Description:
Dosage:Intravenous-
Community-acquired pneumonia:
- Adult: 500 mg as single IV daily dose for at least 2 days followed by a single oral daily dose of 500 mg to complete 7-10 days of therapy.
- Elderly: No dosage adjustment needed.
Pelvic inflammatory disease:
- Adult: 500 mg as single IV daily dose for 1-2 days followed by a single oral daily dose of 250 mg tablet to complete a 7-day therapy.
- Elderly: No dosage adjustment needed.
Oral-
Skin and soft tissue infections, Respiratory tract infections:
- Adult: 500 mg once daily for 3 days. Alternatively, 500 mg as a single dose on the 1st day followed by 250 mg once daily for 4 days.
- Child: >6 mth 10 mg/kg; 15-25 kg: 200 mg; 26-35 kg: 300 mg; 36-45 kg: 400 mg. All doses to be taken once daily for 3 days.
- Elderly: No dosage adjustment needed.
Uncomplicated genital infections due to Chlamydia trachomatis, Chancroid, Non-gonococcal cervicitis/urethritis due to Chlamydia trachomatis:
- Adult: 1 g as a single dose.
- Elderly: No dosage adjustment needed.
Prophylaxis of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections:
- Adult: 1.2 g once wkly. For treatment or secondary prophylaxis: 500 mg once daily w/ other antimycobacterials.
- Child: 20 mg/kg once wkly. Max: 1.2 g. Alternatively 5 mg/kg once daily. Max: 250 mg.
- Elderly: No dosage adjustment needed.
Uncomplicated gonorrhoea:
- Adult: 2 g as a single dose.
- Elderly: No dosage adjustment needed.
Active immunisation against typhoid fever caused by Salmonella typhi:
- Adult: 1 g once daily for 5 days or 500 mg once daily for 7 days.
- Child: 3-17 yr 20 mg/kg (Max: 1 g) once daily for 5-7 days or 10 mg/kg (Max: 500 mg).
- Elderly: No dosage adjustment needed.
Granuloma inguinale:
- Adult: Initially, 1 g followed by 500 mg daily. Alternatively, 1 g once a wk for at least 3 wk, until all lesions have completely healed.
- Elderly: No dosage adjustment needed.
Ophthalmic-
Bacterial conjunctivitis:
- Adult: Instill 1 drop in the affected eye(s) bid for 2 days, then once daily for the next 5 days.
Oral: As common with many other antibiotics, Azithromycin should be taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meal and antacid.
Side Effects:
Azithromycin is well tolerated with a low incidence of side effects. Majority of the side effects were mild to moderate in nature and of gastro-intestinal in origin with nausea, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, flatulence and diarrhea. Allergic reactions such as rash have been occurred and there have also been rare reports of serious hypersensitivity reactions. Reversible elevations in liver transaminases have been seen with a frequency similar to the comparative macrolides and penicillins used in clinical trials. Transient mild reductions in neutrophil counts have occasionally been observed in clinical trials, although a causal relationship to Azithromycin has not been established.
Store below 25?C. Protect from light. Keep out of reach of children.
For IV infusion: When diluted according to the instructions, azithromycin for injection is stable for 24 hours at or below room temperature 30? C, or for 7 days if stored under refrigeration 5? C.
