Description
Same active ingredient (azithromycin) as Zithromax®, the US brand. Azee 500 mg is an Indian brand, made and licensed in India.
About Azee 500 mg
Azee 500 mg tablets from Cipla contain azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic. Azithromycin stops bacteria from making the proteins they need to grow. It lingers in body tissues for days, which is why courses are short, often three to five days, compared with many other antibiotics.
Common uses
- Chest infections, including some types of pneumonia and flare-ups of bronchitis
- Sinus, throat and middle-ear infections
- Skin and soft-tissue infections
- Certain sexually transmitted infections, as directed by a sexual health clinic or doctor
Like all antibiotics, it does nothing for colds, flu or other viral illnesses.
How to take it
Your doctor will choose the dose based on the infection. A common adult course is 500 mg once daily for three days. Another is 500 mg on the first day followed by 250 mg daily for four more days, using Azee 250 mg. Take it at the same time each day, with or without food. Finish the full course even if you feel better sooner.
If you take indigestion remedies containing aluminum or magnesium, separate them from azithromycin by at least two hours.
Pack sizes
Strips hold 5 tablets. Buy 30, 60 or 90 tablets, from $67. Other strengths include Azee 1000 mg.
Side effects
Diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain and headache are the most common. Seek urgent help for:
- A fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting or palpitations
- Severe or bloody diarrhea, which can occur even weeks later
- Yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine
- A severe skin reaction with blistering or peeling
Who needs extra care
Azithromycin can affect heart rhythm (QT prolongation). Tell your doctor if you have a heart rhythm problem, low potassium or magnesium, liver disease or myasthenia gravis, or take medicines such as amiodarone, certain antipsychotics or warfarin.
Why resistance matters
Overusing antibiotics lets bacteria adapt so that medicines stop working. Use azithromycin only for an infection a clinician has confirmed and never save tablets for later.
If you miss a dose
Take it as soon as you remember that day, then carry on at the usual time the next day. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed one. Never take two doses together to catch up, and tell your doctor if you have missed several.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drink alcohol?
Moderate amounts do not interact, but alcohol may worsen stomach upset.
Where can I see other antibiotics?
Browse the antibiotic category.
General information only. Azee is a prescription antibiotic; take it only as directed by your doctor.