Azithromycin

Azithromycin is a special kind of medicine called an antibiotic that helps doctors treat many different bacterial infections. Some of these infections include middle ear infections, strep throat, pneumonia, traveler's diarrhea, and certain intestinal infections. It can also be used together with other medicines to help prevent or treat malaria. People can take azithromycin by mouth, through a special tube into a vein, or as drops placed in the eye.

This medicine is sold under brand names like Zithromax for tablets and Azasite for eye drops. Common side effects can include feeling sick to the stomach, vomiting, or having loose stools. Azithromycin works by stopping bacteria from making important parts they need to grow, which helps the body fight off the infection.

Azithromycin was first discovered in Croatia in 1980 and was approved for use in 1988. It is listed as one of the most important medicines in the world by the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. Because many people need this medicine, it is now made as a generic medication and is available in many countries under different brand names.

Medical uses

Azithromycin is a helpful medicine used to treat many different infections. It can help with infections in the sinuses, ears, lungs, throat, and skin. It is also used to treat some stomach infections and infections passed through close contact. This medicine works well for children and adults alike.

Azithromycin can stop the growth of many types of bacteria, including some that are hard to treat with other medicines. It is often chosen when other medicines might not work as well or cause side effects. Doctors may also use it to help prevent breathing problems in people with long-term lung conditions. However, it is important to use this medicine only when a doctor says it is needed, as using it too often can make bacteria stronger and harder to treat.

Adverse effects

Azithromycin can sometimes cause problems like diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting. Very few people stop taking it because of these side effects. Rarely, people may feel nervous or have skin reactions.

This medicine does not stop birth control from working. In some cases, people have had liver problems. The US Food and Drug Administration warned that this medicine can change the heart’s electrical activity.

Interactions

Azithromycin should not be taken with colchicine because it can cause harmful effects like stomach problems and muscle pain.

Azithromycin is a type of antibiotic called a macrolide. Some macrolides can affect a liver enzyme called CYP3A4, which helps process many medicines. When this enzyme is blocked, it can cause problems with other medicines. Azithromycin has less effect on this enzyme than other macrolides like erythromycin and clarithromycin. This makes it safer to use with medicines such as statins, which are used to lower cholesterol.

Pharmacology

Azithromycin stops bacteria from growing by interfering with how they build their own parts. It attaches to a tiny part inside the bacteria called a ribosome, which stops the bacteria from making important instructions.

This medicine can be taken by mouth without any special protection because it stays strong in the stomach. It gets absorbed into the body better when the stomach is empty. The medicine reaches its highest level in the body within a few hours. It collects in the parts of the body that fight infections, making it very effective at the site of infection. The amount of the medicine in tissues can be much higher than in the blood. After one dose, the medicine stays in the body for many days. Most of the medicine leaves the body through bile, and a small amount is found in urine.

History

Azithromycin was discovered by researchers at a company called Pliva in Zagreb, Yugoslavia in 1980. Pliva had the right to sell it in Central and Eastern Europe. Pfizer had the right to sell it in Western Europe and the United States. Pfizer began selling it under the name Zithromax in 1991. The patent for azithromycin ended in 2005.

Society and culture

Available forms

Azithromycin is a regular medicine. It comes in many forms, like coated tablets, capsules, liquid you drink, injections, granules you mix into a packet, and eye drops.

Usage

In 2010, azithromycin was the most prescribed antibiotic for people who see a doctor in the US. In Sweden, it was only a small part of prescriptions. By 2017 and 2022, it became the second most prescribed antibiotic in the United States. In 2022, it was the 78th most prescribed medicine overall in the US.

Research

Azithromycin is being studied to help control inflammation in the body. It works by affecting tiny proteins called cytokines that are part of the immune system. Some studies show that azithromycin can lower the levels of certain cytokines that cause inflammation.

Researchers have looked at how azithromycin might help with diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. While early lab studies suggested it might slow down the growth of the virus that causes COVID-19, later research showed it does not work as a treatment for the disease in people. Azithromycin is also being explored for its possible benefits in treating chronic fatigue syndrome and preventing infections in mothers after childbirth, though more research is needed.