Azithromycin is a macrolide or type of antibiotic which functions as a medicine for preventing the propagation of proteins on which the bacteria feeds and multiplies. The presence of azithromycin prevents the bacteria from growing into adults and therefore they can’t increase their numbers and finally, the remaining bacteria are eliminated by the immune system. This is basically how azithromycin works.

Azithromycin and its Limitations

Now that we know the right timing for taking azithromycin, next we can explore and ascertain the way it works. Similar to all other antibiotics, azithromycin is only capable of fighting certain bacteria. It’s because of this that people desiring to use the drug as medication should hold discussions with a doctor and to also note that azithromycin just doesn’t pack that wallop against viral infections such as the common flu or other viruses and it won’t function as a pain killer.

Favorable Features of Azithromycin 

Numerous studies have confirmed that arizithromycin destroys bacteria by stopping the formation of proteins on which bacteria feed and flourish. This has led to the use of Azithromycin as a treatment for infections caused by the bacteria Mycobacgterium avium, M. intracellulare, and Chlamydia trachomatis.

More specifically, azithromycin is:

• Used for the treatment of mild-to-moderate infections caused by weak bacteria in the skin, lungs, ears and sexually transmitted diseases.
• Used to treat and impede the progress of mycobacterium avium complex, a class of respiratory infection that occurs in people who have advanced HIV. It may also be used in combination with other antibiotics
• Proven active in combating a very wide range of microorganisms and has the ability of penetrating human skin tissue. However, some bacteria are able to resist azithromycin and  are able to survive.
• Able to be tolerated by patients and possess a stronger ability of penetrating human tissue than other antibiotics such as the macrolides group.
• Capable of being used to treat infections caused by bacteria in people who can’t tolerate penicillin.
• Used in a daily dose that improves adherence.
• Available in either a tablet or capsule, or in a powder form that can be reconstituted, as well as in an injection form.
• Capable of being available for use in a generic form.

It may also be effective in treating:

• Stomach diseases that are related to Helicobacter pylori:
• Infectious diseases of respiratory and ENT organs such as tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, laryngitis, aggravated bronchitis, pneumonia, average otitis:
• Urogenital bacteria infections caused by Chlamydia trahomatis or urethritis:
• Soft tissue infections and skin infection:
• Scarlet fever;
• Borreliosis in the early stage;

Interactions

The effectiveness of azithromycin in the way it functions as a successful treatment can be impeded by the process of interactions with other types of medicines. As such, it’s very important to understand the impact of interactions.

Generally speaking, the ultimate effect of interaction of azithromycin with other medicines, are mostly negative. They can act to decrease the effect of azithromycin, affect the time during which it can be active or increases side effects and when taken in combination with azithromycin the effect becomes less.

Sometimes, it’s difficult to decide whether or not to abandon the taking one of the medications but sometimes, it appears to be the right thing to do. If you feel unsure of how to act correctly, you should consult your doctor on how to manage drug interactions.

It has been found that using Azithromycin with alcoholic drinks and food slows the speed at which the drug is digested and it’s also advisable that whenever warfarin is used simultaneously with Azithromycin, the thrombocyte in the blood should be carefully monitored.

Contraindications

Azithromycin will not function properly on newborn babies and children with dysfunction of the kidneys or a liver.

Certain types of Azithromycin will also not function properly when used for patients under 16 years.

Azithromycin should not be given to patients who have intolerance of macrolides with diseased kidneys and disorders of the liver.

Some risk attaches to the use of Azithromycin by pregnant women. Women who breastfeed their child should not take the drug.

A heart rhythm disturbance is not a good recipe for taking Azithromycin.

Azithromycin for Treatment of Chlamydia

 The use of Azithromycin has proven effective in the treatment of Chlamydia because:

• It is used to treat Chlamydia of the lower urinogenital system.
• The drug is tolerated by patients being treated
• It can be used as treatment for teenagers and also during pregnancy.

The drug functions effectively for treating Chlamydia when: it’s applied in a dose of 1000mg taken only once. Should the chlamydial infection affect the upper parts of the urogenital path the treatment will change to a series of short courses with long rest periods between courses

The chlamydia treatment course using Azithromycin usually involves taking three intakes of the drug medication. The dose is 1000 mg of Azithromycin only once as mentioned earlier, with the doses taken 3 times every 7 days the first intake on day 1, the second on day 7 and the third on day 14.

A Different Approach for Tonsillitis Treatment

The standard medication procedure for treating tonsillitis with all other antibiotics involves a period of 10 days. But for Azithromycin it’s a different 3-5 days of treatment. There’s no hassle in using the drug when compared with the penicillin group because macrolides are viewed as the least toxic antibiotics.

The dose for tonsillitis is simple with a 500 mg Azithromycin a day taken by the patient and when a dose is missed the next dose can be taken in the next 24 hours. Children from 0.5 to 12 years should be given an oral suspension of Azithromycin once a day over 3 days. Reviews have shown  that this tonsillitis treatment works well.

Azithromycin for treating sinusitis or arthritis

The treatment of arthritis falls into two categories of adults and children:

Adults 12 and over

It should be noted that the treatment course is over 5 days for adults and children alike, with different dosages for the first day and the next four days as shown below:

• Shock dose (Azithromycin 500 mg) and 4 next days 250 mg a day.

Children under 12 years

• Prescribed oral suspension dose of 10 mg of Azithromycin on 1 kg of body weights of the child once a day. Dosage is decreased to 5mg/kg for the next 4 days.
• The highest dose is 30mg/kg for the next 4 days.

Bottom Line

There is no doubt that the efficacy of Azithromycin is brought to light by what has been discussed in this article. The drug medication is able to treat many different types of diseases for both adults and children below the age of 12 which inevitably includes newborn babies. It’s crystal clear that Azithromycin functions extremely well and in some case at least in the treatment of tonsillitis is ahead of the macrolides group.