3 Day Dose Pack. Well, that’s also the way best medical care has been given to ensure your full recovery. Let’s study this approach.

Bacterial harm

This specially prescribed dose is used as treatment for different kinds of infections that are caused by bacteria.

These infections are serious as all infections are when not treated properly. They are like sores that can fester due to bacterial action when left unattended where bacteria survive, multiply and wreak havoc to your body.

However, when treated with antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist, such as the azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack, they go away simply because antibiotics actually destroy bacteria outright or prevent them from propagating in order to multiply.

The azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack

The 3-Day Dose Pack of azithromycin is used for treating many different types of infection that are caused by bacteria,

These conditions include infections of the lungs, sinus (cavities that exist in the brain and nasal passages), cervix, urinary tract, throat, tonsils, skin or genitals.

In addition to these infections the azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack can also be used to treat a host of other infections which are not listed here.

Very Important pertinent information

1. You shouldn’t use the azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack if you suffered an allergic reaction, jaundice, or liver problems while taking Azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack.
2. You should not use azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack if you’ve ever suffered severe allergic reaction to similar drugs such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, or telithromycin

Pay attention to these things first

You shouldn’t use Azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack, if you allergic to the treatment and if you’ve ever suffered from:

• jaundice or liver problems from taking azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack or
• a chronic  allergic response to the same kind of drugs such as clarithromycin, erythromycin or telithromycin

The azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack shouldn’t be used for treating pneumonia in people who suffer from:

• cystic fibrosis;
• an infection following admission to a hospital;
• blood infection;
• a debilitated immune system caused by cancer or HIV/AIDS normally suffered by older adults and sick or weak people.

You should tell your doctor if you’ve ever suffered from:

• liver or kidney disease;
• myasthenia gravis;
• pneumonia;
• low potassium levels in your blood;
• irregular heart beat; or
• long QT syndrome or a family member.

There’sno medical evidenceto suggest that genital ulcers in women can be effectively treated by azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack.

Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding your child. If you are breastfeeding ahd you take azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack, you may suffer vomiting, diarrhea, or rash in the baby you’re breastfeeding.

Anyone younger than 6 months old isn’t permitted to take the azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack and azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack shouldn’tbeused to treat throat or tonsil infection in a child who is younger than 2 years old.

So how should azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack be taken?

Precisely follow the directions given on the prescription label or instruction sheets.

Azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack can be taken by mouth and can also be injected into a vein for 2 days before you can change over to taking Azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack orally.

This injection of the medication will normally be administered by a healthcare provider.

You can take Azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack oral with or without food.

You need to shake the oral suspension which is in liquid form prior to measuring a dose. To do so you should use the dosing syringe provided or a device for measuring the precise dose.

Don’t use an ordinary kitchen spoon.

You must use the Azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack for the full length of the prescribed time, even if you feel an improvement in your condition.

If you skip doses, your risk of re-infection will increases due to bacterial resistance to your medication.

You should also note that like all other antibiotics, the Azithromycin will not treat viral infection such as the flu or the common cold.

Sore your medication at room temperature and keep it away from heat and moisture. Dispose of any unused liquid medication after 10 days.

What if you miss a dose…?

The moment you remember that you missed you dose, take it but not if you’re about to take your next dose. In that case skip you missed dose and take your normal dose.

…Or overdose you medication?

If you inadvertently overdose on your medication, immediately ring the emergency number of your area and get treatment for poisoning.

Things to avoid when taking Azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack

Normally, medicines may cause the onslaught of diarrhea, a telltale sign of a new infection.

If your stool is loose, watery or bloody contact your doctor before you use treatment for your diarrhea.

You may become sun sensitive after taking Azithromycin 3 Day Dose Pack and get sunburn more readily. Avoid sunlight or tanning beds if that’s the case.

You should also cover your body more by wearing suitable clothing and using sunscreen out in the open.

