Azithromycin is a good drug, but using it wrong can be risky!

"Will azithromycin not work well if it takes so long to stop?"

Many people will have such questions, and Ms. Li is one of them, a month ago daughter Yuan Yuan because of a cold, and coughing for nearly a month is not better, no matter what drugs do not work, Ms. Li for this every day worried about sleep, very worried about their daughter's condition.

And then, when Ms. Li took Yuan Yuan to the hospital, the doctor suggested that Yuan Yuan do a lung examination to see if Yuan Yuan was a lung infection, the results showed that Yuan Yuan was suffering from mycoplasma infection, the reason why the drug did not work some time ago, this is because amoxicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics are not effective against mycoplasma infection, you need to use azithromycin mixed dry agent, only then will the effect.

However, the doctor reminded Ms. Li that the drug has certain side effects and needs to be used for three days and taken once a day, then stopped for four days, then taken again for three days and stopped for four days. After taking two courses of treatment to see if the condition has improved, according to the situation, and then a follow-up consultation.

However, Ms. Li is very confused, stopping the drug for four days, will not delay the treatment, affecting the recovery of the disease? What is the difference between azithromycin and amoxicillin, both are antibiotics.

What is the difference between azithromycin and amoxicillin?

Although both are antibiotic drugs, there are certain differences in terms of treatment direction and type of drug.

Azithromycin belongs to the macrolide class of antibiotics, which is the same class as erythromycin, and belongs to the antibacterial class; while amoxicillin belongs to the penicillin class of antibiotics, which belongs to the sterilization class, and amoxicillin is one of the most widely used antibiotics and more common.

Secondly, azithromycin mainly targets bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Gram-positive, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and atypical pathogenic bacteria; while amoxicillin can not only fight Gram-positive, but also Gram-negative germs such as Haemophilus influenza and Escherichia coli, and can also be combined with other drugs to eliminate Helicobacter pylori.

Clinically, however, amoxicillin also has certain side effects, such as diarrhea, nausea, and rash.

Many people use antibiotics such as amoxicillin as a regular medicine at home, but they do not know that antibiotics are not anti-inflammatory drugs, and if they are abused, the germs in the body may develop a certain degree of resistance, thus forming superbugs and even leading to no cure.

So why does Hope need to stop 4 out of 3 when taking Azithromycin? Will the efficacy of the drug be affected?

Why does azithromycin need to be used 3 and stop 4?

Azithromycin belongs to one of the subclasses of macrolide antibiotics, mainly by binding to the subunit of 50s ribosome of germs and hindering the process of peptide transfer of germs, thus inhibiting the protein synthesis of germs to achieve the antibacterial effect. And also has anti-inflammatory and antiviral abilities, then why do you need to use 3 days to stop 4 days?

This is due to the long half-life of azithromycin, when the drug is taken for 3 days, even after stopping for 4 days, azithromycin will continue to work in the body.

In addition, azithromycin has the characteristics of time-dependent and long antibiotic after-effects, even if the drug concentration is low, it can promote the action of phagocytes on bacteria, the main mechanism may be that the drug causes non-lethal damage to bacteria or persistently binds to bacterial target sites, which can effectively prolong the recovery time of bacteria.

And azithromycin can also deform the bacterial organism, making it easier for phagocytes to recognize and eliminate it. Therefore, even after 3 days of administration and discontinuation, the pathogen remains suppressed [3].

It should also be noted that even though according to clinical data, azithromycin does not cause many adverse reactions, the reactions after taking it should be noted, so this class of drugs should be taken only once a day and should be discontinued after three days.

Side effects of azithromycin need to be noted.

The most common side effect is gastrointestinal discomfort, either by mouth or by infusion, and some children may experience diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Secondly, after the drug enters the body, it needs to be metabolized and excreted through the liver, which may cause some damage to the liver, so it should be used with caution if the liver is not good.

Moreover, a few patients may occasionally experience dizziness and headache to varying degrees.

In addition, a few people may have allergic reactions after taking it, and in case of severe allergy, it may lead to shock.

Moreover, azithromycin itself is a kind of antibiotic, and you should not use the drug by yourself without the guidance of a doctor, to prevent discomfort on the one hand and to prevent the body from developing certain drug resistance on the other.

Therefore, it is important to follow the doctor's instructions when taking the drug. When the body becomes unwell after taking Azithromycin, it is important to seek medical attention in time to avoid causing damage to the body. And food can affect the absorption of the drug, so it is best to take it 1 hour before or 2-3 hours after a meal. So which diseases, can be treated with Azithromycin?

Clinically, what diseases can azithromycin be used to treat?

For example, upper respiratory tract infections such as pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and sinusitis are caused by sensitive bacteria; lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia; and skin or soft tissue infections.

Secondly, infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis such as urethritis, cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and non-multiple drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae can be treated.

or simple genital infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis; among other diseases [1].

Among them, the use of azithromycin to treat Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children is very common and has become the main antibiotic class of drugs for this disease, as the treatment period is relatively short. It is also administered less frequently and therefore compliance is better in children.

Although azithromycin is effective for a variety of diseases, it should be avoided by this group of people, except for children, who need to be careful to use 3 and stop 4 when taking the drug.

Pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding should avoid azithromycin. Even if the drug is taken in small doses, there may be some residues in the body, which may affect the fetus on the one hand; on the other hand, when breastfeeding, the residual drug may enter the baby's body and affect the baby's growth and development.

For patients with poor liver and kidney function, the drug should also be avoided as much as possible to avoid aggravating the condition.

And for newborns or elderly groups, this drug rich in certain side effects must be used with caution, and try to use other drugs to replace the treatment to avoid serious complications [1].

Moreover, azithromycin cannot be used clinically in combination with some drugs, which can cause physical discomfort and may even cause some threat to life, which is not worth the loss.

Extended reading: these types of drugs, should not be taken together with azithromycin

There was previous news that a patient took azithromycin and compound licorice tablets at the same time, which caused severe heart rate disorders and eventually led to death [2].

As early as 2013, the Food and Drug Administration in the United States issued a warning about the potential risk of azithromycin triggering abnormal electrical activity in the heart, while compounded licorice tablets also have the potential to cause palpitations, arrhythmias, and other adverse symptoms in patients. All factors have a great impact on the patient's body, and although this probability is rare in clinical practice, it requires more attention.

In addition, azithromycin is not recommended to be taken together with anti-acidic drugs containing magnesium or aluminum, which may decrease the blood concentration of azithromycin. Moreover, drugs such as digoxin, carbamazepine, terfenadine, cyclosporine, clohexobarbital, and rifabutin also need more attention [3] and should not be used together with azithromycin.

Conclusion

In conclusion, although azithromycin is clinically effective for a variety of diseases, due to its drug characteristics, it needs to be taken in strict accordance with the doctor's recommendations, paying attention to the frequency and dose. When discomfort occurs, it is necessary to inform the doctor in time so that the treatment drug can be changed.