Zithromax is a popular medicine that is mainly prescribed to treat bacterial infections such as ear infections, skin infections, respiratory infections, sexually transmitted disorders. In addition to those common uses, azithromycin may also be used to treat a host of other infections caused by bacteria.
Azithromycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is active against a wide variety of bacteria that cause a wide variety of infections. Azithromycin works by preventing bacteria from producing proteins that are essential to them. Without these proteins the bacteria cannot grow, replicate and increase in numbers. Azithromycin therefore stops the spread of infection and remaining bacteria are killed by the body's immune system or eventually die. Azithromycin has a long half-life when compared with many other types of antibiotic, allowing people to take it just once a day - and for far shorter periods of time.
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Less serious side effects that are possible when taking azithromycin include insomnia, anxiety, skin rash or mild itching, vaginal discharge or itching and a decreased sense of taste or smell. In addition, some patients report mild nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea; dizziness, headache and a general tired feeling are also sometimes reported.
This medicine may also interact with the following medications: amiodarone, antacids, cyclosporine, digoxin, dihydroergotamine or ergotamine, magnesium, nelfinavir, phenytoin, warfarin.