Talk to your doctor before using Azithromycin

There is no getting away from the simple truth that this drug is powerful. That is the reason why, when you look for it in your own country, you will find it as prescription only. The FDA, if you are in the U.S., or your local regulatory authority imposes this restriction because in certain cases, there can be unwanted side effects. Your own physician or a physician with access to your medical history is the best person to make the judgement on whether it is safe for you to take this drug.

So what will your physician want to know when you go ask for this drug the first time (obviously, it does not apply for a repeat prescription)? Before you can get to the particular drug, you must first have the physician confirm the diagnosis. Only if the cause of the infection is likely to be a bacterium susceptible to Azithromycin, should you take it.

The first issue to discuss is whether you or the person to take it have allergies. An increasing number of people today are prone to allergic reactions from different types of food, the preservatives or additives used in processed foods, animals, pollens, and so on. Your medical experience may suggest a risk of a similar reaction if you take a macrolide antibiotic. Since these reactions can sometimes be dangerous, it is important for you to be honest. No matter how important you may think it is to get one of the best antibiotics, it is not worth the risk if an allergic reaction is likely. There are alternative drugs that can give the same effect but without the risk of an allergic reaction.

If the use of this drug is intended to help a child, you can be reassured that there has been a reasonable amount of clinical research confirming there is no real difference between use of Azithromycin by children and adults. Roughly the same small proportions of patients have adverse side effects regardless of age. Obviously, the dosage has to be adjusted given the body weight of the person to be treated, but other than that, there are no concerns. This also confirms that old age is not a relevant factor either.

In some cases, there is evidence that the use of a drug can be dangerous when used during pregnancy. Because of ethical concerns, there is little or no effort made to undertake formal research during this time. However, there is considerable practical experience to demonstrate that Azithromycin is no less effective when taken during pregnancy. There have been a number of animal studies undertaken and one of them have shown any damage to the fetus or to the young animals after birth. Similarly, practical experience in the human world shows no real evidence of any danger to babies whether during birth or while breast-feeding a mother using Azithromycin.