Each  capsule contains :

Azithromycin  250 mg.

-   (azithromycin) is a semisynthetic oral macrolide antibiotic.

- Chemically it is derived by insertion of a nitrogen atom into the lactone ring of Erythromycin A. The unique chemistry endows it with improved pharmacokinetic properties, improved tolerance and compliance.

-  (azithromycin) inhibits protein synthesis in bacterial cells by binding to the (50S) subunit of bacterial ribosome.

Pharmacology :

- Azithromycin is rapidly absorbed & widely distributed throughout the body. Rapid distribution into tissues & high concentration within cells results in significantly higher azithromycin concentration in tissues than plasma or serum. Plasma concentration of Azithromycin following single 500mg oral dose reaches to high plasma concentration and declines in polyphasic pattern resulting in an average half-life of 68 hours. .

Elimination of Azithromycin is mainly through biliary excretion as unchanged drug.

Antimicrobial activity :

- (azithromycin) is active against bacteriodes bivius, bordetella pertussis, compylobacter jejuni, Chlamydia sp, gardnerella vaginalis, haemmophylus sp, leginolla pneumophila, moraxella catarrhalis, mycobacterium avium, mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), mycobacterium intracellulare, mycoplasma pneumonia, neisseria gonorrhoeae, peptostreptococcus sp, staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus epidermidis, streptococcus agalactide (group B streptococcus), streptococcus pneumonia, streptococcus pyogenes (group A haemolytic streptococcus) tuxoplasma gondii, treponema pallidum, urea plasma, urea latyticum.

Indications :

-  (azithromycin) is indicated in :

Upper respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, otitis media, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, cervicitis, chlammydial infection prophylaxis, endocarditis prophylaxis, legionnaires disease, lower respiratory tract infections, prophylaxis of non gonococcal urethritis (NGU), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), pneumonia, shigollosis, skin and skin structure infections, toxoplasmosis, urethritis.

Dosage & administration:

- For upper, lower respiratory tract infections, uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections :

Adults : 2 capsules (500mg) as a single dose on the first day followed by one capsule (250mg) once daily for 4 subsequent days or 2 capsules/day for 3 days.

Children under 12 years :

The usual dose for children is 10mg/kg body weight orally, once a day for 3 days.

Alternatively after a 10mg/kg body weight of oral loading dose on the first day, the therapy can be continued at a dose of 5mg/kg body weight on four subsequent days. (The drug is not recommended for use in infants below six months of age).

- The adjustment of the dose by physician depends on the nature and severity of infection.

Sexually transmitted diseases due to Chlamydia trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae:

Adults:

- 1gm taken as a single oral dose.

No dose modifications are required in elderly patients.

Contraindications :

(azithromycin) should not be administered for hypersensitive patients to macrolide antibiotics.

Precautions :

(azithromycin) should be used with caution in :

* Pseudo membranous colitis.

* Severe hepatic disease.

* Renal disease (but no dose adjustment).

Drug interactions :

Simultaneous use of with :

-Digoxin :

Azithomycin impair with the metabolism of Digoxin which lead to raised digoxin levels in plasma.

-Antiacids :

Antiacid reduce peak serum level of Azithromycin up to 30% but overall bioavailability is unaffected.

Side effect :

(azithromycin) has rarely side effects : abdominal pain, headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, pseudo membranous colitis.

 Instructions to the patients :

(azithromycin)  capsules  should  be  swallowed  with a drink of water, take the capsule one hour before or at least 2 hours after eating, taking it with food, make it less effective, take your dose at regular interval.

- Tell your physician about all other medicines your are taking including non prescription drugs.

- Finish the full course prescribed by your doctor even if you think your condition is better.

- Tell your doctor if your symptoms didn't improve in 2-3 days.

Use in pregnancy and lactation.

(azithromycin) is used with caution in pregnancy and lactation.

 pack of 1 blister X 6 capsules .

Hospital packs of different sizes.