Azithromycin 250mg Film-Coated Tablets
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AZITHROMYCIN 250 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS AZITHROMYCIN 500 mg FILM-COATED TABLETs
(azithromycin)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you
• 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 only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this ieaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Azithromycin is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Azithromycin
3. How to take Azithromycin
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Azithromycin
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. WHAT azithromycin Is AND WHAT IT is used For
Azithromycin is one of a group of antibiotics known as macrolides. It is used to treat bacterial infections caused by micro organisms such as bacteria. These infections include:
• Chest infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia
• Infections in your sinuses, throat, tonsils or ears
• Mild to moderate skin and soft tissue infections, e.g. infection of the hair follicles (folliculitis), bacterial infection of the skin and its deeper layers (cellulitis), skin infection with shiny red swelling (erysipelas)
• Infections caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis.They can cause inflammation of the tube that carries urine from your bladder (urethra) or where your womb joins your vagina (cervix).
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE azithromycin
Do not take Azithromycin:
• if you are allergic to peanut or soya, as it contains soya oil.
• if you are allergic to azithromycin, any other macrolide(such as erythromycin or clarithromycin) or ketolide antibiotic or any of the ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). An allergic reaction may cause skin rash or wheezing.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Azithromycin if you:
• have ever had a serious allergic reaction causing swelling of the face and throat, possibly with breathing problems
• have severe kidney problems: your doctor may alter the dose
• have liver problems: your doctor may need to monitor your liver function or stop the treatment
• have myasthenia gravis (localised muscle weakness)
• have been diagnosed with a neurological disease, which is a disease of the brain or nervous system
• have mental, emotional or behavioural problems
• are taking medicines known as ergot alkaloids (such as ergotamine), which are used to treat migraine: azithromycin is not recommended (see 'Other medicines and Azithromycin' below)
Since azithromycin may increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythm please tell your doctor if you have any of the following problems before taking this medicine (especially you are female or elderly):
• you are aware of ever being diagnosed to have prolonged QT interval (a heart condition, shown on an electro-cardiogram or ECG machine): azithromycin is not recommended
• are aware that you have a slow or irregular heart beat, or reduced heart function (heart failure): azithromycin is not recommended
• know that you have low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood: azithromycin is not recommended
• are taking medicines known as antiarrhythmics (e.g. quinidine, procainamide, dofetilide, amiodarone, sotalol: used to treat abnormal heart rhythms), cisapride (used to treat stomach problems) or terfenadine (an antihistamine that is used to treat allergies) , or antipsychotic agents (e.g. pimozide), antidepressants (e.g. citalopram), some antibiotics (e.g. moxifloxacin, levofloxacin) that can affect the heart rhythm: azithromycin is not recommended (see 'Other medicines and Azithromycin' below)
If you develop severe and persistent diarrhoea during or after treatment, especially if you notice blood or mucus, tell your doctor immediately.
If your symptoms persist after the end of your treatment with azithromycin, or if you notice any new and persistent symptoms, contact your doctor.
Other medicines and Azithromycin
Tell your doctor before taking Azithromycin, if you are taking any of the medicines listed below:
• Theophylline (used to treat asthma): the effect of theophylline may be increased.
• Warfarin or any similar medicine to prevent blood clots: concomitant use can increase the risk of bleeding.
• Ergotamine, dihydroergotamine (used to treat migraine): ergotism (ie. itching in the limbs, muscle cramps and gangrene of hands and feet due to poor blood circulation) may occur. Concomitant use is therefore not recommended.
• Ciclosporin (used to suppress the immune system to prevent and treat rejection of an organ or bone marrow transplant): if concomitant use is required, your doctor will check your blood levels regularly and may adapt the dose.
• Digoxin (for heart failure): digoxin levels may increase. Your doctor will check your blood levels.
• Antacids (for indigestion): Azithromycin should be taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after the antacid
• Cisapride (for stomach problems),
terfenadine (used to treat hay fever): concomitant use with azithromycin may cause heart disorders.
