Azithromycin, sold most widely as Zithromax, is a macrolide antibiotic used for respiratory, skin and selected STI infections. This guide covers how it works, what a standard course looks like, and how ShiningRX supplies it to trade buyers and consumers in the USA, UK and Australia.
Key takeaways
- Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic indicated for respiratory, skin and selected STI infections.
- Typical dosing: 500 mg day 1 then 250 mg daily for 4 days, or 1 g single dose.
- Onset is clinical response in 48–72 hours; effect lasts long tissue half-life, once-daily short course.
- Most reported side effects are GI upset and other mild, self-limiting reactions.
- Store below 30 °C.
Azithromycin at a glance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Drug class | macrolide antibiotic |
| Common brand | Zithromax |
| Licensed use | respiratory, skin and selected STI infections |
| Available strengths | 250 mg, 500 mg |
| Dosage form | film-coated tablet |
| Typical onset | clinical response in 48–72 hours |
| Duration / dosing interval | long tissue half-life, once-daily short course |
| Storage | below 30 °C |
How Azithromycin works
As a macrolide antibiotic, Azithromycin acts on the pathway that drives respiratory, skin and selected STI infections. The pharmacological effect is dose-related, which is why prescribers begin at the lowest useful strength and adjust on response rather than starting at the maximum. In practice that means 500 mg day 1 then 250 mg daily for 4 days, or 1 g single dose
Starting a Azithromycin course
- 1
Clinical assessment
Confirm the indication for respiratory, skin and selected STI infections, review comorbidities and check the contraindication list before the first dose.
- 2
Initiate at the standard dose
500 mg day 1 then 250 mg daily for 4 days, or 1 g single dose
- 3
Review at the first checkpoint
Reassess once the expected onset window of clinical response in 48–72 hours has passed and document tolerability.
- 4
Titrate or switch
If response is partial and tolerance is good, step up within the licensed range; if tolerance is poor, consider Doxycycline.
Safety profile in brief
Commonly reported effects include GI upset, QT prolongation, transient LFT rise. Azithromycin should be avoided in macrolide hypersensitivity and existing QT prolongation. Any severe, persistent or unexpected reaction warrants stopping the medicine and seeking clinical review.
