Drug Notes

Azithromycin (By injection)

Azithromycin (ay-zith-roe-MYE-sin)

Treats infections caused by bacteria. This medicine is a macrolide antibiotic.

Brand Name(s):

Amerinet Choice Zithromax, Azithromycin Novaplus, PremierPro Rx Azithromycin, Zithromax

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your dose and schedule. This medicine is given through a needle placed in a vein. This medicine is given slowly, so the needle will remain in place for about an hour.
• A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.
• Your doctor may give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves, and then you may be switched to an oral medicine that works the same way. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about this.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Some medicines can affect how azithromycin works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
  • Cyclosporine, digoxin, nelfinavir, phenytoin
  • Blood thinner medicine (including warfarin)
  • Ergot medicine
  • Medicine for a heart rhythm problem (including amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol)

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, heart rhythm problems (such as QT prolongation), heart failure, or myasthenia gravis.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Serious skin reactions
  • Liver problems
  • Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (tube is too narrow where food passes out of the stomach) in newborn babies
  • Heart rhythm changes
• This medicine can cause diarrhea. Call your doctor if the diarrhea becomes severe, does not stop, or is bloody. Do not take any medicine to stop diarrhea until you have talked to your doctor. Diarrhea can occur 2 months or more after you stop taking this medicine. Diarrhea may occur 2 months or more after you stop using this medicine.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, red skin rash
• Chest pain, fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
• Dark urine, pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
• Double vision, muscle weakness
• Fainting, dizziness, lightheadedness
• Pain, redness, itching, burning, or swelling where the needle is placed
• Severe diarrhea that may contain blood, black stools
• Trouble breathing

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 1/27/2017