• Medicines for irregular heart beat (called anti-arrythmics), or to lower cholesterol (called statins).
• Alfentanil (used for narcosis) or astemizole(used to treat hay fever): concomitant use with azithromycin may increase the effect of these medicinal products.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
There is insufficient information regarding the safety of azithromycin during pregnancy. Consequently, Azithromycin is not recommended if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. However, your doctor may prescribe it under serious circumstances.
Azithromycin is excreted in human milk, therefore you should not breast-feed whilst you are taking Azithromycin, because it may cause side effects including diarrhoea and infection in your baby. It is recommended to discard the milk during treatment and up until 2 days after discontinuation of treatment. You may resume nursing two days after stopping your treatment with Azithromycin.
Driving and using machines
Azithromycin may cause dizziness and fits. If affected, do not drive or operate machinery.
Azithromycin contains soya oil
If you are allergic to peanut or soya, do not use this medicinal product (see also section above 'Do not take Azithromycin').
3. HOW TO TAKE AZITHROMYCIN
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Azithromycin tablets should be given as a single daily dose. The tablets should be swallowed preferably with a drink of water, and can be taken with or without food.
The recommended dose is:
Adults (including older patients) children and adolescents with a body weight of over 45 kg:
The recommended dose is 1500 mg divided over either 3 or 5 days as follows:
• When taken over 3 days, 500 mg once daily.
• When taken over 5 days, 500 mg as a single dose on the first day and then 250 mg once daily on days 2 through to 5.
Inflammation of the urethra or cervix caused by Chlamydia: 1000 mg taken as a single dose, for one day only.
For infections in your sinuses, treatment is indicated for adults and adolescents 16 years of age and over.
Children and adolescents with a body weight of 45 kg and under:
Tablets are not indicated for these patients. Other pharmaceutical forms of azithromycin-containing products (e.g. suspensions) may be used.
Patients with kidney or liver problems: You should tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems as your doctor may need to alter the normal dose.
If you take more Azithromycin than you should
If you (or someone else) swallow a lot of the tablets altogether, or if you think a child has swallowed any of the tablets, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately. An overdose is likely to cause reversible hearing loss, severe nausea (feeling sick), vomiting and diarrhoea.
Please take this leaflet, any remaining tablets and the container with you to the hospital or doctor so that they know which tablets were consumed.
If you forget to take Azithromycin
If you forget to take a tablet, take one as soon as you remember, unless it is nearly time to take the next one. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Azithromycin
Do not stop taking your medicine without talking to your doctor first even if you feel better. It is very important that you keep taking Azithromycin for as long as your doctor has told you to; otherwise the infection may come back.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them
If the following happens, stop taking the tablets and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital:
uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
• an allergic reaction (swelling of the lips, face or neck leading to severe difficulty in breathing; skin rash or hives)
• inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
• yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
• blisters/bleeding of the lips, eyes, nose, mouth and genitals, which may be caused by Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrosis, which is a serious illness
• disturbances in heart rhythm called QT prolongation (delayed conduction of electrical signals which can be seen on an ECG, an electrical recording of the heart). In some people this can develop into a potentially serious heart condition known as Torsades de pointes. This can result in a very fast heartbeat causing a sudden loss
of consciousness
• an irregular heart beat
• prolonged diarrhoea with blood and mucus
• inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• inflammation of the kidney or kidney failure
• liver failure (rarely life-threatening)
• fits.
