How to take Azithromycin for sore throat

The article was checked by an otolaryngologist

Natalya Aleksandrovna Naumova, Medis Clinic

Azithromycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic classified as a Macrolide. The principle of influencing pathogenic microorganisms is based on blocking protein synthesis by the microbial cell. Depending on the concentration, Azithromycin acts either bacteriostatically or bactericidally (the second option is at high concentrations in the blood).

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Azithromycin is often used for sore throat and other respiratory diseases. Release form: tablets, capsules, powder for suspensions.

Indications for the use of Azithromycin

If we consider the acute and chronic forms of tonsillitis, Azithromycin is more often prescribed for chronic cases, when it becomes clear that the body cannot cope with the infection on its own. As for the acute form, the use of an antibiotic is justified for purulent sore throat.

Doctors often prescribe Azithromycin without understanding what pathogen causes the sore throat. To avoid mistakes and confirm the effectiveness of the drug, it is strongly recommended to first do a bacterial culture and determine the sensitivity of microorganisms to various antibacterial agents. Only after this can you choose the optimal drug.

However, if the disease is severe, with elevated temperature and risk of complications, there is not always time to carry out bacterial culture. In this case, the doctor may decide to use this antibiotic without culture.

In what cases is it not recommended to take Azithromycin for sore throat?

You definitely cannot take Azithromycin if you have individual intolerance. The list of contraindications also includes:

• various pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (constipation, diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, pain of unknown etiology);
• thrush or candidiasis (caused by the Candida fungus);
• allergic reactions to antibiotics of the Macrolide group;
• conjunctivitis of allergic origin;
• headache, dizziness, nausea, cramps, drowsiness;
• intolerance to solar radiation (or increased photosensitivity);
• renal or liver failure;
• diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• period of breastfeeding and pregnancy in women.

In some cases, exceptions may be made, but such a decision can be made solely by the attending physician.

Rules for the use of Azithromycin for the treatment of sore throat

The standard regimen for taking this antibiotic for angina involves a daily dosage of 500 mg of the active substance, this dose should be taken once a day. This amount of Azithromycin is included in one tablet (dosage - 0.5 grams). If the patient is prescribed the drug in capsules, then the daily norm will be 2 or 4 capsules (at a dosage of 0.25 or 0.125 grams, respectively).

The duration of treatment with Azithromycin is from 3 to 5 days. The effect of the antibiotic begins 20 minutes after use, and the maximum concentration is reached after 2 hours.

It is necessary to take Azithromycin at least thirty minutes before meals, because food significantly slows down its absorption and reduces the level of therapeutic effects on the body.

In case of exacerbation of chronic and purulent tonsillitis, it is recommended to combine Azithromycin with acetylsalicylic acid.

How to use for adults

Azithromycin should be used according to the instructions for the drug . If a sore throat develops, the drug is prescribed only after personal consultation with a pediatrician.

Following the instructions for using Azithromycin capsules for sore throat, 500 milligrams per day is prescribed. The drug should be taken orally one hour before meals or two hours after, one tablet per day.

For the treatment of adults and children over twelve years of age, whose weight is more than forty kilograms, with non-purulent inflammation, 250 milligrams per day is prescribed.

This dosage is designed for the treatment of purulent and acute inflammation in the respiratory tract, including sore throat.

For reference! Azithromycin cures sore throat in just three days.

If the patient misses a dose, the next tablet should be taken as soon as possible. The next time the product should be taken 24 hours later.
Azithromycin for purulent tonsillitis cannot be combined with certain medications. Thus, the drug can be taken only an hour after taking medications intended to treat inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.

If an adult patient has severe problems with liver function, the drug should be taken with extreme caution and the patient’s well-being monitored throughout the course of treatment.

If during therapy there is an increasing state of general weakness of the body, severe jaundice, change in urine color or bleeding, the drug should be discontinued. Otherwise, liver function may be impaired.

