Is Zithromax Good For Sinus Infection

Rare Cases Can Turn Serious

Antibiotics also can help ward off rare but potentially dangerous complications that arise when a sinus infection spreads to the eyes or brain, Dr. Sindwani says.

Complications around the eyes are the more common of the two. These complications can cause redness, swelling around the eyes and reduced vision, and even lead to blindness in a severe form known as cavernous sinus thrombosis. Serious cases are immediately treated with IV antibiotics. Patients are usually admitted to the hospital for a CT scan to see if fluid needs to be drained, Dr. Sindwani says.

Also in rare cases, sinus infections in the rear center of ones head can spread into the brain. This can lead to life-threatening conditions like meningitis or brain abscess, Dr. Sindwani says.

Before antibiotics, people would die from sinusitis, he says. But he emphasizes that such complications are unlikely. In most cases, the bacterial infection goes away, especially if you dont have underlying medical problems.

Its important to monitor your symptoms if you suspect a sinus infection. If the condition lingers or worsens, call your doctor.

What Is Sinus Infection

Medically known as rhinosinusitis, Sinus infection or Sinusitis is an inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining the sinuses. Healthy sinuses are filled with air. But when they become blocked and filled with fluid, germs can grow and cause an infection. It occurs when your nasal cavities become infected, swollen, and inflamed. Sinusitis is usually caused by a virus and often persists even after other upper respiratory symptoms are gone. In some cases, bacteria, or rarely fungus, may cause a sinus infection.

Tips To Use Azithromycin

• Always take Azithromycin by mouth, without or with food. You may also take this medication with food if stomach upset occurs.
• Take this drug as directed by your doctor for preventing any further infection, usually once a week on the same time and day each week.
• Continue to take Azithromycin until your doctor tells you to stop because if you will stop the medication too early on your own, this may allow bacteria to keep on growing, which may again cause infection. Beside this, consult with your doctor if your condition worsens or persists.
• All the Antibiotics work best when the proportion of drug in the body is kept at an even level. Thus, take this drug after regular intervals.
• Inform your pharmacist or doctor if you are allergic to other antibiotics or if you have any other allergies. Azithromycin contains a few inactive ingredients, which can lead to allergic reactions or other issues.
• Before you start taking this medication, tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, liver disease and myasthenia gravis .

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How To Cope With Side Effects

What to do about:

• feeling sick stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food while youre taking this medicine.
• diarrhoea or being sick drink lots of fluids such as water or squash to avoid dehydration. Take small, frquent sips if youre being sick. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea or vomiting without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
• losing your appetite eat when you would usually expect to be hungry. If it helps, eat smaller meals more often than usual. Snack when youre hungry. Have nutritious snacks that are high in calories and protein, such as dried fruit and nuts.
• headaches rest and drink plenty of water. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller if you need one. Talk to your doctor if the headaches last longer than a week or are severe.
• feeling dizzy or tired if you feel dizzy when you stand up, try getting up very slowly or stay sitting down until you feel better. If you begin to feel dizzy, lie down so you dont faint, then sit until you feel better. Do not drive or use tools or machines if you feel dizzy or tired. Do not drink alcohol as it may make you feel worse.
• changes to your sense of taste talk with your doctor if this is bothering you.

What Does A Z

A Z-pack is a regimen of prescription antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics, including the Z-pack, do not treat viruses, which are the cause of most colds and even bronchitis.

Azithromycin has an average rating of 7.1 out of 10 from a total of 55 ratings for the treatment of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection. 65% of those users who reviewed Azithromycin reported a positive effect, while 25% reported a negative effect. 55 ratings from 54 user reviews.

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Side Effects Of Azithromycin

Some of the common side effects of taking Azithromycin higher than the recommended dosage for tonsillitis are-

• Prescribed medicines for blood clotting such as antithrombin III, bivalirudin, dalteparin, Amiodarone, Digoxin, Quinidine and Live typhoid vaccine

Not only the above medicines, but also over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and other dietary supplements and herbal supplements can also interact with Azithromycin. Thus, consult with the doctor regarding the same.

In addition to taking into consideration the above conditions, there are some other precautions too.

• Avoid taking this medication if you are allergic to it
• Dont take Azithromycin if you have suffered with jaundice or liver problems in the past
• If you have suffered from kidney problems, then dont take this medicine
• People with low levels of potassium should not take this medicine
• Pregnant or lactating women can take this medicine safely. However, it is better to consult with the gynecologist before.

