Adult Dosing
Community acquired pneumonia
- 500 mg IV q24 hrs for at least 2 days, followed by 500 mg PO qd to complete a 7-10 day treatment course
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- 500 mg IV q24 hrs for 1-2 days, followed by 250 mg PO qd to complete a 7 day treatment course
Bronchiectasis [Not FDA Approved]
Pediatric Dosing
- Safety and effectiveness in children or adolescents under 16 years have not been established
Bronchiectasis [Non-FDA Approved]
- 10 mg/kg IV q24 hrs [Max 500 mg/dose]
Pediatrics Pneumonia [Non-FDA Approved]
- 10 mg/kg IV q24 hrs
- Neonates and younger children: 5 mg/kg/day divided q12 hrs
[Outline]
See Supplemental Patient Information
- Serious allergic reactions such as angioedema and anaphylaxis have been reported
- Dermatologic reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis have occurred during treatment with azithromycin
- Alteration in the normal flora of the colon occurs with antibacterial therapy and may lead to Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD). This may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis
- Risk of developing cardiac arrhythmias and torsades de pointes may increase. Prolongation of the QT interval and cardiac repolarization have occurred with macrolide treatment
- An increase in intensity of symptoms of myasthesia gravis has occurred in patients receiving therapy
Cautions: Use cautiously in:
- Hepatic impairment and renal impairment
- Patients with QT prolongation
- Myasthenia gravis
Supplemental Patient Information
- If signs of allergic reaction occur, discontinue the treatment and contact a physician
- Therapy can cause diarrhea and bloody stools even after the last dose of therapy. In such cases, patient should contact physician
Pregnancy Category:B
Breastfeeding: In a cohort study of infants diagnosed with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, it was found that these infants were 2.3-3 times more likely to have a mother taking a macrolide antibiotic during 90 days after delivery. This drug should be used with caution in nursing mothers based upon LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT last accessed 03 January 2011).