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
The following side effects have been reported:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
• diarrhoea
common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
• headache
• being sick
• abdominal pain
• feeling sick
• changes in white blood cell count
• low blood bicarbonate
uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
• yeast infections of the mouth and vagina (thrush), vaginal infections, pneumonia, fungal infections, bacterial infections, inflammation of the throat, inflammation of the stomach and intestine, breathing difficulties, runny or blocked nose
• allergic reactions of various severity
• loss of appetite
• feeling nervous
• sleeplessness (insomnia)
• dizziness, feeling drowsy (somnolence), taste disturbance, numbness or pins and needles (paraesthesia)
• visual disturbances
• ear disorder, vertigo
• heart palpitations
• hot flushes
• difficulty swallowing, nose bleeds
• constipation, wind (flatulence), indigestion, inflammation of the lining of the stomach (gastritis), difficulty swallowing, feeling bloated, dry mouth, belching, mouth ulcerations, saliva increased
• skin rash, itching, hives, inflammation of the skin (dermatitis), dry skin, increased sweating
• bone and joint pain, muscle pain, back pain, neck pain
• pain when passing urine, kidney pain
• abnormal or unexpected bleeding from the vagina, problems with your testicles
• general swelling
• general loss of strength, generally feeling unwell, tiredness, swelling of the face, fever, pain, swelling of the lower limbs
• abnormal laboratory test values (e.g. blood or liver tests)
• post procedural complication.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
• agitation
• changes in liver function
• skin more sensitive to sunlight than normal
not known: (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
• reduction in number of platelets (thrombocytopenia), reduced number of red blood cells due to destruction (haemolytic anaemia)
• aggression, anxiety, severe confusion (delirium), seeing, feeling or hearing things that are not there (hallucination)
• fainting, reduced sense of touch or sensation (hypoaesthesia), feeling hyperactive, loss of smell or altered sense of smell, loss of taste
• exacerbation or aggravation of muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis)
• hearing impairment including deafness and/or ringing in your ears
• low blood pressure
• tongue discolouration
• low blood pressure
The following side effects have been reported in prophylactic treatment against Mycobacterium Avium complex (MAC):
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
• diarrhoea
• abdominal pain
• feeling sick
• wind
• abdominal discomfort
• loose stools
common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
• loss of appetite
• dizziness
• headache
• numbness or pins and needles (paraesthesia)
• being sick
• taste disturbance
• visual disturbances
• deafness
• skin rash and/or itching
• joint pain
• tiredness
uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
• reduced sense of touch or sensation (hypoaesthesia)
• poor hearing or ringing in the ears
• heart palpitations
• skin sensitive to sunlight than normal
• general loss of strength
• generally feeling unwell
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
You can also report side effects directly via 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 azithromycin
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions. Do not transfer the tablets to another container. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date, which is stated on the carton and blister after 'EXP'. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. contents of the pack and other information
What Azithromycin film-coated tablet contains
• Each tablet contains either 250 mg or 500 mg of the active ingredient azithromycin (as azithromycin monohydrate).
• The other ingredients in the tablet are: microcrystalline cellulose (E460), pregelatinised starch (maize starch), sodium starch glycolate (Type A), anhydrous colloidal silica (E551), sodium lauryl sulphate, magnesium stearate (E470b),
Tablet Film-coating ingredients are: polyvinyl alcohol (partially hydrolysed), titanium dioxide (E171), talc (E553b), soya lecithin (see 'Azithromycin contains soya oil') and xanthan gum (E 415).
What Azithromycin film-coated tablets looks like and contents of the pack
Azithromycin 250 mg tablets are white to off-white, oblong film-coated tablets and plain on both sides.
Azithromycin 500 mg tablets are white to off-white, oblong film-coated tablets with deep break line on one side and scoreline on other side.
The 250 mg tablets are available in pack sizes of 4, 6, 12, 24, 50 or 100 tablets in blister strips.
The 500 mg tablets are available in pack sizes of 2, 3, 6, 12, 24, 30, 50 or 100 tablets in blister strips.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Mylan, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire,
EN6 1TL, United Kingdom
Manufacturer
Gerard Laboratories, 35/36 Baldoyle Industrial Estate, Grange Road,
Dublin 13, Ireland
Sandoz GmbH, BiochemiestraBe 10, 6250 Kundl, Austria
Sandoz S.R.L, Livezeni Street no 7A, 540472 Targu Mures, Romania
Generics UK Limited, Station Close, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 1TL, United Kingdom
This leaflet was last revised in 10005209
11/2013. 00000000
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