Zithrolex 250 mg Capsule

Macrolide antibiotic for:

• Throat, tonsil, sinus and ear infections
• Bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia
• Skin and soft-tissue infections
• Typhoid fever (uncomplicated)
• Sexually transmitted infections: chlamydia, chancroid; gonorrhoea (with ceftriaxone)
• Traveller's diarrhoea / cholera (single dose)
• Eye drops: bacterial conjunctivitis, trachoma

Adults: 500 mg once daily for 3 days; or 500 mg on day 1 then 250 mg daily on days 2–5.

Chlamydia: 1 g single dose. Typhoid: 500 mg–1 g once daily for 7 days, as prescribed.

Children: 10 mg/kg once daily for 3 days (maximum 500 mg/day).

IV: 500 mg once daily (pneumonia), then switch to oral.

• Tablets can be taken with or without food; capsules and suspension are best taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after food.
• Shake the suspension well; use the measuring device provided.

• Allergy to azithromycin, erythromycin or other macrolides
• History of liver problems (jaundice) with previous azithromycin use

Common: diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, headache.

Less common: dizziness, rash, itching, change in taste, thrush.

Rare but serious: irregular heartbeat (QT prolongation), liver inflammation, severe allergic and skin reactions, hearing changes, C. difficile diarrhoea, worsening of myasthenia gravis.

• Use with caution if you or your family have heart-rhythm problems (long QT), low potassium or magnesium, or take drugs that prolong QT.
• Use with care in severe liver disease.
• Avoid overuse — resistance is increasing; take only when prescribed.

Generally considered acceptable in pregnancy when needed. Passes into breast milk in small amounts; usually compatible — watch the baby for diarrhoea or thrush.

• Antacids containing aluminium/magnesium (take azithromycin 1 hour before or 2 hours after)
• QT-prolonging drugs (some antiarrhythmics, antipsychotics, quinolones, ondansetron at high dose)
• Warfarin (bleeding risk)
• Digoxin, ciclosporin (levels may rise)
• Ergotamine (avoid)

Severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, temporary hearing loss. Seek medical care; ECG may be needed.

Store below 30°C. Reconstituted suspension: use within 5–10 days as stated on the pack.