Description
Same active ingredient (azithromycin) as Zithromax®, the US brand. Azee 250 mg is an Indian brand, made and licensed in India.
About Azee 250 mg
Azee 250 mg is a prescription tablet containing 250 mg of azithromycin, made by Cipla Limited, used to treat bacterial infections of the chest, sinuses, throat, ears and skin, as well as some sexually transmitted infections. It is the strength most widely used in the five-day adult course, and two tablets together provide the 500 mg daily dose used in shorter three-day courses.
Key facts
| Active ingredient | Azithromycin 250 mg |
|---|---|
| Medicine type | Macrolide antibiotic |
| Five-day course | 500 mg on day 1, then 250 mg daily on days 2–5 |
| Three-day course | 500 mg once daily for 3 days |
| Food | With or without food |
| Status | Prescription-only medicine |
How does Azee 250 mg work?
Azithromycin interferes with the way bacteria make the proteins they need to survive. White blood cells soak up the drug and carry it to the site of infection, where concentrations end up far higher than in the blood. Because it is cleared so slowly, a short course keeps protecting for several days after the final tablet.
What is it used for?
- Flare-ups of bronchitis and mild to moderate pneumonia that can be treated at home.
- Sinusitis, middle ear infection, sore throat and tonsillitis, often when penicillin is unsuitable.
- Skin and soft-tissue infections.
- Genital chlamydia and non-specific urethritis, on the advice of a sexual health clinic.
How to take Azee 250 mg
Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water once a day, at a similar time each day. You may take them with a meal or on an empty stomach. On the five-day course you take two tablets on day one and one tablet on each of the following four days; on the three-day course you take two tablets daily. If you forget a dose, take it when you remember unless your next one is almost due, and never double up. Antacids containing aluminum or magnesium should not be swallowed at the same time, so leave a gap of a couple of hours.
What are the side effects?
- Very common: diarrhea.
- Common: nausea, stomach pain, wind, vomiting, headache, dizziness and altered taste.
- Less common: rash, itching, vaginal thrush, tiredness and pins and needles.
- Rare: changes in hearing or ringing in the ears, usually reversible.
Seek urgent help for wheezing or swelling of the lips, tongue or throat; a rash that blisters or peels, or comes with fever and swollen glands; palpitations or fainting; dark urine or yellowing skin; or severe or bloody diarrhea during or after the course.
Who should not take it?
Azithromycin must be avoided by anyone allergic to it or to another macrolide. Extra caution is needed with a prolonged QT interval, a slow heart rate, heart failure, low potassium or magnesium, severe liver disease and myasthenia gravis. Tell your doctor if you take medicines that also prolong the QT interval, such as some antiarrhythmics, antipsychotics or citalopram, and about warfarin, digoxin, colchicine, ciclosporin or ergotamine. In pregnancy it is used when the benefit is clear, and small amounts pass into breast milk, so discuss either situation with your prescriber.
Pack sizes and storage
Supplied in strips of 10 tablets, in packs of 30, 60 or 90, from $34. Keep below 86°F (30°C) in a dry place.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take one 500 mg tablet instead of two 250 mg tablets?
Yes, the dose is identical. Azee 500 mg is handy for three-day courses.
Is Azicip 250 mg the same medicine?
Azicip 250 mg is another Cipla brand with the same strength of azithromycin.
Will it help a cold or flu?
No. Antibiotics do not act on viruses, and needless use fuels resistance. For other medicines, see the More Product category.
This page offers general information and cannot replace a consultation. Azee 250 mg is a prescription-only antibiotic; take it only as your doctor directs.