Zithromax 250mg Capsules
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ZITHROMAX® 250mg CAPSULES ZITROMAX® 250mg CAPSULES AZITHROMYCIN 250mg CAPSULES
(azithromycin)
This product is available as any of the above names but will be referred to as Zithromax throughout the remainder of this leaflet.
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
1. What Zithromax is and what it is used for
2. Before you take Zithromax
3. How to take Zithromax
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Zithromax
6. Further information
1. WHAT ZITHROMAX IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FO
Zithromax is one of a group of antibiotics called macrolides. It is used to treat infections caused by certain bacteria and other micro-organisms, which include:
• Chest, throat or nasal infections (such as bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillitis, sore throat (pharyngitis) and sinusitis)
• ear infections
• skin and soft tissue infections (such as an abscess or boil)
• sexually transmitted diseases caused by an organism called chlamydia
2. BEFORE YOU TAKE ZITHROMAXl
Do not take Zithromax if:
• you are allergic to Zithromax or any other macrolide antibiotic such as erythromycin or clarithromycin or any of the ingredients listed in section 6. An allergic reaction may cause skin rash or wheezing
• you are taking any ergot derivatives such as ergotamine (used to treat migraine) as these medicines should not be taken together with Zithromax.
Take special care with Zithromax
Your doctor needs to know before you take Zithromax if you have or have had any of the following conditions:
• kidney problems
• heart conditions
• liver problems: your doctor may need to monitor your liver function or stop the treatment
• and if you are taking any ergot derivatives such as ergotamine (used to treat migraine) as these medicines should not be taken together with Zithromax.
Tell your doctor immediately if you feel your heart beating in your chest or have an abnormal heartbeat, or get dizzy or faint or suffer from any muscle weakness when taking Zithromax.
If you develop diarrhoea or loose stools during or after treatment, tell your doctor at once. Do not take any medicine to treat your diarrhoea without first checking with your doctor. If your diarrhoea continues, please inform your doctor.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor before taking Zithromax, if you are taking any of the medicines listed below:
• ergot or ergotamine - see 'Take special care' section
• warfarin or any similar medicine to prevent blood clots
• ciclosporin (used to suppress the immune system to prevent and treat rejection of a transplanted organ or bone marrow)
• antacids (for indigestion)
• digoxin (used to treat heart failure)
• terfenadine (for hay fever or a skin allergy)
You should always tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines including those obtained without a prescription.
Taking Zithromax with food and drink
You should take Zithromax either 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours after a meal.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or are breast-feeding you should not take Zithromax without discussing it with your doctor first.
Driving and using machines
Zithromax is not expected to affect your ability to drive or use machines.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Zithromax
Zithromax contains lactose, a type of sugar. If you have an intolerance to some sugars contact your doctor before taking Zithromax.
3. HOW TO TAKE ZITHROMAi
Always take Zithromax exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. The capsules should be swallowed whole.
The usual dose in adults and children over 7 stones (45 kg) is 500mg (2 capsules) taken together, once a day, for 3 days. For some diseases such as Chlamydia the dose is 1g (4 capsules) taken all together on one day only.
Zithromax capsules should not be taken by children weighing less than 45kg.
You should tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems as your doctor may need to alter the normal dose.
Doctors sometimes prescribe different doses to these. The label on the pack will tell you which dose you should take. If you are still not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Always continue with the course even if you feel better. If your infection gets worse or you do not start to feel better within a few days or a new infection develops, go back and see your doctor.
If you take more Zithromax than you should
If you take too much Zithromax you may feel unwell. Tell your doctor or contact your nearest hospital casualty department immediately.
If you forget to take Zithromax
If you forget to take Zithromax take it as soon as you can. Take your next dose at the right time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Zithromax
If you stop taking Zithromax too soon, the infection may return. Take the capsules for the full time of treatment, even when you begin to feel better.
If you have any further questions about the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines Zithromax can cause side effects although not everybody gets them.
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms after taking this medicine as the symptoms can be severe.
• sudden wheeziness, difficulty in breathing, swelling of eyelids, face or lips, rash or itching (especially affecting the whole body)
• severe or prolonged diarrhoea, which may have blood or mucus in it, during or after treatment with Zithromax as this may be a sign of serious bowel inflammation
• severe skin rash causing redness and flaking
• rapid or irregular heartbeat
• low blood pressure
The most common side effects that occur when taking Zithromax are listed below. These may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your doctor if any of these side effects continue to bother you.
Very common side effects (occurring in at least 1 in 10 people taking Zithromax):
• stomach cramps, feeling sick, diarrhoea, wind
Common side effects (likely to occur in less than 1 in 10 people)
• dizziness, headache
• numbness or pins and needles
• being sick, indigestion
• loss of appetite, taste disturbance
• visual disturbances, deafness
• skin rash and /or itching
• joint pain
• low numbers of lymphocytes (type of white blood cells), higher number of eosinophils (type of white blood cells)
• low blood bicarbonate
• tiredness or weakness
taking Zithromax are:
number of neutrophils (type of white blood
Uncommon side effects that occur in less than 1 in 100 people
• yeast infections of the mouth and vagina (thrush)
• low numbers of leukocytes (type of white blood cells), low cells)
• allergic reactions of various severity
• blistering of the skin, mouth, eyes and genitals
• skin more sensitive to sunlight than normal
• feeling nervous
• reduced sense of touch or sensation (hypoesthesia)
• sleepiness or sleeplessness (insomnia)
• poor hearing or ringing in the ears
• heart palpitations, chest pain
• constipation, stomach pain associated with diarrhoea and fever
• inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), changes in liver enzymes
• general loss of strength
• swelling
• general discomfort
• abnormal laboratory test values (e.g. blood or liver tests).
Rare side effects that occur in less than 1 in 1,000 people taking Zithromax are:
• agitation
• vertigo
• changes in liver function
Other side effects that have been reported, but it is not known how frequently they occur:
• fits or fainting
• aggression or anxiety
• feeling hyperactive
• localised muscle weakness
• loss of smell or altered sense of smell, loss of taste
• tongue discolouration
• inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• inflammation of the kidney or kidney failure
• yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) or liver failure (rarely life-threatening)
• bruising or prolonged bleeding after injury
• blistering of the skin, severe skin reaction
• abnormal electrocardiogram (EEG)
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE ZITHROMAXl
• Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children
• Do not store above 30°C. Do not refrigerate. Store in the original package.
• Do not take this medicine after the expiry date stamped on the pack after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
• If the capsules become discoloured or show any other signs of deterioration, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist who will advise you what to do.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION
What Zithromax contains
Each capsule contains 250mg azithromycin (as dihydrate).
The other ingredients are lactose anhydrous, magnesium stearate, sodium lauryl sulphate and maize starch. Capsule components are: gelatin, titanium dioxide (E171) and black ink.
What Zithromax looks like and contents of the pack
Zithromax is a white, hard gelatin capsules marked with 'Pfizer' on the cap and 'ZTM 250' on the body in black ink.
Zithromax is available as blister packs of 6 capsules.
|POM| PL No: 15814/1077
Zithromax is manufactured by Farmasierra Manufacturing S.L., Madrid, Spain.
Procured from within the EU and repackaged by the Product Licence holder: O.P.D. Laboratories Ltd., Unit 6 Colonial Way, Watford, Herts WD24 4PR.
Leaflet revision and issue date (Ref.) 07.05.2014.
Zithromax and Zitromax are registered trademarks of Pfizer Products Inc.
To request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call 01923 332 796.