Zithromax

What is Zithromax?

Zithromax is an oral antibiotic used to treat chlamydia. It comes in the form of a 1g tablet that you take once a day for three days.

The generic name for Zithromax is azithoromycin, which is the active ingredient of zithromax. Zithromax is usually prescribed when the first-line treatment for chlamydia, doxycycline, isn’t suitable.

Chlamydia is the highest reported bacterial disease in the US.^[1] It’s very common and easily treatable. You might not even know you have it initially, as it often doesn’t come with symptoms. Symptoms you might notice are:

• Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina
• Pain when urinating
• In men, you might notice swollen and painful testicles
• In women, you might notice pain in your tummy, and ‘spotting’ (bleeding) after sex and in between your periods.

It’s important to get regular sexual health check-ups. If chlamydia goes untreated, it can spread and cause infections in other parts of your body which can cause long-term health problems.

Before you can get treatment for your chlamydia, you’ll need to provide a positive test result. Pop into a sexual health clinic and grab a test before your consultation. If your partner receives a positive test result, there’s a chance you could be prescribed antibiotics before your own test results are confirmed.

When your treatment course has ended, it’s a good idea to take another test about three weeks later to make sure your treatment has worked.

How does Zithromax work?

Zithromax contains the active ingredient azithromycin. Azithromycin works by stopping the growth of the chlamydia bacteria in your cells. It doesn’t hurt the bacteria directly, but it blocks their ability to make proteins in the cells they infect.^[2]

After treatment, you should wait at least a full week before having sex again, including oral sex.

How to take Zithromax

If you’re taking Zithromax for chlamydia then you’ll normally be prescribed a 1g dose set of pills, in either four doses of 250mg, or two doses of 500mg.

Always swallow your pills whole, don’t crush them or chew them.

Take your pills as directed. This will normally be one a day for two or four days. You can take it in the morning or at night, and with or without food.

Always take the full course of pills, even if you start to feel better.

Can I take Zithromax when pregnant or breastfeeding?

Azithromycin is generally considered safe during pregnancy if you’ve got an infection that requires treatment.

It’s important to let your doctor know if you’re pregnant or trying, as they can discuss the associated risks and benefits with you.

If your baby has been confirmed to be healthy by your doctor, it should be fine to take azithromycin while breastfeeding. The antibiotic passes into breast milk in small amounts, and there have been no reported side effects in breastfed babies.

Are there different forms of Zithromax?

At Treated, we only have Zithromax in a pill form, but you can also get Zithromax that comes in the form of a liquid. This will usually be made up by your pharmacist for you.