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When Does Antibiotic Resistance Occur

Antibiotic resistance occurs in a persons own body and within the community when certain drugs no longer work for a specific type of germ. This can occur when bacteria change in response to exposure to antibiotics so that the antibiotics no longer work efficiently against the bacteria.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to know if a sinus infection is bacterial, viral, or has other causes based on symptoms alone. Because viral sinus infections tend to improve in 5 to 7 days, healthcare providers will usually only prescribe antibiotics if your symptoms go on for longer than this. A sinus infection that persists for longer than a week or continues to get worse during this time period is more likely to be bacterial.

Therefore, allergists and other specialists recommend limiting the use of antibiotics unless:

• Symptoms last over seven to 10 days
• A fever is present

When Do We Need Antibiotics For Sinus Infection

Antibiotics are not needed for many sinus infections, but your doctor can decide if you need an antibiotic. You doctor may recommend antibiotics if:

Most sinus infections usually get better on their own without antibiotics. When antibiotics arent needed, they wont help you, and their side effects could still cause harm. Side effects can range from minor issues, like a rash, to very serious health problems, such as antibiotic-resistant infections and C. diff infection, which causes diarrhea that can lead to severe colon damage and death.

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What To Do For Chronic Sinusitis

If youre suffering from chronic sinusitis or you are getting frequent sinus infections you should see your doctor, says Dr. Sindwani.

Your doctor will swab your nose to collect mucus. Culturing it in a laboratory will reveal which type of bacteria is causing the infection so the right antibiotic can be prescribed.

Treat early sinus infection symptoms with rest, hydration and over-the-counter sprays and decongestants. But dont look for an antibiotic unless your illness extends beyond a week, he says. Then check in with your doctor for a prescription and let him or her know if your condition worsens.

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Ct Scans Radiographs And Other Illustrations

• CT scan of the sinuses

• CT scan of the sinuses

• Paranasal sinuses radiograph

The paranasal sinuses are joined to the nasal cavity via small orifices called ostia. These become blocked easily by allergic inflammation, or by swelling in the nasal lining that occurs with a cold. If this happens, normal drainage of mucus within the sinuses is disrupted, and sinusitis may occur. Because the maxillary posterior teeth are close to the maxillary sinus, this can also cause clinical problems if any disease processes are present, such as an infection in any of these teeth. These clinical problems can include secondary sinusitis, the inflammation of the sinuses from another source such as an infection of the adjacent teeth.

These conditions may be treated with drugs such as , which cause vasoconstriction in the sinuses reducing inflammation by traditional techniques of nasal irrigation or by corticosteroid.

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How Long Should It Take For A Z

sinusitis, antibiotics

I take the last of the Z-Pak tomorrow. The doctor gave me an injection of antibiotic and steroid on Monday. Still can strongly smell the infection. It is making me extremely nauseated. The sinus headache is horrible. Also using the normal saline nose spray. I cant decide if it is too soon to call doctor or if I should finish the antibiotics and wait a couple of days. Im also doing my Hizentra infusion today. Maybe the boost for my immune system will help. Any thoughts?

meyati

sounds horrible-I think that Z paks are getting weaker. Are you having any nasal discharge, and if you are what color is it- If its sort of dark or greenish, youre still with a bad infection. Z-Paks usually work for about a week after you take the last one. Considering the smell. Id go back to the doctor anyway, but he might tell you it is too soon. Be sure to tell him about nasal discharge and smell. I had one, where everything smelled and tasted sort of like fish. It took several doses of antibiotics to get rid of that.

+1kathyhansonmeyatiendlessPred+1

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When Antibiotics Are Appropriate Treatment

Antibiotics may be given to people who are less able to fight off infection, such as those with diabetes, or serious heart or lung disease.

In addition, antibiotics can be given to those whose symptoms have gotten worse or those who show no improvement after seven days.

If antibiotics are given, a 10- to 14-day course is recommended, according to the practice guidelines. Amoxicillin or amoxicillin clavulanate are typically the first choice for people who are not allergic to penicillin.

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When To Seek Medical Care

See a doctor if you have:

• Severe symptoms, such as severe headache or facial pain.
• Symptoms that get worse after initially improving.
• Symptoms lasting more than 10 days without improvement.
• Fever longer than 3-4 days.

