Azithromycin tablets are classified as an azalide (subclassification of macrolide) antibiotic which is very useful in treating infections caused by different bacteria. Azithromycin tablets are actually derived from the antibiotic erythromycin, and one of the factors that make azithromycin tablets more popular than erythromycin is because azithromycin tablets are more potent and effective in treating certain bacterial infections. Also, most doctors prefer prescribing Azithromycin tablets to their patients because its effect on the body is more prolonged due to its slow elimination from the human body, thereby allowing lots of infections to be treated in a matter of 3 to 5 days of once-a-day administration of azithromycin tablets, as compared to taking erythromycin 3 to 4 times a day for a period of up to 2 weeks.
Azithromycin tablets have many uses – mainly, it is used against the elimination of bacterial-causing infections. Azithromycin tablets are typically used as is or it is also used in conjunction with other drugs in order to treat community-acquired respiration infections (pneumonia included), otitis media (middle ear infections), pharyngitis, gastrointestinal infections (for instance, those caused by eating contaminated food or drinks), and even gonorrhea.
In the past, a study was conducted that compared the effects of cloxacillin, erythromycin and azithromycin tablets against baseline pathogens, primarily Staphylococcus aureus. Cloxacillin eradicated about 59% of the S. aureus, erythromycin 78%, and azithromycin tablets eradicated about 89% of the S. aureus strain. Cloxacillin and erythromycin were given to patients orally in 500 mg dosages 4 times a day for a period of 7 days, while azithromycin tablets were given to patients orally in a total of 1.5 g dosages 5 or 6 times for a period of 5 days. Researchers believe that by taking the one with the shortest treatment period, which are azithromycin tablets, this may significantly improve patient compliance, meaning that the shorter the treatment course, patients are more likely to follow the regimen and complete it.
Azithromycin tablets work by simply interfering with bacteria’s ability to undergo protein synthesis, thus preventing bacteria from growing normally. When a patient takes azithromycin tablets, the active ingredient azithromycin binds or adheres to the bacterial ribosome’s 50S subunit, thereby obstructing mRNA translation.
Azithromycin tablets are usually available in different forms:
As a film coated tablet – 250mg and 500mg
As a capsule – 250mg and 500mg
As an oral suspension – 100 mg/5 mL and 200 mg/5 mL
As an intravenous injection
As granules for suspension in sachet – 1g
As an ophthalmic solution – 1%
Just like any other medicine, azithromycin tablets can cause side effects to patients. The common side effects caused by taking azithromycin tablets include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Less than 1% of users stop taking azithromycin tablets due to side effects, which means that it is quite rare for one to develop nasty side effects with this antibiotic.
If you want to treat bacterial infections quickly and effectively, you ought to try taking azithromycin tablets. If you are unsure, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist to help you determine whether or not azithromycin tablets are the right kind of antibiotics to treat your current bacterial infection.
