Will Z Pack Treat A Sinus Infection

Research Into Antibiotics And Sinus Infections

The guidelines were triggered, in part, by studies finding that antibiotics may not make a difference. About 60% to 70% of people with sinus infections recover without antibiotics, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

In one study of symptom relief, patients given antibiotics generally did no better than patients not given antibiotics.

This study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, observed 240 patients with sinusitis. They were given one of four treatments: antibiotics alone, nasal steroid spray alone to reduce tissue swelling, both antibiotics and the spray, or no treatment.

Patients who got no treatment were as likely to get better than those who got the antibiotics. The nasal spray seemed to help people with less severe symptoms at the beginning of their sinus problem, and seemed to make those with more intense congestion worse.

The patients all had sinus symptoms that suggested a bacterial infection. Sinus problems are also caused by viruses, for which antibiotics definitely offer no help.

Azithromycin Vs Amoxicillin: Differences Similarities And Which Is Better For You

Drug overview & main differences | Conditions treated | Efficacy | Insurance coverage and cost comparison | Side effects | Drug interactions | Warnings | FAQ

If you have ever suffered from a bacterial sinus infection or a variety of other types of bacterial infections, chances are you have taken an antibiotic. Azithromycin and amoxicillin are two of the most common antibiotics used in the treatment of bacterial infections. Antibiotics are used in the treatment of bacterial infections, and will not work for viral infections such as the flu or common cold.

Azithromycin is also known by its brand name Zithromax . It is classified in a group of medications called macrolide antibiotics. Azithromycin works by binding to the bacteria and preventing the bacteria from producing proteins that it needs to survive. Azithromycin is commonly used to treat bacterial infections like sinus infections, pneumonia, and certain sexually transmitted diseases, to name a few.

Amoxicillin is known by its brand name of Amoxil, and it is classified in a group of medications called penicillin antibiotics. Amoxicillin works by preventing bacteria from forming cell walls, which kills the bacteria. Amoxicillin is commonly used to treat bacterial infections such as ear infections, pneumonia, and throat infections, among others.

Although both medications are antibiotics, they have many differences. Continue reading to learn more about azithromycin and amoxicillin.

Is Your Sinus Infection Caused By A Virus Or Bacteria

Physicians may not know if sinusitis is bacterial or viral, because the diagnosis is typically done by observing symptoms. Symptoms include:

• Nasal congestion
• Thick nasal or post-nasal drainage

Sometimes other tests such as computed tomography scan or cultures are used to help make the diagnosis.

Despite the recommendations that antibiotic use be judicious, they are still overused for sinusitis, according to many physicians who specialize in treating sinus problems.

Some physicians say they give patients with sinusitis a prescription for antibiotics, and recommend they wait three to five days before filling it, and only fill it if symptoms are not better by then. A can be used to help relieve your symptoms and promote drainage.

The longer symptoms last, the more likely a sinus problem is to be a bacterial infection, some experts say.

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How K Health Can Help

Dont take antibiotics without your doctors prescription.

Fortunately, seeing a doctor doesnt have to be expensive.

Did you know you can get affordable primary care with the K Health app?

to check your symptoms, explore conditions and treatments, and if needed, text with a doctor in minutes. K Healths AI-powered app is HIPAA compliant and based on 20 years of clinical data.

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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Usual Adult Dose For Skin And Structure Infection

Immediate-release: 500 mg orally as a single dose on day 1, followed by 250 mg orally once a day on days 2 to 5Use: Treatment of mild to moderate uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections due to Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, or Streptococcus agalactiaeIDSA and NIH Recommendations:Immediate-release:Patients greater than 45 kg: 500 mg orally on day 1, then 250 mg orally once a day on days 2 through 5Patients less than 45 kg: 10 mg/kg orally on day 1, then 5 mg/kg orally once a day for 4 additional daysAlternative therapy for Bartonella infections : 500 mg orally once a day for at least 3 monthsUses:-Treatment of bacillary angiomatosis and cat scratch disease-Alternative therapy for Bartonella infections

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The Rise Of Antimicrobial Resistance

Today, doctors have a better understanding of which antibiotics are best used for which illnesses and how the overuse of antibiotics like Z-paks contribute to antibiotic resistance. The more we use antibiotics inappropriately, the more we create bacteria that are resistant.

