It belongs to a class of antibiotic drugs known as macrolides.
Healthcare providers prescribeazithromycinfor treating certain bacterial infections, such as pneumonia.
However, azithromycin does not effectively eliminate all types of bacteria and is not recommended for treating sinus infections.
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A healthcare provider can help determine whether azithromycin is an appropriate treatment choice.
This article contains information about azithromycin and why it may not be effective for treating sinus infections.
Azithromycin is an antibiotic.
It does not work to kill viruses, so it does not help in most cases.
The recommendation not to use azithromycin for sinus infections is backed by evidence.
As resistance grows, bacteria become harder to treat or, in some cases, impossible to treat.
Resistant bacteria can cause the infection to continue spreading and even lead to life-threatening illness.
Around 30% of bacterial sinus infections are caused byStreptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium that is resistant to azithromycin.
The unnecessary use of azithromycin increases the risk of antibiotic resistance.
This further increases the risk of bacterial resistance.
This extended dosing increases the risk of developing azithromycin-resistant bacteria.
This longer-term treatment, therefore, raises the risk of side effects and antibiotic resistance.
What Is Azithromycin?
Azithromycin is a generic macrolide antibiotic used to treat a variety of mild to moderate infections.
However, the actual use of this medication in clinical practice may differ from the list of approved uses.
These include:
The approved uses of azithromycin also vary with the specific form prescribed.
Some healthcare providers may prescribe azithromycin for conditions or dosages outside of those approved by the FDA.
This practice is known as off-label prescribing.
Some off-label uses of azithromycin include:
How Does Azithromycin Work?
Antibiotics are generally grouped based on how they work:bactericidalorbacteriostatic.
Macrolides, including azithromycin, are bacteriostatic.
Azithromycin’s mechanism of action (how it works) is the same as other macrolide antibiotics.
When azithromycin binds to this protein, it halts the DNA processes necessary for growth and spread.
Without this protein’s help, the bacteria cannot reproduce and grow, which stops the infection.
Special Considerations
Taking azithromycin may result in some mild side effects.
Here are some options available to you for relief:
Acute vs.
Acute sinusitis lasts less than four weeks, whilechronic sinusitispersists for over 12 weeks.
Fever can also occur with the onset of a sinus infection and usually lasts for a few days.
Most sinus infections resolve independently, but lingering infections may require a visit with a healthcare provider.
Summary
Azithromycin is a generic prescription drug belonging to the macrolide class of antibiotics.
It works by stopping bacteria from growing and reproducing.
Azithromycin is a relatively safe and effective treatment option for many infections.
However, experts advise against using azithromycin or Z-pack for sinus infections.
This is because azithromycin isn’t effective against viruses, which are the most common cause of sinus infections.
Furthermore, taking azithromycin unnecessarily or for too long can promote antibiotic resistance.
If symptoms don’t go away, consult a healthcare provider for advice.
The good bacteria, or normal flora, help prevent bad bacteria from overgrowing.
Overusing antibiotics kills more good bacteria and allows antibiotic-resistant bacteria to multiply quickly without competition.
The medication begins working quickly, but it may take the full course of treatment before your symptoms improve.
Even if you begin to feel better midway through your course of antibiotics, do not stop taking it.
Stopping antibiotics early may cause the infection to return and become more difficult to treat.
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