Can you eat after taking azithromycin?
In this brief guide, we will answer the question, “can you eat after taking azithromycin?” with an in-depth analysis of what you can eat after taking azithromycin. In addition, we will have a brief discussion about the effects you eat after taking azithromycin.
Can you eat after taking azithromycin?
You can eat after taking azithromycin either after or together. If you have the capsule form then beware! In this case, you should not consume azithromycin with food or immediately afterward, it is recommended to wait a while before having a meal.
On the label of most azithromycin manufacturers, there is the information that you can take it with or without food, except in capsule format.
Many concerns usually arise when we administer drugs such as antibiotics, and several questions arise, from dosage, interactions, and side effects. Here we will report and discuss this information and clarify some doubts about this subject in the best possible way.
What is azithromycin?
Azithromycin is an antibiotic prescribed to treat bacterial infections. It is a drug that belongs to the macrolide class.
An extremely important factor is to take azithromycin to carry out the complete treatment, as interruption without medical supervision can lead to the return of the disease.
The action of azithromycin occurs by preventing the growth of some bacteria that cause diseases such as pneumonia, some sexually transmitted diseases, bronchitis, sinusitis, and ear infections.
It is important to make it clear that it will be effective against bacteria only! So it should not and is not efficient to be used against viruses or fungi.
How to take azithromycin?
Different forms of presentation of this antibiotic are available for sale. The forms are tablets (the most common and usual), oral suspension, coated tablets, solutions for injection, and capsules.
Before taking any medication, not just azithromycin, it is important to carefully read the information generated by the manufacturer and follow the medical recommendations.
The way to use the administration itself depends on the type of disease involved. Depending on the disease, a specific dosage is then indicated to combat it.
It is also dependent on the patient whether he is an adult, child, or elderly person, among other specifications.
Azithromycin is usually given once a day. It is important not to partition the drug. The duration of treatment will also depend on the indication and severity.
It can be taken with or without food (except capsules).
Can I mix azithromycin with other medicines?
Yes and no, it will depend on which medications you take. Therefore, it is always essential that you correctly inform your doctor about which medications you use. He will be able to adequately inform you about this aspect.
When talking about drug interactions, it is not always a bad thing, that means that in some cases, although they interact, they will not necessarily interfere with each other’s effectiveness, which is why it is so variable. In these cases, your doctor will usually give the dosage based on this interaction.
However, some drugs are known to have an effect that can either potentiate or reduce the effect of azithromycin. Examples: antacids, digoxin, cyclosporine, carbamazepine, warfarin, and some anti-migraine drugs, for urinary treatment, among others.
It has also been reported that taking azithromycin along with herbal supplements is not recommended.
Can I drink alcohol after taking azithromycin?
This is a classic question for anyone who is taking some type of antibiotic. And the answer is that the combination of an antibiotic, such as azithromycin, with alcohol, can be a potentially dangerous mixture. So joint consumption is not recommended.
Concomitant consumption of alcohol and azithromycin does not necessarily lead to antibiotic inefficiency, but the agent of greatest concern is the side effects that this combination can bring. So it’s not safe.
Most of the time, antibiotics in general lead to the occurrence of the most common side effects mentioned below when taken with alcohol:
- Náusea
- Dizziness
- Somnolence
- Diarrhea
- Liver injuries
- Severe headaches
Therefore, be aware of this information and avoid drinking alcohol while undergoing treatment with azithromycin or another antibiotic.
Why shouldn’t you take an azithromycin capsule during or after eating?
It has already been mentioned here that you should not eat after taking an azithromycin capsule, so the question arises as to why it is possible in other forms of presentation, so let’s go!
Some studies (click here to find out more) have already been carried out and it was found that in general azithromycin can be taken after meals, however, when dealing with the capsule format, there is a reduction in the bioavailability of the drug (click here to learn more).
This is due to a slow disintegration of the capsule in the stomach leading to greater exposure of the drug to gastric acid, causing azithromycin to be degraded to another substance, called des-cladinose-azithromycin (DCA).
For this reason, the capsule format has a negative effect if administered together with food, and therefore it is recommended to take the drug on an empty stomach.
What are the side effects of azithromycin?
Now talking about the side effects that azithromycin individually causes when used are listed below:
- Diarrhea
- Headaches
- Náusea
- Vomit
- Flatulence
- Lack of appetite
- Swelling
- Fever
- Liver injuries
However, these adverse reactions are dependent on the individual, some of these effects are more common and others are rarer in occurrence.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question, “can you eat after taking azithromycin?” and we did an in-depth analysis about what you can eat after taking azithromycin. In addition, we had a brief discussion about the effects if you can eat after azithromycin.