Side effects of Azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack

You should immediately seek medical attention if you develop signs of allergic reaction such as:

• red or purpleskin rash that causes blistering and peeling
• difficulty in breathing
• hives
• severe skin reaction
• fever
• sore throat
• burning in your eyes
• skin pain

If you suffer from severe drug reaction that may affect many parts of your body, you need to seek medical treatment. Symptoms can include:

• yellowing of your skin and eyes
• swollen glands
• skin rash
• muscle aches
• severe weakness,
• unusual bruising

Bottom line

You should now have sufficient information on Azithromycin 3-Day Dose Pack. It should now be possible for you to know what is entailed in taking this liquid form medication and the moment you start taking it. You should know what it is, how to take it, what you should do if you forget your dose or when you overdose, but just as important, or even more so, what you should do to guard against side effects. The ball in now in your court!

Most of the time, we hardly devote time for understanding the kind of medications that available for us, what they’re made of, the conditions they treat or whether or not they’ve proven successful. Sometimes however, a unique opportunity arises when we can spend a little time in trying to understand something about a particular treatment – the azithromycin 500 mg. It’s not a difficult task because all you have to do is read this article.

Uses for the 500 mg azithromycin tablet

The generic name for this particular antibiotic is azithromycin 500 mg and its brand name is Zithromax. This effectively means that azithromycin and Zithromax are exactly the same product but with different names.

As a macrolide-type antibiotic, azithromycin mainly use for the treatment of an extensive variety of bacterial infections.

It acts by stopping the growth of bacteria through actual neutralization or by disabling the ability of the bacteria to procreate and multiply.

It’s worthwhile to note that the medication won’t treat viral infections such as the common cold or flu.

In the event that this antibiotic treatment is misused unnecessarily, its potency and therefore effectiveness may be compromised.

Actually using azithromycin 500 mg

Before actually using the medication you should spend time reading thePatient Information Leaflet inside the medical box delivered to you and for each time when you get a refill.

If you have any doubts about using the medication, always ask your doctor or pharmacist for their advice.

You should take the medication by mouth as directed by your doctor once a day with or without food.

If you experience a stomach upset from taking the medication, you should have some food before taking it.

The prescribed dose for you is usually based on your medical condition and your ability to respond to the treatment.

Antibiotics are known to work effectively when the presence of the medicine in your body remains at a constant level.

It’s therefore wise to take the medication at the same time every day.

You should continue taking the medication until you’ve used the whole prescribed amount. You should do this even if your symptoms have disappeared.

If you stop your medication earlier than you should, it’s quite likely that the bacteria will get breathing space in which to grow, your condition may reappear and may even worsen due to bacterial resistance.

You shouldn’t be taking antacids, containing aluminum or magnesium at the same time you are taking azithromycin because its absorption of azithromycin into your body will decrease.

However, if you do take the antacid you should wait for about 2 hours before or after taking azithromycin. As always, inform your doctor if your condition continues or worsens.

Side effects caused from taking azithromycin 500 mg

• Stomach upset – abdominal pain, diarrhea/loose stools, nausea or vomiting

Quickly inform your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects persist or get worse. Always remember that the physician prescribed the medication in a way that will benefit you more than placing a greater risk for you to get side effects.

Usually, many people who take the medication do hot get serious side effects. However, you should tell your doctor promptly should any of these rare but serious side effects take place:

• Hearing changes – such as decreased hearing ability or deafness
• Eye issues –such as drooping eyelids or blurred vision, speaking difficulty/swallowing,
• muscle weakness – such as looseflabby muscles unsuitable for mobility.
• liver problems – such as unusual fatigue
• persistent – nausea/vomiting
• severe stomach/abdominal pain.
• yellowing of eyes/skin,
• dark urine

You should get immediate medical help if any of these very rare but serious side effects occur:

• fast irregular hearbeat,
• severe dizziness, fainting
• the medication seldom causes severe intestinal condition Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea because of resistant bacteria. The condition may take place during treatment or weeks and even months after the end of the course.
• refrain from using anti-diarrhea products or narcotic pain treatments if you are experiencing any of these symptoms because they may exacerbate your condition.

