It is impossible to imagine modern medicine without antimicrobials. The antibiotic Azithromycin is one of the most popular drugs used to treat a variety of infectious diseases in patients of all ages. Its effectiveness has been proven through years of successful practical testing. It is directly related to the molecular structure and characteristics of the composition of the drug. Today, this drug and analogues can be found in every pharmacy.

Composition (active substance) and release form

The main active ingredient - azithromycin dihydrate is a white crystalline powder, resistant to acids.

Additional components are:

  • milk sugar (lactose);
  • cellulose;
  • magnesium stearate;
  • low molecular weight polyvinylpyrrolidone;
  • silicon dioxide.

The widespread use of the drug caused a large number of release forms:

  • tablet form in a film coating of 125 mg, 250 mg, 500 mg;
  • soluble tablets (dispersible form);
  • powder for the preparation of a suspension of 13, 30, 75 mg;
  • powder for injection and droppers;
  • capsules azithromycin.

Pharmacological properties and indications for use

Azithromycin belongs to the class of macrolides, a subgroup of azalides. At the beginning of its production, it was known as Sumamed, which to this day is found in pharmacies.This drug was developed thanks to the modification and improvement of the erythromycin molecule, that is, based on the modified first generation macrolide.

This led to its improved properties:

  1. Azithromycin is more resistant to acids than its predecessors. This means that it does not break down in the stomach, which means that a larger amount of the active substance will be able to absorb in the intestines.
  2. Less toxicity leads to a reduction in the number of side effects compared with erythromycin. A milder effect on the body allows you to expand the list of indications and use Azithromycin as a component of antibacterial therapy in young children.
  3. The drug is characterized by a long time of withdrawal from the body. This figure is much higher compared to other previous drugs. This property allows the use of azithromycin in the treatment of pathologies with a high percentage of relapses. That is, after the course of taking the drug, it will still be valid for at least five days. Also, this feature allows you to reduce the frequency of medication and the duration of therapy without compromising the quality and effectiveness of the treatment.
  4. Due to the long period of withdrawal from the body, the load on the liver is reduced, which also significantly expands the indications for the use of Azithromycin.
  5. The medicine is appreciated for the rapid absorption of the drug from the stomach and its distribution over the tissues. This time is no more than three hours, which is an extremely important factor in severe conditions requiring immediate intervention.
  6. The main property that distinguishes Azithromycin from other drugs is the ability to accumulate in the lesion. This is possible due to the binding of the substance to the cells involved in the fight against the infectious agent. As a result, the concentration of active molecules at the site of inflammation is one fourth higher than in other tissues of the body.
  7. The main antibacterial activity of Azithromycin is the suppression and blocking of molecules and substances that help pathogenic microflora grow and multiply. In this case, protein synthesis is blocked inside the cell. That is, the drug inhibits the growth of the colony, which ultimately leads to its death. However, high concentrations of the drug can destroy the membrane structure of the membrane of infectious agents, directly causing their death.

This drug is classified as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, that is, it is effective against a number of gram-positive and gram-negative anaerobic and aerobic pathogens: staphylococci, streptococci, hemophilic bacillus, mycobacteria, chlamydia, ureaplasma.

The main indications for the appointment of azithromycin are infectious bacterial diseases.

As a rule, these are lesions:

  • respiratory system (bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, pharyngitis, otitis media, tonsillitis);
  • genitourinary organs (cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis, cervicitis, chlamydial infections);
  • skin and soft tissues (dermatitis, cellulitis, erysipelas, abscesses, impetigo);
  • the stomach and duodenum associated with the presence of Helicobacter pylori.

Indications include severe generalized infections.

Azithromycin is also active against intracellular parasites, such as chlamydia, which was made possible thanks to the ability of the drug to penetrate into the cells and exert its antibacterial effect.

Which group of antibiotics belongs

The group of antibiotics where the medicine belongs is macrolides. Medications combined in this category got their name because of the special structure of the molecule containing the macrocyclic lactone ring. They have a wider spectrum of action than their predecessors, penicillins. Macrolides inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, blocking protein synthesis inside the bacterium.

