Azithromycin 500mg Tablet is an antibiotic used to treat various types of bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, ear, nose, throat, lungs, skin, and eye in adults and children. It is also effective in typhoid fever and some sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea.

Azithromycin 500mg Tablet is taken orally, preferably one hour before or 2 hours after a meal. It should be used regularly at evenly spaced time intervals as prescribed by your doctor. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better. Stopping the medicine too early may lead to the return or worsening of the infection.

Commonly seen side effects seen with this medicine include vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, headache, and diarrhea. These are usually temporary and subside with the completion of treatment. Consult your doctor if you find these side effects worry you or persist for a longer duration.

Do not use Azithromycin 500mg Tablet if you have a history of cholestatic jaundice or hepatic dysfunction that happened with the use of azithromycin. Inform your doctor if you have any previous history of allergy or heart problems before taking this medicine. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before using this medicine.

Uses of Azithromycin Tablet

Treatment of Bacterial infections

Benefits of Azithromycin Tablet

In Treatment of Bacterial infections

Azithromycin 500mg Tablet is an antibiotic medicine that can be used to treat many different infections caused by bacteria. These include infections of the blood, brain, lungs, bones, joints, urinary tract, stomach, and intestines. It can also be used to treat sexually transmitted diseases. It stops the growth of the bacteria causing the infection and clears the infection. Take it for as long as prescribed by the doctor and avoid skipping doses. This will make sure that all bacteria are killed and they do not become resistant.

Side effects of Azithromycin Tablet

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Azithromycin

Diarrhea
Headache
Nausea
Abdominal pain

How to use Azithromycin Tablet

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Azithromycin 500mg Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

How Azithromycin Tablet works

Azithromycin 500mg Tablet is an antibiotic. It works by preventing synthesis of essential proteins required by bacteria to carry out vital functions. Thus, it stops the bacteria from growing, and prevents the infection from spreading.

Safety advice

Alcohol

UNSAFE

It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Azithromycin 500mg Tablet.

Pregnancy

SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Azithromycin 500mg Tablet is generally considered safe to use during pregnancy. Animal studies have shown low or no adverse effects to the developing baby; however, there are limited human studies.

Breast feeding

SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Azithromycin 500mg Tablet is safe to use during breastfeeding. Human studies suggest that the drug does not pass into the breastmilk in a significant amount and is not harmful to the baby.
There may be a possibility of diarrhea or rash in the baby.

Driving

SAFE

Azithromycin 500mg Tablet does not usually affect your ability to drive.

Kidney

CAUTION

Azithromycin 500mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with severe kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Azithromycin 500mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.

Liver

CAUTION

Azithromycin 500mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Azithromycin 500mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.

What if you forget to take Azithromycin Tablet?

If you miss a dose of Azithromycin 500mg Tablet, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.

All substitutes

For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.

Azithromycin 500mg Tablet

₹13.44/Tablet

Azithral 500 Tablet

Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd

₹26/tablet

93% costlier

Azee 500 Tablet

Cipla Ltd

₹24.2/tablet

80% costlier

Zathrin 500 Tablet

FDC Ltd

₹25.6/tablet

90% costlier

Azicip 500 Tablet

Cipla Ltd

₹23.63/tablet

76% costlier

Azax 500 Tablet

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd

₹20.7/tablet

54% costlier

View all substitutes

Quick tips

Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better. Stopping it early may make the infection to come back and harder to treat.
Take it 1 hour before or two hours after food.
Do not take antacids 2 hours before or after taking Azithromycin 500mg Tablet.
Diarrhea may occur as a side effect but should stop when your course is complete. Inform your doctor if it doesn't stop or if you find blood in your stools.
Stop taking Azithromycin 500mg Tablet and inform your doctor immediately if you develop an itchy rash, swelling of the face, throat or tongue or breathing difficulties while taking it.

Fact Box

Chemical Class

Macrolides

Habit Forming

Therapeutic Class

ANTI INFECTIVES

Action Class

Macrolides

Patient concerns

What is the dosage of Azithromycin 500mg tablets

Dr. Sunil Sekhri

Diabetology

let me know your symptoms

Azithromycin-500 mg tab dosage for my throat infections

Dr. Sfurti Mann

Internal Medicine

Ask ur prescribing doctor Get urself tested if it's required Do not see medicate

i have tested for chlamydia positive and gonorrehea pcr test presence of inhibitor. i have take azithromycin 1g and cefix 400mg and after that three days azithromycin 500 mg but my rash not gone . what are the chances i have trichomanisis. i have painful urination in morning and very low pain in testicles and very mild discharge. its more than 95 days of my sexual activity.