Its interesting that we used to think of azithromycin as a cure-all for everything, because thats what led to overprescribing and its demise, said Emir Kobic, a clinical pharmacy specialist in infectious diseases at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix. Its no longer the first line antibiotic physicians should be prescribing for patients with community-acquired pneumonia where Streptococcus pneumoniae still tends to be the most common bacterial culprit.

The inappropriate use and overuse of Z-paks has led Streptococcus pneumoniae resistance rates to rise as high as 20-30% in America, Dr. Kobic said. This stat should be concerning, because the majority of pharmaceutical companies are not investing to develop new antibiotics, and if they are patients will be paying higher co-pays and out of pocket costs on future antibiotics.

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Recommendations For Antimicrobial Therapy

Ahovuo-Saloranta et al, in a 2008 Cochrane Review meta-analysis of 57 studies, concluded that antibiotics yield a small treatment effect in a primary care setting in patients with uncomplicated sinusitis whose symptoms have lasted more than 7 days. However, another meta-analysis found no treatment effect of antibiotics, even in patients whose symptoms had persisted for more than 10 days.

In cases of suspected or documented bacterial sinusitis, the second principle of treatment is to provide adequate systemic treatment of the likely bacterial pathogens . The physician should be aware of the probability of bacterial resistance within their community. Reports range from approximately 33-44% of H influenzae and almost all of M catarrhalis strains have beta-lactamasemediated resistance to penicillin-based antimicrobials in children.

Risk factors for pneumococcal and H. influenzae resistance are:

• Residing in a region with rates of penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae > 10 %.
• Antibiotic use by the patient or member of their household in the last 6 weeks.
• Attendance in a day care center.

References

Are There Alternatives To Z

The medications clarithromycin or are sometimes used as alternatives to the Z-Pak, according to Chirag Shah, MD, board-certified emergency medicine physician and co-founder of Push Health. However, these alternatives will not always work to treat the infection for which the Z-Pak was prescribed in the first place, and consultation with ones medical provider is recommended before changing medications.

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What Is Azithromycin Z

Azithromycin Z Pak is the brand name for the prescription drug azithromycin. Its a macrolide-type antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.

As a macrolide-type antibiotic, this prescription drug acts by halting the growth of bacteria.

This bacteriostatic action works effectively against a wide variety of bacteria, such as :

• Haemophilus influenzae
• Mycoplasma pneumonia
• Streptococcus pneumonia

This antibiotic is commonly used to treat respiratory infections like bronchitis, pneumonia, and sinusitis, and its also used to treat skin, soft tissue, and ear infections.

Sometimes, healthcare providers may prescribe this drug off-label to treat other infections like Lyme disease, chlamydia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

The discovery of this medication dates way back to 1980, when Pliva, a Croatian pharmacological company, first synthesized this drug.

The Food and Drug Administration endorsed azithromycin for medical use in 1991. Since its conception, this drug has helped countless patients recover from bacterial infections.

Wait Remind Me What Z

A Z-Pack is literally just azithromycin, a standard antibiotic introduced in 1992, formulated in a package of six pills, which are taken over five days.

That short time commitment was a huge part of their appeal. Other antibiotics may require multiple doses a day for 10 or 14 days at a time, Tara Vijayan, M.D., assistant clinical professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, tells SELF. The Z-Pack was a nice defined course and relatively short, she says. It made people feel like they can do this they can complete their course and theyll be done with it.

Plus, the ones I took were usually hot pink and came in a blister pack rather than a bottlefactors that mattered a lot to a sick and miserable 8-year-old me. They were cheap, easy, cute, and they had a little marketing zing, Neha Vyas, M.D., a family medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic, tells SELF.

And, Dr. Vyas says, theyre indicated for a bunch of different health issues , which made them an appealing option when the first-line treatments werent available. For instance, before azithromycin, if you had a penicillin allergy and needed an antibiotic for a case of strep throat, your only option was likely a cephalosporin antibiotic, which still has some cross-reactivity with penicillin allergies, Dr. Vyas explains. So, if there were any worries about allergies, a Z-Pack was an obvious, nearly all-purpose choice.