Two generations of drugs are distinguished:

  1. The first generation, which includes erythromycin.The disadvantage of this group is the rather rapid development of resistance by infectious agents, as well as reduced resistance to gastric acid, which somewhat limits their therapeutic use.
  2. The second generation, whose representatives are azithromycin, roxithromycin, midecamycin. These are more advanced drugs with a long-lasting effect, increased excretion time and acid resistance.

The indisputable advantage of macrolides is their effectiveness against intracellular parasites, which significantly expands the scope of their application.

It is also necessary to remember that lincomycin and clindamycin from the group of linkosamides have a very similar mechanism of action. This can provoke the phenomenon of cross-resistance of bacteria, that is, if the disease was previously treated with azithromycin, then with its relapse, the use of lincomycin may be ineffective.

Instructions for use Azithromycin

The drug is best consumed no less than two hours before a meal or after. The tablet form should be washed down with plenty of water, and the suspension must be mixed well.

The main and basic rule for the use of all antibacterial drugs is taking the dose at the same time at regular intervals. That is, in the case of Azithromycin, this break should be exactly 24 hours.

Dosage, course of treatment and frequency of use depend on the age of the patient, the type and severity of the disease, previous and concomitant diseases, allergic reactions. The long-term effect of azithromycin, as well as the slow elimination, often explain the short intake period. So, with infections of the respiratory system, skin, some lesions of the genitourinary system in adults, it is necessary to use one tablet of 500 mg once a day for three days. With urethritis and cervicitis caused by a chlamydial pathogen, a single dose of Azithromycin in a dosage of 1000 mg is indicated.

For children from three to twelve years old with a body weight of up to forty-five kilograms, the calculation of the dose and the frequency of administration is based on the age, weight, shape and severity of the infectious pathology.

In patients with impaired liver and kidney function, as well as in older people, changing the parameters of taking the medicine is not required. With caution, the drug is prescribed for arrhythmias.

If the patient, for any reason, missed one dose, then you need to drink 3 tablets of the antibiotic as soon as possible, and take the next dose in a day.

During pregnancy and lactation

The World Health Organization considers Azithromycin as a drug for the treatment of pregnant women in case of chlamydial infection. But in this case, it must be remembered that the intended benefit should exceed the possible harm caused, since active molecules are able to penetrate the placental barrier.

During breastfeeding with the forced intake of Azithromycin, it is best to stop feeding the baby.

Azithromycin Compatibility with Alcohol

Alcoholic beverages reduce the level of the active substance in the blood and reduce the absorption of the active components from the gastrointestinal tract, so in order to avoid the risk of ineffective treatment and complications, one should refrain from alcohol-containing substances during treatment.

Contraindications, side effects and overdose

Like any medicine, azithromycin has a number of contraindications.

Among them:

  • allergic reactions and sensitivity to the components of the drug;
  • severe liver and kidney diseases due to the risk of hepatitis and liver failure;
  • age up to sixteen years (for infusion infusions);
  • age up to twelve years and body weight less than 45 kilograms (for tablet form);
  • age up to six months (for the drug in the form of a suspension);
  • phenylketonuria.

Side effects caused by azithromycin:

  • dizziness, headache, weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, hearing loss;
  • pain in the heart muscle, increased heart rate;
  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain in the intestine, bile retention, constipation, increased gas formation, impaired liver function, inflammatory bowel lesions;
  • inflammation of the kidneys, candidiasis of the vaginal mucosa;
  • allergic reactions in the form of itching, urticaria, rash, angioedema, anaphylactic reactions;
  • increased sensitivity to light, an increase in the number of eosinophils and neutrophils in the blood, a decrease in the number of lymphocytes;
  • with intravenous administration of the drug, bronchospasm and pain reaction at the injection site are possible.

Signs of an overdose are mainly associated with the gastrointestinal tract. This is nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. In some cases, hearing loss is possible. Help in such situations is gastric lavage, monitoring of all vital signs, and symptomatic therapy is indicated if the condition worsens.

Antibiotic Analogs

Due to the popularity of Azithromycin, its high effectiveness and breadth of use, manufacturers offer many analogues of this medicine.

The list includes:

  • Sumamed;
  • Chemomycin;
  • Azithral
  • ZI factor;
  • Zitrolide;
  • Azitrox;
  • AzitRus;
  • Azidrop;

We examined the properties of the antibiotic Azithromycin - powerful and effective. Always follow prescriptions and doctor's advice. Be healthy!

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