Azithromycin

What is Azithromycin?

Azithromycin is an antibiotic used to treat a range of bacterial infections, including pneumonia, Lyme disease, and chlamydia.

It is available in 500mg tablets, which are easy to take.

If you are unsure whether Azithromycin is suitable for you, you can speak to one of our doctors.

To begin your online order for chlamydia treatment, click the green button above and complete our brief online medical form. One of our online doctors will review your medical form to ensure it is safe for you.

How do I know if I have chlamydia?

In most cases, chlamydia does not cause any noticeable symptoms. When an infection does not cause symptoms, it is described as asymptomatic.

Some people may experience unpleasant symptoms such as:

• Pain when urinating
• Discharge from the vagina, penis or anus
• Abdominal pain, bleeding after sex or bleeding between periods, in women
• Swelling and pain of the testicles in men

If you notice symptoms of chlamydia or suspect that you have been at risk of contracting chlamydia, you should get tested as soon as possible and seek treatment.

Left untreated, chlamydia can lead to serious complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.

Luckily, testing for chlamydia requires a straightforward swab or urine test. You can get tested for chlamydia (as well as other STIs) for free from NHS genitourinary clinics (GUM clinics).

If you can’t get to a testing centre, you can order a chlamydia test. Provide the sample as requested, post it to the laboratory (using the included pre-paid envelope) and receive your results via email.

While a test can confirm whether you have an infection of chlamydia, it cannot tell you when you were infected or who you got it from. However, you should inform your previous partners of a positive test result so that they can also get tested.

Following a test, a doctor can provide the most suitable course of treatment for you.

Your partner may also need to be tested. If their test comes back positive, they too will need to seek treatment.

How does Azithromycin work?

Azithromycin inhibits the growth of the bacteria which cause the infection. In the case of chlamydia, the bacteria are known as Chlamydia trachomatis.

For these bacteria to grow, they must produce a protein.

Azithromycin prevents this protein from being produced, stopping the bacteria from multiplying.

Once the bacteria can no longer thrive, the immune system attacks the remaining bacteria and kills off the infection.

How long does Azithromycin take to clear chlamydia?

It usually takes 7 days (1 week) to clear chlamydia with azithromycin. However, you do not need to take azithromycin for the whole week – you only need to take 2 tablets as a single dose.

While treating chlamydia, you should refrain from sexual intercourse for a week to prevent infecting your partner.

You may wish to take an STI test to confirm the infection has disappeared following treatment.

How to take Azithromycin

For the treatment of chlamydia, you need to take 1000mg (two 500mg pills) of Azithromycin as one dose.

The tablets should be taken 1 hour or more before food, or 2 hours or more after food.

Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.

Do not crush or chew the tablets. If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, ask our online doctor for advice.

You do not need to take any more medication following this dosage.

You should always complete the prescribed course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better before the course is complete. Stopping treatment early could cause the infection to return or affect how well you respond to antibiotics in the future.

Side effects and cautions

All medicines carry the risk of side effects. It’s important to understand the risks associated with the medication you are taking.

Some common side effects of Azithromycin include:

• Changes to your sense of taste
• Decreased appetite
• Diarrhoea
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Feeling sick
• Headache
• Hearing and vision problems
• Vomiting

Common side effects affect more than 1 in 100 people. If you experience common side effects for an extended period, consult your doctor.

The following side effects of azithromycin are uncommon or rare:

• Anxiety
• Bloody stools (blood in faeces)
• Chest pain
• Constipation
• Feeling unsteady (vertigo)
• Irregular heartbeat
• Ringing in ears (tinnitus)
• Severe pain in the abdomen or back could be a sign of pancreatitis
• Yellowing of skin or the whites of your eyes

This is not an exhaustive list of side effects. For further information on the safety of azithromycin, including a comprehensive list of associated side effects, please refer to the patient information leaflet supplied with your medicine.

If you experience any side effects, regardless of whether they are listed above or in the patient information leaflet, please inform your doctor as soon as possible for advice.

What should I do if I experience an allergic reaction to Azithromycin?

If you believe you are experiencing an allergic reaction caused by taking azithromycin, stop taking the medicine and go straight to your nearest accident and emergency department. Remember to take the packaging and any remaining tablets with you, so that doctors treating you know exactly what you have taken.

Do not take azithromycin if you are allergic to azithromycin. Speak to your doctor if you are unsure.

Signs of an allergic reaction include:

• Tightness of the chest
• Dry, red, itchy skin
• Itchy, red, watery eyes
• Raised, itchy, red rash (hives)
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat
• Tummy pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
• Wheezing

Who should not take Azithromycin?

Azithromycin may not be suitable for you if you are pregnant. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for additional guidance.

Inform our doctors of any medicine you are taking, as some medications may interact with azithromycin and cause adverse reactions.

Such medicines may include:

• Antacids (indigestion medicine)
• Digoxin (for heart problems)
• Nelfinavir (for HIV)
• Rifabutin (antibiotic)
• Statins, such as simvastatin and atorvastatin
• Warfarin (for blood clots)

Will Azithromycin affect my ability to drive or operate machinery?

There is a risk of experiencing dizziness while taking Azithromycin. If you experience this, avoid driving, riding a bike or operating machinery until you feel it is safe for you to do so.

Other safety information

If you have any questions about azithromycin or your condition, you can speak to one of our online doctors by sending a message via your online Prescription Doctor account.

Do not take azithromycin past the expiry date printed on the packaging. The date refers to the last day of the specified month.

Never throw away medicine via household or water waste. Take any unwanted or expired medicine to your local pharmacy and ask them to dispose of it safely on your behalf.

Always store azithromycin out of sight and out of reach of children and pets.

Never share your medicine with anybody else, even if they are experiencing the same symptoms or have been diagnosed with the same condition as you.