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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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How Should Augmentin Be Taken

For Adults:

• The usual adult dose is one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin every 12 hours or one 250-mg tablet of Augmentin every 8 hours. For more severe infections and infections of the respiratory tract, the dose should be one 875-mg tablet of Augmentin every 12 hours or one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin every 8 hours. Adults who have difficulty swallowing may be given the 125 mg/5 mL or 250 mg/5 mL suspension in place of the 500-mg tablet. The 200 mg/5 mL suspension or the 400 mg/5 mL suspension may be used in place of the 875-mg tablet.
• Two 250-mg tablets of Augmentin should not be substituted for one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin. Since both the 250-mg and 500-mg tablets of Augmentin contain the same amount of clavulanic acid , two 250-mg tablets are not equivalent to one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin.
• The 250-mg tablet of Augmentin and the 250-mg chewable tablet should not be substituted for each other, as they are not interchangeable. The 250-mg tablet of Augmentin and the 250-mg chewable tablet do not contain the same amount of clavulanic acid . The 250-mg tablet of Augmentin contains 125 mg of clavulanic acid, whereas the 250-mg chewable tablet contains 62.5 mg of clavulanic acid.

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How Should Azithromycin Z

Azithromycin is best stored in a cool, dry place away from heat and light. The oral suspension should be refrigerated however, users can keep it at room temperature for up to two weeks.

Consequently, azithromycin in the extended-release formulation should not be stored in refrigerators. Its also not best to store azithromycin in the bathroom as the moisture could render the drug ineffective.

Once youre done with your azithromycin treatment, dispose of any leftover medication properly. New azithromycin can be thrown away in the trash.

However, make sure to empty the contents of the capsule or tablet into a water container before throwing it away. This will prevent someone else from accidentally taking the medication.

Does Your Child Need Antibiotics For A Sinus Infection

• Infectious disease specialists agree on the following criteria for treating sinus infections with antibiotics:
• Symptoms lasting for 10 days or more and not improving
• Symptoms with fever over 102 degrees lasting for 3-4 days in a row
• Cold symptoms lasting 5-6 days that improved but were then followed by new fever, headache, cough, nasal discharge or facial pain
• Xrays are NOT accurate for diagnosing sinusitis. They can result in both under-diagnosis and over-diagnosis. The best test to detect the presence of infection is a CT scan of the sinuses.

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Which Antibiotics Are Most Effective For Bacterial Sinusitis

Antibiotics are indicated for sinusitis that is thought to be bacterial, including sinusitis that is severe or involves the frontal, ethmoid, or sphenoid sinuses, since this type of sinusitis is more prone to complications. Penicillins, cephalosporins, and macrolides seem to be equally efficacious. A 5- to 10-day regimen of amoxicillin 500 mg 3 times a day is recommended as first-line therapy.

One study suggests that a single dose of 2 g of extended-release azithromycin may be more effective than a 10-day course of amoxicillin/clavulanate. However, azithromycin is not likely a good choice in sinusitis because symptoms may improve only because of the anti-inflammatory efficacy of the agent and because it has poor efficacy against S pneumoniae and H influenzae. The risk of adverse effects should be weighed against the severity of disease and patient comorbidities prior to initiating antibiotic treatment.

Patterns of bacterial resistance should also be taken into account in the choice of antibiotic.

References

How Long Should It Take For A Z

Question posted by kathyhanson on 3 April 2013

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 canât decide if it is too soon to call doctor or if I should finish the antibiotics and wait a couple of days. Iâm also doing my Hizentra infusion today. Maybe the boost for my immune system will help. Any thoughts?

endlessPred

Hello. Am behind in reading emails and saw yours. I also get sinus problems and am on prednisone for eight years. I no longer bother with the Z pak. It doesnât help. I doubt it is less strong. We think it no longer targets the right bacteria. Also, They have found that those nasty stinky fluids are caused by a virus and must run their course. Nasal wash helps, not just a spray. Take Mucinex Expectorant which is guiafinasen and usually works with all meds. You can get it as a prescription or over the counter. It helps relieve the pressure.

+1kathyhanson

Thanks Karen, I had to get a round of Levaquin when I finished the Z-Pak. Doing great now. I wish a few days of medication would cure all of our other ails!! All of the antibiotics/steroids gave me thrush. Yuk! Finally have everything cleared up. Take care,Kathy

endlessPredkathyhansonendlessPred

Aw, shucks! You are so kind.

kathyhanson

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What Drugs Interact With Zithromax

Zithromax may interact with arsenic trioxide, cyclosporine, pimozide, tacrolimus, theophylline, warfarin, other antibiotics, antidepressants, anti-malaria medications, cholesterol-lowering medicines, ergot medicines, heart or blood pressure medications, heart rhythm medicines, HIV medicines, medicine to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting, medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, migraine headache medicines, narcotics, sedatives, tranquilizers, or seizure medicines. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

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

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