Keep in mind that diarrhea may develop after the course of treatment. This process will continue for three weeks. Pseudomembranous colitis requires specific treatment with bacitracin or metronidazole.

Important! Do not use the product beyond the prescribed period. Unauthorized continuation of the course may cause severe side symptoms.

For children

Treatment of children involves a complex effect on the body. You can get rid of a sore throat using gentler means, but if the baby is diagnosed with purulent inflammation of the tonsils, Azithromycin is prescribed in the following dosage:

1. When treating children from three to six years old, doctors advise taking 125 milligrams of the drug per day. If the child's weight is more than 45 kilograms, the dosage is increased.
2. From six to twelve years, the dosage increases to 200 milligrams per day.
3. If a baby has tonsillitis caused by the development of staphylococcus, twenty milligrams per kilogram is prescribed once a day. Keep in mind that the maximum dose for a child should not exceed 500 milligrams per day.

Another important question: how many days should you take Azithromycin for a sore throat? The duration of treatment for children is similar to that for adults and takes three days.

Treatment with Azithromycin for children and pregnant women

Pharmacists have found that Azithromycin freely penetrates the placental barrier into the bloodstream of the fetus, which can lead to unpredictable pathologies. Therefore, women at any stage of pregnancy are contraindicated to take the drug.

The same applies to breastfeeding, because the antibiotic will enter the baby’s digestive tract along with the mother’s milk.

Children can be prescribed Azithromycin for sore throat from the first months. However, this may cause difficulties with dosing, because it is difficult to divide the tablet or capsule into the required number of parts.

• If the child’s age is up to 6 months, then per 1 kg of the child’s weight you can give 5 mg of the active substance (with a weight of 10 kg you need 50 mg of the drug, this is 1/10 of the tablet).
• From the age of one year, per 1 kg of a child’s weight, 10 mg of the active substance is prescribed (for a child weighing 12.5 kg, 1 capsule with a dosage of 0.125 g can be given).
• After 12 years of age, children weighing at least 45 kg may be given half the adult dose (250 mg) or the full adult dose (500 mg) once daily.

The duration of treatment for a child is from 3 to 5 days.

There is an alternative, more convenient option for treatment - Sumamed. This is Azithromycin in the form of a suspension, which is much easier to dose and give to the baby than tablets or capsules. 1 ml of suspension contains 20 mg of Azithromycin.

Azithromycin for sore throat: instructions for use in adults and children

It is worth knowing that Azithromycin for sore throat is considered a very strong antibiotic and can only be prescribed by an ENT doctor. Usually you need to drink it for 5 days. Sore throat is one of the most common infectious diseases that occurs in both children and adults. It appears in the off-season, when the human body is weakened and most vulnerable to the penetration of pathogenic bacteria.

Azithromycin is prescribed for the development of bacterial tonsillitis in adults. The product has a wide spectrum of action. The active substance of the drug is Azithromycin, which belongs to the group of macrolides. It is quickly absorbed from the digestive system and enters the respiratory tract, soft tissues and skin, where infectious bacteria are localized. Typically these are the tonsils, paranasal sinuses, lung and lymph node cavities, and pelvic organs.

The product is available for sale in two forms: 250 mg and 500 mg of the active substance. In rare cases, the antibiotic can be found with a dosage of 125 mg. Typically, the drug in this dosage is used for the appearance of tonsillitis in young children. The package contains from 3 to 6 capsules.

Thus, the price of the drug depends on the dosage and number of capsules in the package. It is important to note that the antibiotic is resistant to enzymes of the digestive system, which can reduce the medicinal effect of the drug.

When is it prescribed?

Azithromycin is prescribed in the following cases:

• with the development of diseases in the respiratory system;
• in the presence of bronchitis and tracheitis;
• when an infection occurs in the genitals, on the surface of the skin, in the stomach and intestines;
• in the presence of angina, both acute and chronic forms.