Immediately tell your doctor if you develop:

• continuing diarrhea, abdominal or stomach pain/cramping, blood/mucus in your stool. The continued use of azithromycin for lengthy or repeated periods may cause oral thrush or a new yeast infection.

You should also contact your doctor if you notice the following:

• white patches in your mouth,
• change ininvagal discharge
• other new symptoms

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is very rare, nevertheless, you should enlist medical help immediately if you notice symptoms of a serious allergic response that may include:

• rash, itching/swelling particularly of the face/tongue or throat.
• severe dizziness,
• trouble breathing

Sometimes, an allergic response to the medication may reoccur even if the treatment is stopped. Continue to monitor the situation for any of the symptoms mentioned above for several days following your last dose. Note that the above list of side effects is not exhaustive.

However if you happen to notice additional effects not included in the above list, quickly contact your doctor or pharmacist.

If you’re in the US, call your doctor and ask for advice on side effects or report side effects to the FDA. If you’re in Canada, ask your doctor for medical advice on side effects or report your problem to Health Canada.

Precautions you should know about azithromycin 500 mg

Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are allergic to azithromycin before you actually begin taking it as well as any other antibiotics such as erythromycin, clarithromycin and telithromycin including any other allergies that you may have.

Inactive ingredients may be contained in azithromycin that may cause allergic responses or other issues. Ask you pharmacist to provide more details on the drug.

Don’t use the medication until you’ve told your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially information about:

• liver disease orkidney disease
• a muscle disease calledmyasthenia gravis
• irregular heart beat as the medication may cause a condition that affects heart rhythm also known as QT prolongation which can also cause severe dizziness and fainting which requires prompt medical attention.

Before you take azithromycin tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the drugs you’re taking and if you have any of the conditions listed below:

• heart problems such as heart failure, slow heartbeat
• family history of certain heart problems such as QT prolongation in the EKG
• sudden cardiac death
• low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood which may increase the risk of QT prolongation.

The risk may increase if you use drugs such as diuretics/”water pills” or if you have chronic sweating, vomiting or diarrhea.

Bottom line

Following a sufficiently detailed study of the side effects of azithromycin, you immediately become aware that a considerable study has already been undertaken on the 500 mg drug medication as to what it is and how it is used. You also become familiar with the many different types of side effects that are caused from taking azithromycin and the steps you need to make to make its use as effective as possible on your health. This article offers a wealth of information on the 500 mg dose.

Bacteria is a word that automatically brings about a sense of caution, of foreboding, of threat. Many regard it as a danger to health and we have to wash our hands to make sure they are not transmitted to the rest of our body. Against this threat is a cure, an antibiotic called azithromycin (among others).  To find out more we ask: What is azithromycin used to treat?Read on and find out.

Interest often uncovers many answers

Without beating around the bush, azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria by destroying them outright or by neutralizing them. Even so bacteria don’t give up that easy and we find them coming back again and again. Thank goodness we have antibiotics such as azithromycin.

This antibiotic is used to chest infections in the chest such as pneumonia, as well as nose and throat infections also known as sinus infections (sinusitis)

It’s also used to treat skin infections and the serious tick transmitted Lyme disease that brings an onslaught of skin rash, headaches and fever as precursors to arthritis and nervous disorder that follow.

The antibiotic is also used as treatment for some sexually transmitted infections. is not restricted to use by adults as children are also able to use it especially for the treatment of ear infections

Some people have a recurring incidence of chest infections and the use of azithromycin can provide an intermittent relief for their condition.

 Azithromycin, the antibiotic comes in capsule, tablet or liquid form for drinking. Injection is another method of delivering the antibiotic but only in a hospital.

