New Mexico AIDS Infonet s8

AIDS InfoNet www.aidsinfonet.org Fact Sheet Number 530 AZITHROMYCIN (Zithromax) WHAT IS AZITHROMYCIN? sure to tell your health care provider if include diarrhea, nausea, and pain in Azithromycin is an antibiotic drug. In you are allergic to erythromycin or the abdomen. Some people get very the US, its brand name is Zithromax. It other antibiotics. sensitive to sunlight. Others may get is sold under many other brand names headaches, be dizzy or sleepy, or have in other countries including Ultreon. WHAT ABOUT DRUG some problems hearing. Very few Antibiotics fight infections caused by RESISTANCE? people who take azithromycin get bacteria. Azithromycin is used to fight Whenever you take medication, be these side effects. However, most anti- opportunistic infections in people with sure to take all of the prescribed doses. HIV medications also cause problems HIV. Pfizer and Mack-Illert manufacture Many people stop if they feel better. in the digestive system. Azithromycin it. This is not a good idea. If the drug could make those problems worse. doesn’t kill all of the germs, they might WHY DO PEOPLE WITH HIV change (mutate) so that they can Some people get a severe allergic TAKE AZITHROMYCIN? survive even when you are taking reaction to azithromycin. Let your medications. When this happens, the health care provider know Azithromycin is used for mild or immediately if you get severe moderate bacterial infections. It works drug will stop working. This is called “developing resistance” to the drug. diarrhea, fever, joint pain, serious against several different bacteria, stomach cramps or pain, swelling in especially chlamydia, hemophilus and For example, if you are taking your neck, mouth, hands and feet, or streptococcus. These bacteria can trouble breathing. infect the skin, nose, throat, and lungs. azithromycin to fight MAC and you They can also be transmitted through miss too many doses, the MAC in your body could develop resistance to Antibiotics kill some helpful bacteria sexual activity and cause infections in that normally live in the digestive the genital area. azithromycin. Then you would have to take a different drug or combination of system. You can eat yogurt or take drugs to fight MAC. supplements of acidophilus to replace Many germs live in our bodies or are them. common in our surroundings. A healthy immune system can fight them off or HOW IS AZITHROMYCIN HOW DOES AZITHROMYCIN keep them under control. However, TAKEN? HIV infection can weaken the immune Azithromycin is available in capsules or REACT WITH OTHER system. Infections that take advantage tablets of 250 milligram (mg). There is DRUGS? of weakened immune defenses are also a 600 mg tablet. It is also available Azithromycin is broken down by the called “opportunistic infections.” in powder and liquid forms. To fight liver. It can interact with other drugs People with advanced HIV disease can most infections, the dose for adults is that also use the liver. Scientists have get opportunistic infections. See Fact 500 mg on the first day, and then 250 not yet studied all the possible Sheet 500 for more information on mg each day for 4 more days. interactions. Azithromycin probably Opportunistic Infections. interacts with some blood thinners, The dose used to prevent MAC heart medications, seizure One opportunistic infection in people infection is 1200 mg or 1250 mg once medications, and other antibiotics. Be with HIV is MAC. This stands for a week. sure your health care provider mycobacterium avium complex. See knows about all the medications Fact Sheet 514 for more information on Azithromycin tablets can be taken with and supplements you are taking. MAC. People who have a CD4 cell or without food. Take it with plenty of count of less than 50 may develop water. The capsules or liquid should be Your health care provider may need to MAC. taken on an empty stomach, either 1 monitor you carefully if you are taking hour before eating or 2 hours after azithromycin and the protease inhibitor Azithromycin is often used with another eating. Be sure to check the ritonavir. antibiotic to treat MAC. It can also be instructions carefully. used to prevent MAC infection. If your Antacids with aluminum or magnesium CD4 cell count is below 50, talk to your Do not take azithromycin at the same can lower blood levels of azithromycin. health care provider about using time as antacids that contain aluminum Do not take antacids at the same time azithromycin. or magnesium. They will reduce the as azithromycin. amount of azithromycin in your blood. Azithromycin is also used to treat WHAT ARE THE SIDE Reviewed September 30, 2014 toxoplasmosis (see fact sheet 517) and cryptosporidiosis (see fact sheet 502). EFFECTS? Some people are allergic to The side effects of azithromycin mostly azithromycin and similar antibiotics. Be affect the digestive system. They

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