Azithromycin

Also indexed as: Zithromax

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About azithromycin

Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic used to treat a variety of bacterial infections.

Helpful Products

Try these helpful products which may be beneficial if taken with this medicine

Vitamin K
To avoid depletion of vitamin K, which might cause blood clotting problems, try taking 100 mcg of the nutrient each day, or eating more leafy green vegetables while taking the drug
Probiotics
Taking probiotics such as Saccharomyces, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium species might prevent common consequences of azithromycin therapy, such as diarrhoea and yeast infections

These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or chemist. Continue reading the full article for more information on interactions with vitamins, herbs, and foods.

Summary of Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, a herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized interactions.

Beneficial May Be Beneficial: Depletion or interference—The medication may deplete or interfere with the absorption or function of the nutrient. Taking these nutrients may help replenish them.

Vitamin K*
Beneficial May Be Beneficial: Side effect reduction/prevention—Taking these supplements may help reduce the likelihood and/or severity of a potential side effect caused by the medication.

Bifidobacterium longum*

Lactobacillus acidophilus*

Lactobacillus casei*

Saccharomyces boulardii*

Saccharomyces cerevisiae*

Vitamin K*
Beneficial May Be Beneficial: Supportive interaction—Taking these supplements may support or otherwise help your medication work better.

Saccharomyces boulardii*
Check Check: Other—Before taking any of these supplements or eating any of these foods with your medication, read this article in full for details.

Digitalis

Magnesium
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability

None known
Adverse interaction

None known
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An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

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Interactions with Dietary Supplements

Magnesium
A magnesium- and aluminium-containing antacid was reported to interfere with azithromycin absorption in a study of ten healthy people.1 People can avoid this interaction by taking azithromycin two hours before or after any aluminium/magnesium-containing products. It has not yet been shown that magnesium compounds typically found in supplements affect absorption of this drug.

Probiotics
A common side effect of antibiotics is diarrhoea, which may be caused by the elimination of beneficial bacteria normally found in the colon. Controlled studies have shown that taking probiotic microorganisms—such as Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, or Saccharomyces boulardii—helps prevent antibiotic-induced diarrhoea.2

The diarrhoea experienced by some people who take antibiotics also might be due to an overgrowth of the bacterium Clostridium difficile, which causes a disease known as pseudomembranous colitis. Controlled studies have shown that supplementation with harmless yeast—such as Saccharomyces boulardii3 or Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s or brewer’s yeast)4 —helps prevent recurrence of this infection. In one study, taking 500 mg of Saccharomyces boulardii twice daily enhanced the effectiveness of the antibiotic vancomycin in preventing recurrent clostridium infection.5 Therefore, people taking antibiotics who later develop diarrhoea might benefit from supplementing with saccharomyces organisms.

Treatment with antibiotics also commonly leads to an overgrowth of yeast (Candida albicans) in the vagina (candida vaginitis) and the intestines (sometimes referred to as “dysbiosis”). Controlled studies have shown that Lactobacillus acidophilus might prevent candida vaginitis.6

Vitamin K
A few cases of excessive bleeding have been reported in people who take antibiotics.7 8 9 10 This side effect may be the result of reduced vitamin K activity and/or reduced vitamin K production by bacteria in the colon. One study showed that people who had taken broad-spectrum antibiotics had lower liver concentrations of vitamin K2 (menaquinone), though vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) levels remained normal.11 A few antibiotics appear to exert a strong effect on vitamin K activity, while others may not have any effect. Therefore, one should refer to a specific antibiotic for information on whether it interacts with vitamin K. Doctors of natural medicine sometimes recommend vitamin K supplementation to people taking antibiotics. Additional research is needed to determine whether the amount of vitamin K1 found in some multivitamins is sufficient to prevent antibiotic-induced bleeding. Moreover, most multivitamins do not contain vitamin K.

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Interactions with Herbs

Digitalis (Digitalis lanata, Digitalis purpurea)
Digitalis refers to a family of plants commonly called foxglove that contain digitalis glycosides, chemicals with actions and toxicities similar to the prescription drug digoxin.

Erythromycin and clarithromycin (drugs closely related to azithromycin) can increase the serum level of digitalis glycosides, increasing the therapeutic effects as well as the risk of side effects.12 While this interaction has not been reported with azithromycin, until more is known, azithromycin and digitalis-containing products should be used only under the direct supervision of a doctor trained in their use.

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Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds

Food
Azithromycin suspension should be taken on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after food.13 Azithromycin tablets may be taken with or without food and should be swallowed whole, without cutting, chewing, or crushing.14

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References
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