The acute stage of tonsillitis is accompanied by a sharp increase in body temperature and a deterioration in the general condition of the patient. The development of chronic tonsillitis or tonsillitis usually occurs in the absence of previous treatment procedures. Doctors note that in case of chronic sore throat, this antibiotic often does not have the desired effect on the human body.

Interesting video about the prescription and use of antibiotics:

It is noteworthy that many doctors independently prescribe Azithromycin for sore throat in both adults and children without additional research. This should not be done. Initially, a throat swab should be taken from the patient. It can be used to determine the type of infection and its sensitivity to various antibiotics. If this rule is not followed, then the prescribed antibiotic will not only not give the desired result, but can also lead to the transition of the disease to the chronic stage.

Also, the product should not be used:

• if the patient has hypersensitivity to the elements that form the basis of the medicine;
• with the development of renal and liver failure;
• in the presence of arrhythmia, as well as for young children;
• women expecting a child or during lactation.

Usually, when treating purulent tonsillitis, specialists prescribe a 5-day intake of an antibiotic substance. The drug is used according to the following scheme: on day 1 – 1 whole tablet. Then take 0.5 tablets for all 4 days.

In rare cases, the antibiotic needs to be taken for about 3 days, 1 whole tablet.

Is it possible to use Azithromycin for a long period of time? This is not necessary: ​​usually within 1-2 days the infectious bacteria localized in the tonsils are completely destroyed, and already by 3-4 days the patient’s general health improves. This is due to the fact that at this time all the pustules burst.

The drug is taken 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours after a meal.

How to use Azithromycin correctly for children

Initially, parents need to purchase an antibiotic in the form of a special suspension. The dosage is 10 mg per 1 kg of baby's weight. The drug should be taken 1 time per day. But there are other dosages.

How many days should Azithromycin be taken for sore throat in children? Children are given the remedy for 3 to 5 days:

1. If you are prescribed to drink for 3 days, then the drug is used once a day.
2. If the dose is prescribed for about 5 days, then it is used according to the following scheme: on the first day - the dosage is 10 mg per 1 kg of weight of a child from 1 to 3 years old, for the next 4 days it is consumed at a dosage of 5 mg per 1 kg of the child’s weight.
3. Children under 1 year of age are prescribed 5 mg per 1 kg of weight.
4. For children over 4 years of age, the drug is prescribed at a dosage of about 15 mg per 1 kg of weight.

For purulent sore throat, Azithromycin should be taken for about a week. This is due to the fact that the substances included in the antibiotic quickly accumulate in the body and are then actively absorbed into the blood. In this regard, the medicine fights not only the infection itself, but also its consequences even after the end of use. Due to its widespread use, the product has received positive reviews from satisfied patients.

Side effects

When using an antibiotic substance, there is a high probability of the following unpleasant symptoms:

• exacerbation of an allergic reaction, the appearance of diarrhea, nausea, flatulence and vomiting;
• the appearance of increased sensitivity to light and heat sources;
• presence of sharp pain in the head and chest;
• the appearance of weakness and drowsiness, the development of conjunctivitis;
• sleep disturbance and development of candidiasis;

Doctors note that any antibiotic for sore throat, including Azithromycin, should not be used without a doctor’s prescription

This is due to the fact that the patient cannot accurately determine the type of sore throat. In this regard, the use of Azithromycin in the development of diseases such as infectious mononucleosis, herpangina and fungal infections of the throat will not give the desired effect. The use of an antibiotic during the development of a fungal infection can worsen the patient's condition and lead to dangerous side effects and complications.

Attention. If the patient exhibits any unpleasant symptoms in a moderate form, then taking the drug should be continued. However, if the signs cause discomfort and anxiety in the patient, then you should consult a specialist. It should replace the antibiotic drug.

