Taking azithromycin with other medicines and herbal supplements - Brand name: Zithromax

Cautions with other medicines

Some medicines and azithromycin can affect each other.

Tell your doctor before you start azithromycin if you're taking any other medicines, including:

• antacids for indigestion
• ergotamine or dihydroergotamine – for migraine
• medicines used to treat or prevent blood clots, such as warfarin, dabigatran, or edoxaban
• hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine – medicines for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions
• ciclosporin or tacrolimus – medicines to stop your immune system overreacting
• colchicine, a medicine used for gout and some other inflammatory conditions
• digoxin for some heart problems
• rifabutin, an antibiotic
• a statin medicine to lower your cholesterol, such as simvastatin or atorvastatin

Azithromycin can affect your heartbeat, so it's best not to take it with other medicines that have the same side effect.

Tell your doctor if you're taking medicines that can affect your heartbeat, including:

• any medicines for an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), such as amiodarone or sotalol
• antidepressants such as citalopram
• antipsychotics used to treat mental health conditions
• some anti-sickness medicines, such as domperidone
• some antibiotics, such as moxifloxacin

These are not all the medicines that may cause problems if you take them with azithromycin. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. Talk to a pharmacist or your doctor if you're worried.

Mixing azithromycin with herbal remedies and supplements

There's not enough information to say that complementary medicines and herbal remedies are safe to take with azithromycin. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.