You should also seek medical care if you have had multiple sinus infections in the past year.

This list is not all-inclusive. Please see a doctor for any symptom that is severe or concerning.

Other conditions can cause symptoms similar to a sinus infection, including:

• Seasonal allergies

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Fda Okays Single Dose Antibiotic For Pneumonia And Sinusitis

NEW YORK, June 14-The FDA has approved Zmax as a single-dose treatment for adults with pneumonia and certain types of acute bacterial sinusitis and pneumonia, Pfizer announced yesterday.

Having a once-only liquid antibiotic treatment could help improve compliance among older patients, said Pfizer. A single two-gram dose proved more potent than a standard dose of immediate-release Zithromax, with three times more Zmax found in tissue during the first 24 hours, said the New York drug firm.

Results showed that one dose of Zmax was as effective as currently available treatments that must be taken for seven to 10 days, said Joseph Feczko, M.D., a vice president and chief medical officer for Pfizer.

Zmax is released into the small intestine instead of the stomach, said Pfizer, providing a surge in drug levels during the onset of a bacterial infection when the bacterial count is highest.

The drug is designed to treat acute bacterial sinusitis caused by Haemophilu influenzae, Morxella catarrhalis, or Streptococcus pneumoniae, and also community-acquired pneumonia caused by Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, or Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Clinical trials showed diarrhea and loose stools to be the most common complaint associated with Zmax, followed by nausea and abdominal pain. Pfizer said diarrhea cleared up within two days among the Zmax-treated patients.

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Which Types Of Doctors Treat Sinusitis And Sinus Infections

• Many sinus infections can be treated by your primary care physician or an Internal Medicine doctor.
• However, it is not unusual to consult an ENT specialist,
• Infectious disease specialist,
• Allergist or Immunologist.

What Are The Best Antibiotics For Sinus Infection Do Doctors Prescribe For You

There are many antibiotics that your doctor or physician may prescribe to help treat your sinus infection. Some of these may even be familiar to you.

These antibiotics are effective in treating sinus infection, however, these drugs do carry side effects. You should only be taken according to what your doctor or physician has prescribed. Always follow their instructions to achieve the best results.

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Before Taking This Medicine

You should not use Zithromax if you are allergic to azithromycin, or if:

• you have ever had jaundice or liver problems caused by taking Zithromax or

• you are allergic to similar drugs such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, or telithromycin.

To make sure Zithromax is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• a heart rhythm disorder or

• low levels of potassium in your blood or

• long QT syndrome .

Zithromax is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known whether azithromycin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give Zithromax to a child younger than 6 months old.

Zithromax Effectiveness In Clinical Trials

In clinical trials, Zithromax was effective at fighting bacterial infection, including some antibiotic-resistant strains.

Studies conducted before approval of the drug measured its minimum inhibitory concentration in relation to a host of bacteria. MIC is the lowest concentration of an antibiotic that will inhibit the growth of bacteria and thereby kill them. A lower MIC means a more effective antibiotic.

In a 1991 study in the European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, researchers found Zithromax had a markedly low MIC against some bacteria compared with three other types of antibiotics, meaning it was highly effective for example, resolving 92 percent of gonorrhea infections treated.

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What Does Azithromycin Do For Cats

A unique characteristic of azithromycin is that it can remain in tissues much longer than other antibiotics.

Azithromycin is an effective antibiotic against most of the bacteria typically susceptible to it. Veterinarians commonly determine antibiotic use based on bacterial culture whenever possible or at least based on the likelihood of infectious organisms present, and the body system affected.

As with most antibiotics, azithromycin has good levels of efficacy against certain bacteria, while others may be resistant or just not susceptible to it.

For example, an upper respiratory infection in a cat caused by the bacteria Bordetella, or uveitis caused by Bartonella, will typically be susceptible, but it has no effect against Chlamydophila felis that causes conjunctivitis in cats, or anemia caused by Mycoplasma haemofelis in cats.

Azithromycin also is not effective against viral causes of upper respiratory infections in cats, like feline herpesvirus and calicivirus, which are actually by far the most common underlying causes in kitties.

A unique characteristic of azithromycin is that it can remain in tissues much longer than other antibiotics. This unique absorption of azithromycin allows for less frequent dosing. This makes it a good and more cost-effective choice for certain susceptible infections that may require weeks of treatment.