Doctors consider advanced sore throat a very dangerous disease that can lead to diseases and side effects that are dangerous to human health. Many patients leave reviews that Azithromycin helps get rid of an advanced form of sore throat and prevent it from reaching a severe stage. The presence of side effects often stops parents from using it for children, but this is in vain. Prescribing the correct dosage by a doctor and following all recommendations will help not only quickly rid the child of the disease, but also prevent the occurrence of dangerous complications.

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List of side effects when using Azithromycin

Every antibacterial drug has a list of side effects that you should be aware of before you start taking it. For the antibiotic Azithromycin, this list includes the following negative effects.

Effect on the digestive system

Pseudomembranous colitis, anorexia, hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice, constipation, diarrhea, cholestasis, pancreatitis, gastritis, flatulence and abdominal pain, diarrhea and loose stools, nausea, vomiting, discoloration of the surface of the tongue, candidomycosis of the oral mucosa, and other disorders digestion. Liver failure may occur, including liver necrosis with a fatal outcome. While taking Azithromycin, liver parameters in laboratory tests may differ from the norm (increased AST and ALT, bilirubin levels).

Effect on the immune system

Possible itching, skin rashes, urticaria, photosensitivity, angioedema, anaphylactic shock (even death), erythema multiforme, epidermal toxic necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Effect on the cardiovascular system

Arrhythmia, bidirectional and ventricular tachycardia, palpitations, increased QT interval, pain inside the chest, thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia, neutropenia may occur.

Effect on the nervous system

The following reactions cannot be excluded: dizziness, headache, sleep disturbances, agitation, excessive fatigue, vertigo, paresthesia, drowsiness, tinnitus, hearing impairment (including deafness), nervousness, anxiety, hyperkinesia, conjunctivitis, convulsions, asthenia, unexpected aggression, changes in the perception of smells and tastes.

Effect on other body systems

When using Azithromycin, cases of occurrence of: arthralgia, acute renal failure, interstitial nephritis, bronchospasm have been observed. There are such side effects as candidiasis, vaginitis and pain at the injection site of the drug.

List of drugs that are analogues of Azithromycin

Azithromycin analogs can be used to treat chronic and purulent tonsillitis and other inflammatory diseases.

• Zi-Factor is a Russian analogue, the active ingredient here is also Azithromycin;
• Azitrox is another complete analogue with the same active ingredient, produced in Russia;
• Azibot is a foreign analogue, produced in Poland and Slovenia;
• Azivok, Azin, Azo - Indian medicine based on the same antibiotic;
• Sumamed or Sumamed Forte is a convenient option for Azithromycin, as it is also available in the form of a suspension;
• Azicide, Zitrocin, Hemomycin are complete analogues, but are more expensive.

Azithromycin for angina: effectiveness of treatment with the drug

How does the drug work?

Azithromycin acts bacteriostatically: it inhibits the synthesis of proteins of microorganisms sensitive to it, thereby stopping their reproduction. It is active against a wide range of pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Haemophilus influenzae, Bacteroides fragilis, Gonococcus, Chlamydia and others.

Azithromycin is absorbed into the blood from the digestive tract. The drug quickly enters organ cells and biological fluids. Most of it is excreted along with bile through the intestines, about a third is metabolized in the liver, and a small amount is excreted in the urine.

For what form of sore throat is Azithromycin prescribed?

Azithromycin is prescribed for chronic and purulent tonsillitis. It reduces inflammation and restores respiratory function, reduces temperature, eliminates sore throat and weakness.

In case of purulent lesions of the tonsils, Azithromycin removes white plaque and helps cleanse their surface. It concentrates in places where inflammation is present. The effectiveness of the drug is explained by the fact that its effect continues for a week after taking the last dose.

Advantages and disadvantages of the drug

Azithromycin for angina has certain advantages over other antibiotics. The main thing is a shorter duration of treatment. All medications for purulent tonsillitis must be taken for 10 days or longer. Azithromycin is an exception. In order to eliminate the disease, 5-day therapy is sufficient. All symptoms that cause discomfort and reduce the quality of life are eliminated in a shorter time.

