Description
Same active ingredient (azithromycin) as Zithromax®, the US brand. Azicip 250 mg is an Indian brand, made and licensed in India.
About Azicip 250 mg
Azicip 250 mg is a prescription tablet containing 250 mg of azithromycin, made by Cipla Limited, used to treat bacterial infections such as chest infections, sinusitis, throat and ear infections, and infections of the skin. Each strip holds six tablets, which matches the classic five-day azithromycin course exactly.
How does Azicip work?
Azithromycin, a macrolide, attaches to bacterial ribosomes and prevents the germ from making the proteins it depends on. Growth stalls, and the immune system finishes the job. The drug gathers in the lungs, tonsils, sinuses and skin at levels well above those in the blood and lingers there, so a course of only five days continues to act for some time after it ends.
How to take Azicip 250 mg
| Day | Dose | Tablets |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 500 mg | 2 tablets together |
| Days 2 to 5 | 250 mg a day | 1 tablet daily |
| Whole course | 1.5 g | 6 tablets |
The double dose on the first day loads the tissues quickly. Take the tablets once a day with water, with or without food, and try to keep to the same time. Some prescribers use a three-day plan of two tablets daily instead; follow the instructions on your label. A missed dose can be taken later the same day, but do not take two days’ worth together.
When will I feel better?
Fever and sore throat usually improve within 48–72 hours. A chesty cough often lingers for a couple of weeks even after the bacteria have gone, so an ongoing cough alone does not mean treatment has failed. See a doctor if you are getting worse, become breathless, cough up blood or still have a fever after three days.
Using antibiotics responsibly
- Use Azicip only for an infection a clinician has confirmed as bacterial.
- Complete the full course and do not keep leftover tablets for another time.
- Never give your tablets to someone else.
- Resistance to azithromycin is common in some bacteria, so your doctor may choose a different antibiotic depending on the infection and local patterns.
What are the side effects?
Diarrhea, nausea, abdominal discomfort and headache are the usual ones, and some people notice a change in taste or feel dizzy. Rarely, hearing can be affected. Get medical help without delay for a severe allergic reaction, a skin rash with blisters or peeling, fainting or a racing irregular pulse, jaundice, or severe watery or bloody diarrhea, which may be a sign of Clostridioides difficile infection.
Who should not take it?
Do not take it if you are allergic to azithromycin or other macrolides. Your prescriber needs to know about any heart rhythm problem, including long QT, low blood potassium or magnesium, liver or severe kidney disease, and myasthenia gravis, which azithromycin can worsen. Important interactions include other QT-prolonging drugs, warfarin, digoxin, colchicine, ciclosporin, nelfinavir and ergot alkaloids. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, a doctor will weigh the benefits before prescribing.
Pack sizes and storage
Strips of 6 tablets, sold in packs of 30, 60 or 90, from $30. Store below 86°F (30°C), protected from moisture. Other general medicines are in the More Product category.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a 500 mg version?
Yes, Azicip 500 mg, which suits three-day courses.
Is Azee 250 mg different?
Not in content: Azee 250 mg is another Cipla brand of the same drug and dose.
Can I drink alcohol while taking it?
There is no direct interaction, but alcohol can worsen stomach upset and slow recovery, so keep it light.
General guidance only, not individual medical advice. Azicip 250 mg is a prescription-only medicine; use it exactly as prescribed.