Every person at least once in his life, but had to take antibiotics, because there comes a moment when folk remedies or simple antiviral drugs cannot be cured, complications begin. One of the best known broad-spectrum antibiotics is Azithromycin (500 mg).
A little about the drug
"Azithromycin" (500 mg of the active ingredient in each tablet) can be purchased at any pharmacy, however, you need to get a prescription from a doctor.
As mentioned above, this is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, thanks to its constituent components, it has a positive effect, namely, it kills gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, which most often cause all ailments. The main active ingredient in it is azithromycin.
It is effective against staphylococcus, streptococcus, legionella, gardnerella, ureaplasma, treponema and many others. That is why antibiotics are prescribed for various diseases, when there is an exact certainty that the pathogen belongs to the list of the above.
Issue form
Azithromycin-500 is a very convenient release form. 3 tablets are contained in a package. It is this amount that is enough for a full course of treatment, since it is considered a very strong drug. It is recommended to take it only after the appointment of the attending physician.
Pharmacokinetics
Separately, it must be said that "Azithromycin" (500 mg, 3 tablets) is very well absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, and that is why it is quickly distributed throughout the body. Because of what such a positive effect is achieved, and the improvement occurs in three days.
If we talk about the withdrawal of the drug, then approximately 60 percent is excreted in the bile (unchanged) and about 40 percent in the urine.
ICB and antibiotic
Separately, it must be said about when it would be appropriate to purchase exactly "Azithromycin-500" (3 tablets). According to the International Classification of Diseases, an antibiotic can be used if the following diseases are present:
- otitis media of varying degrees, when the risk of complications increases, as a result of which a person may lose hearing;
- sinusitis, and it is the acute stage of the disease;
- acute laryngitis, when there is a possibility of the transition of the disease to the chronic stage; and as you know, chronic laryngitis is dangerous by the degeneration of cells into cancer cells;
- pharyngitis and tonsillitis, which developed due to the negative effects of streptococcus;
- pneumonia, especially when unknownexciter;
- bronchitis, both acute and chronic;
- skin diseases when pustular formations appear on it;
- genitourinary tract infections in both men and women.
Indications for use
Due to the fact that the effect of the drug "Azithromycin" (500 mg) extends to almost all pathogens, it is prescribed by doctors to treat diseases such as:
- infectious and inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx, including tonsillitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis;
- infectious and inflammatory diseases of the ears, such as otitis media;
- respiratory infections leading to diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia;
- damage to soft tissues and skin in humans, such as dermatitis, erysipelas;
- diseases of the genitourinary system (urethritis);
- diseases of the stomach, in particular ulcers and gastritis, which are caused by the negative and destructive effect of such bacteria as Helicobacter.
Application
Most often, the doctor prescribes Azithromycin for adults - 500 mg tablets (3 pieces per pack), because the effect comes much faster, and you only need to drink them for three days.
It should be remembered that you need to take only one tablet once a day and in no case should you drink everything at once, hoping that the effect will be instantaneous. This will only make things worse.
Contraindications
Despite the fact that Azithromycin tablets (500mg) are considered a universal drug to fight various infections and bacteria, they can not be used by everyone.
There are a number of restrictions when a person is strictly forbidden to be treated with this particular antibiotic:
- hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, both auxiliary and basic;
- kidney failure, because the drug must be steadily excreted from the body, and 40 percent is in the urine;
- liver failure;
- under 12 years old.
Caution in use
In addition to the fact that the drug is strictly forbidden to take in the presence of the above diseases, it is not recommended to use the following categories of people:
- pregnant women;
- children over 12 who have kidney problems;
- people with arrhythmias.
In these cases, it should be used with caution and only when the effect of the antibiotic will be much higher than the possible side effects.
Side effects
"Azithromycin", 500 mg (3 tablets) can provoke a number of side effects, which include the following:
- problems with the gastrointestinal tract, namely nausea, upset stool, pain in the abdomen;
- allergy, namely itching and rashes;
- headache, less often dizziness and weakness;
- problems from the genitourinary system, namelyvaginitis, nephritis.
Very rarely, patients taking Azithromycin (500 mg) may develop side effects such as bleeding disorders, hyperglycemia.
Interaction with other drugs
Separately, we need to talk about the fact that Azithromycin does not always interact well with other drugs:
- enhances the effect of "Warfarin";
- when using "Digoxin" there is a risk of developing glycoside intoxication;
- when used with "Disopyramide" there are cases when ventricular fibrillation began;
- when using "Rifabutin" there is a risk of developing leukopenia.
Also, with the simultaneous use of Cyclosporine and Azithromycin, the risk of side effects increases, namely from Cyclosporine.
Use during pregnancy
Due to the fact that immunity in pregnant women is significantly weakened, the likelihood of bacteria and microbes entering the body increases, which must be fought with antibiotics.
"Azithromycin" (500 mg) is allowed to be used by pregnant women and breastfeeding women only if the benefit to the mother is greater than the possible harm to the child. Otherwise, a safer antimicrobial should be selected.
Overdose
Some people who take the drug without a doctor's prescription often do not comply with the dosage. And so they begin to develop all the relevant symptoms, which include severe nausea, sometimes even vomiting (it all depends on how the person perceives the discomfort), hearing loss (both partial and complete), diarrhea.
When such symptoms appear, it is urgent to perform a gastric lavage and stop the symptoms, because otherwise the antibiotic will cause great harm to almost all organs.
Price
The cost of the drug is very democratic, depending on which pharmacy it is purchased from, it can vary from 100 to 200 rubles.
Analogues
To date, there are no cheaper analogues of Azithromycin. One can only say that there is a more expensive drug, such as Sumamed, which has exactly the same composition, but the price is no longer 100 or 200 rubles, but about 600.
Turning to a pharmacy, many patients are faced with the fact that pharmacists are trying to sell Sumamed, even if they ask for Azithromycin, justifying this with the best effect. In fact, these are two absolutely identical drugs produced in different countries.
Positive Feedback
Among the positive aspects regarding the antibiotic "Azithromycin", according to consumers, can be identified:
- affordable price;
- easy to use, as the number of capsules in the package is just enough for a full course of treatment;
- quick action: already on the second day after the start of treatment, patients notice an improvement in their condition.
Negative reviews
Not allpatients agree that "Azithromycin" (500 mg) is almost a universal drug, as in some cases it did not help.
But one thing should be noted: all doctors say that if a course of antibiotics has been started, they must be drunk to the end. And in the event that the course was interrupted, then the next time after the appointment of the same drug, there will be no effect, because the bacteria have already become resistant to it.
Before starting treatment with the drug, you need to consult with your doctor so that he issues a prescription. Because today, most pharmacies do not sell it without a prescription due to the fact that some patients take the drug off-label.
