Patient's question:
Three months, got bronchopneumonia and stayed in the hospital for seven days. Later, I was prescribed azithromycin. How should I take it? What kind of assistance do you need: How to take azithromycin, G represents how many ML...Doctor's answer:
Okay, here is the English translation, following your instructions:Take 1/3 packet once daily.
The main adverse reactions of azithromycin are gastrointestinal, such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting (diarrhea), upper abdominal discomfort, nausea, and dry cough. Occasionally, mild to moderate abdominal pain, dizziness, headache, fever, rash, and joint pain may occur as allergic reactions. In very rare cases, transient neutropenia and elevated serum aminotransferase levels may occur.
Azithromycin is a new semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic with a broad spectrum of activity, rapid absorption after oral administration, high bioavailability, and wide distribution in the body. It has high intracellular free concentrations (up to 10 to 100 times the concurrent blood concentration in human tonsils, lungs, and prostate), and a long blood elimination half-life (35-48 hours), among other advantages.
In pediatrics, it can be used to treat various infections caused by different bacteria, mycoplasma, and chlamydia, such as acute tonsillitis and acute pharyngitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes; sinusitis, otitis media, acute bronchitis, and pneumonia caused by sensitive bacteria, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and mycoplasma; urethritis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and non-multiple drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae; and skin and soft tissue infections caused by sensitive bacteria, etc., with good efficacy.
Its adverse reactions are mainly gastrointestinal, such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting (diarrhea), upper abdominal discomfort, nausea, and dry cough. Occasionally, mild to moderate abdominal pain, dizziness, headache, and fever, rash, and joint pain may occur as allergic reactions. In very rare cases, transient neutropenia and elevated serum aminotransferase levels may occur.
Therefore, when giving azithromycin to children, the following points should be noted:
Patient care:
1. Azithromycin powder for suspension, granules, etc., should be dissolved and well shaken with an adequate amount of cool drinking water before oral administration. Do not use boiled water for administration, to avoid interfering with the drug's efficacy or causing dry cough.
2. Food can interfere with the absorption of azithromycin. Therefore, it is best to take it 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours after a meal. If gastrointestinal reactions such as abdominal pain and upper abdominal discomfort occur after administration, a small amount of defecation before taking the medicine (e.g., with crackers) can be used to reduce the gastrointestinal tract's tolerance to azithromycin.
3. Since azithromycin has a long half-life and a significant post-antibiotic effect, only one dose per day is required. Do not divide the daily dose into 2-3 times.
4. General dosage: For otitis media and pneumonia, estimate 5 mg per kg of body weight per day, with a maximum daily dose not exceeding 0.25 grams, taken as a single dose, with the initial dose doubled; for pharyngitis and tonsillitis, estimate 12 mg per kg of body weight per day, with a maximum daily dose not exceeding 0.5 grams, taken as a single dose.
5. Duration of treatment: Usually 5 days.
6. The liver and biliary system are the main routes for the metabolism of azithromycin. It should be used with caution in patients with impaired liver function, and should not be used in severe liver disease. Patients taking the drug long-term should have liver function monitored periodically during treatment.
7. If an allergic reaction occurs during treatment, such as angioneurotic edema or rash, the drug should be stopped immediately, and appropriate measures should be taken.
8. During treatment, if the child experiences nausea and vomiting, Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (pseudomembranous colitis) should be considered, and medical attention should be sought promptly.
9. Patients allergic to azithromycin, erythromycin, or any other macrolide antibiotic should discontinue use.
10. Children with conditions such as gastritis, asthma, epilepsy, or heart failure should be monitored for potential drug interactions when taking azithromycin.