Main facts to know about azithromycin

Here are highly important facts you should know about azithromycin:

• When you use Azithromycin, you should take it once a day and if possible at the same time each day.
• If your doctor has prescribed your dosage of azithromycin tablets, you need to take them 1 hour before meals or 2 hours after you’ve eaten. If the doctor has prescribed tablets or liquid, you can them with or without food.
• It’s important that you take the full course of the medication even if you feel better within a few days.
• You should note that the most common side effects of azithromycin include feeling sick, vomiting, headaches, diarrhea or a change in your sense of taste.
• Zithromax is also the brand name for azithromycin.

Can just anyone take azithromycin?

Both children and adults are permitted to take azithromycin, however, it isn’t suitable for some people and this may include you. You should therefore make it a point to inform your doctor if you’ve or have:

• experienced an allergic reaction to azithromycin or any other medication in the past.
• kidney or liver problems
• irregular heartbeats or arrhythmia
• experienced diarrhea when you took antibiotics in the past
• symptoms of the muscle-weakening illness myasthenia gravis which can worsen when you take azithromycin
• diabetes – as azithromycin contains sugar

The right way and time for taking azithromycin

Taking medicine is very serious business and less so for taking azithromycin. You are required to try and take your medication according to the way and the time prescribed for you by your doctor.

When you do take your prescribed treatment, try to take it again at the same time every day.

Usually, the prescribed dose should be a 500 mg/day over a period of 3 to 10 days which will depend on the kind of infection being treated.

In the case of some infections, your dose may be boosted by a higher “one-off” addition of 1g or 2g of azithromycin.

The dose may be lowered for children or for patients who have liver or kidney troubles.

The long term prescription of azithromycin has been made to prevent recurring incidents of chest infection in some patients and in these instances azithromycin is normally taken 3 times weekly on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

It’s very important that you continue taking the medication until the completion of the course even if you feel better than when you didn’t take the antibiotic. If you decide to end your treatment early, there’s a good chance the infection will reoccur again.

How should azithromycin be taken?

Like all other antibiotics the best way to take azithromycin is in line with what the doctor prescribed. If capsules are prescribed, you should take them 1 hour before you eat your meals or 2 hours after  your meals.

If instead you are given the antibiotic in tablet or liquid form, its alright to take them with or without food.

Use a glass of water to help you swallow the tablets and capsules

If people have difficulty in swallowing the prescribed tablets and capsules such as children or other persons, azithromycin is available in liquid form.

Azithromycin in liquid form is usually prepared by your pharmacist and will usually be delivered with a syringe or spoon to help you measure an accurate dose.

It’s important that if you don’t have a spoon, ask you pharmacist to provide one. Don’t use a normal kitchen spoon as it won’t give you the accurate amount.

It’s normal for liquid azithromycin to have a bitter taste so it would be good for the children taking it to be given a drink of fruit juice after they take the medication.

What if I forgot to take dose?

When that happens, you should take it the moment you remember, unless of course your next dose is just around the corner, which means that it’s too close for your next dose and if that is so, forget about the dose you missed and take the normal dose instead.

You must never take 2 doses simultaneously. Also never take an extra dose to make up for the dose you missed.

Forgetting a dose isn’t recommended so use something such as an alarm clock to remind you. Your pharmacist may also devise something that will help you remember.

But what if I take too much dose?

If you take more than the prescribed dose by mistake, don’t panic as it’s unlikely to cause harm to you or your child. Nevertheless, it may increase the risk of getting some side effects,

These side effects would normally include a nauseating feeling, vomiting or diarrhea.

Bottom line

Once your condition has been successfully treated with an antibiotic medicine such as azithromycin, your previous anxiety, depression, pain and even self-recrimination suddenly disappear and are replaced by relief and satisfaction in everything medicinal. That is, until another misfortune arises and the saga starts all over again. But there’s a difference, You now have more confidence in medicines and this one will be better than the last one!