Common questions about azithromycin

Azithromycin is from a group of medicines called macrolide antibiotics. Macrolide antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that cause the infection.

For most infections, you should feel better within a few days.

It's very important that you keep taking azithromycin until your course is finished. Do this even if you feel better. It'll help stop the infection coming back.

If you are taking azithromycin to prevent chest infections you may not have any symptoms or feel unwell, but you still need to carry on taking it.

Tell your doctor if you do not start feeling better after taking azithromycin for 3 days to treat an infection. Also tell them if you start to feel worse at any time.

There are other macrolide antibiotics that work in the same way as azithromycin. They include erythromycin and clarithromycin.

You'll usually take azithromycin once a day. For erythromycin, it's usually 4 times a day, and twice a day for clarithromycin.

Erythromycin is more likely to cause diarrhoea than azithromycin or clarithromycin.

All macrolides can be used to treat chest and skin infections. Azithromycin and erythromycin can also be used to treat sexually transmitted infections.

Clarithromycin can also be used to treat Helicobacter pylori, bacteria that can cause a stomach ulcer.

Azithromycin and other macrolide antibiotics kill similar types of bacteria to penicillin antibiotics, such as amoxicillin.

Some people are allergic to penicillin antibiotics. They can take macrolides like azithromycin instead.

Some people get a fungal infection called thrush after taking a course of antibiotics like azithromycin. This happens because antibiotics kill the normal harmless bacteria that help to protect you against thrush.

Symptoms of thrush in the mouth include redness and itching. Women may get vaginal itching.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice if this happens to you.

Azithromycin does not stop any type of contraception from working, including the combined contraceptive pill, progestogen-only pill and emergency contraception.

But if azithromycin makes you sick (vomit) or have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Look on the pill packet to find out what to do.

Find out more:

• What to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the combined pill
• What to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the progestogen-only pill

Azithromycin can make you feel dizzy. If this happens to you, do not drive, ride a bike or operate machinery until the dizziness stops.

It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking azithromycin.

GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving

Yes, you can drink alcohol with azithromycin. However, if azithromycin makes you feel dizzy, do not drink alcohol as it will make you feel worse.

You can eat and drink normally while taking azithromycin. However, if azithromycin makes you feel dizzy do not drink alcohol as it will make you feel worse.