Another advantage of Azithromycin is its relative safety and less toxicity compared to other antibiotics. The drug is well tolerated by most patients and is prescribed for the treatment of adults and children.

The disadvantages of Azithromycin include the risk of side effects. During treatment, increased drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and skin rash are possible. The activity of liver enzymes may temporarily increase.

Instructions and dosage

Azithromycin for angina can be prescribed to both adults and children. But since it is an antibiotic, to obtain a positive result from therapy it is important to correctly calculate the dosage and observe the duration of use.

The required amount of the drug is calculated based on the patient’s age:

• From birth to 6 months, the use of Azithromycin is not recommended. Antibiotics are prescribed only in severe cases and under constant medical supervision.
• From 6 months to 12 years, the drug is allowed to be used in the form of a suspension. The volume of a single dose depends on body weight (5 ml per 1 kg). One dose of medication per day is sufficient, the course of treatment is at least 3 days.
• From 12 years of age (body weight more than 45 kg) capsules are used. Single dose – 1 pc. (500 mg), 1 capsule per day, course of treatment – ​​3 days.

Azithromycin for angina should be taken separately from food: 2 hours before or after it, since food impairs the absorption of the drug into the blood. It is best to stick to the regimen, taking the medicine at the same time every day. If the next dose is missed, then you need to take Azithromycin as soon as possible. The next capsule (suspension dose) is taken every other day.

Contraindications

It is not advisable to use azithromycin for angina while pregnant or breastfeeding. The question of the possibility of such treatment is decided by the doctor individually, after assessing all the risks and expected benefits of the drug.

A contraindication for taking Azithromycin is intolerance to macrolides. That is, it is not prescribed to patients who are allergic to drugs in this group. Treatment can be carried out with caution in case of impaired renal, liver or heart function.

How effective is the drug?

According to patient reviews, Azithromycin is very effective for angina. It eliminates the symptoms of the disease faster than other antibiotics, despite the fact that the course of treatment is shorter (on average 3 to 5 days).

The effectiveness of the drug is related to the characteristics of its distribution. Once in the blood, it immediately goes to the inflamed organs. Its concentration in tissues is higher than in plasma. In addition, the accumulation of the drug allows you to prolong its therapeutic effect; it continues to work for 5-7 days after the end of the course of treatment.

Cautions

Before starting treatment with Azirtomycin, there are several points to consider:

1. The drug can cause side effects, the most dangerous being angioedema and anaphylactic shock (rare).
2. It should not be taken with alcohol.
3. Taking Azithromycin if the kidneys and/or liver are impaired can lead to even greater dysfunction.
4. Its use cannot be combined with antacids.
5. The break between taking single doses of the drug should be at least 24 hours.
6. Do not exceed the dosage prescribed by the doctor; do not use the drug in capsule form for treating children under 12 years of age, or in suspension form for children under 6 months.

Analogs

In pharmacies you can find Azithromycin, imported (Macedonia - Kern Pharma) and domestically produced (Vertex, Ozone). The Russian analogue has the same list of indications, contraindications and adverse reactions, but its cost is slightly lower (about 110 rubles).

The most well-known structural analogues of Azithromycin are the following drugs:

• ZI-Factor. The price of this analogue is almost the same as that of Azithromycin. But it is produced only in tablets and capsules, which makes it impossible to use in childhood.
• Azitrox. The cost is slightly higher than Azithromycin. It has many forms of release (tablets, capsules, suspension and powder for its own preparation).
• Sumamed. A more expensive analogue of Azithromycin. Presented in the form of tablets, capsules and powder for suspension.

Azithromycin for angina is prescribed to adults and children. The drug is an antibiotic and belongs to the group of macrolides. Prescribed for chronic and purulent sore throat. Its main advantage is that the course of treatment is only 3-5 days, and the effect continues for 7 days after the end of treatment.

Author: Olga Khanova, doctor, especially for Moylor.ru

Useful video about treating sore throat

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