Dr. Pranay Gandhi

Sexology

u r having UTI as well as STI. u l need treatment for atleast 10 days of azithromycin 500mg once a day.

FAQs

Is Azithromycin 500mg Tablet safe?

Azithromycin 500mg Tablet is safe if used at prescribed doses for the prescribed duration as advised by your doctor.

What if I don't get better?

You should inform your doctor if you do not notice any improvement in your symptoms after 3 days of taking Azithromycin 500mg Tablet. Also, if your symptoms get worse, inform your doctor immediately.

Can the use of Azithromycin 500mg Tablet cause diarrhea?

Yes, the use of Azithromycin 500mg Tablet can cause diarrhea. It is an antibiotic which kills the harmful bacteria. However, it also affects the helpful bacteria in your stomach or intestine and causes diarrhea. If you are experiencing severe diarrhea, talk to your doctor about it.

Can Azithromycin 500mg Tablet be taken at night?

Azithromycin 500mg Tablet is usually prescribed once daily. You can take it at any time of the day, but remember to take it at the same time each day. The medicine should be taken 1 hour before meals or 2 hours after eating food. You can take the tablet preparation with or without food. However, you must take Azithromycin 500mg Tablet exactly as advised by your doctor and ask your doctor if you have any doubts.

How long does it take Azithromycin 500mg Tablet to work?

Azithromycin 500mg Tablet starts working within a few hours of taking it. You may notice an improvement in symptoms after a few days. Do not stop taking the medicine without completing the course mentioned by your doctor. Stopping the medicine without consulting your doctor may cause the infection to come back which may be more difficult to treat.

Why is Azithromycin 500mg Tablet given for 3 days?

The duration of treatment depends on the type of infection being treated and the age of the patient. Azithromycin 500mg Tablet is not necessarily given for 3 days. In most bacterial infections, a single dose of 500 mg is given for 3 days. Alternatively, it can be given as 500 mg once on day 1 and then 250 mg once from day 2 to day 5. In some cases of infection such as genital ulcer disease, it is given as a single 1 gram dose. Therefore, you must stick to the regime advised by your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Azithromycin 500mg Tablet?

Generally, it is recommended that patients taking Azithromycin 500mg Tablet should avoid taking any antacid with this medicine as this can affect the overall effectiveness of Azithromycin 500mg Tablet. It is also recommended to avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds as Azithromycin 500mg Tablet increases the risk of sunburn.

Is Azithromycin 500mg Tablet a strong antibiotic?

Azithromycin 500mg Tablet is an effective antibiotic that is used for the treatment of many bacterial infections. Compared to other antibiotics, Azithromycin 500mg Tablet has a longer half-life which means that it stays in the body for a long time because of which it is given once a day and for a short span of time. Other antibiotics comparatively have a shorter half-life and are usually given twice, thrice, or four times a day.

Can you get a yeast infection from taking Azithromycin 500mg Tablet?

Some people may get a fungal or yeast infection known as thrush after taking Azithromycin 500mg Tablet. Antibiotics such as Azithromycin 500mg Tablet can kill the normal or ‘good bacteria’ of your intestine responsible for preventing thrush. You should inform your doctor if you get a sore or vaginal itching or discharge. Also, inform your doctor if you get a white patch in the mouth or tongue after taking Azithromycin 500mg Tablet or soon after stopping it.

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Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.

References

Chambers HF, Deck DH. Tetracyclines, Macrolides, Clindamycin, Chloramphenicol, Streptogramins, & Oxazolidiones. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 801.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 117-20.
Azithromycin. Frimley, Camberley: Sandoz Ltd.; 2006 [revised 31 Aug. 2018]. [Accessed 31 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from:
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). [Accessed 31 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from:
Azithromycin [Prescribing Information]. Panchmahal, Gujarat: Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited; 2019. [Accessed 09 Jun, 2023] (online) Available from:

Marketer details

Name: Rusan Pharma Ltd

Address: 58-D, Government Industrial Estate, Charkop, Kandivli (W), Mumbai – 400 067 (India).

Country of origin: India

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