Azithromycin
About
Azithromycin is an antibiotic medicine. It's used to treat infections including: chest infections such as pneumonia ear, nose and throat and nose infections such as sinus infection (sinusitis) skin infections Lyme disease some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) It can also be used long-term to prevent chest infections in people who keep getting them. Azithromycin is from a group of medicines called macrolide antibiotics. Macrolide antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that cause the infection. Azithromycin is available on prescription as capsules, tablets and a liquid that you swallow. It can also be given by injection, but this is usually only done in hospital. You'll usually take azithromycin once a day. Try to take it at the same time each day. Take azithromycin capsules at least 1 hour before food or 2 hours after eating. You can take tablets or liquid with or without food. For most infections you should feel better within a few days, but it's important to finish your full course of medicine. The most common side effects of azithromycin are feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, headaches, or changes to your sense of taste. Some people get a fungal infection called thrush after taking a course of antibiotics like azithromycin. Symptoms of thrush in the mouth include redness and itching. Women may get vaginal itching. Page last reviewed: 20 January 2022 Next review due: 20 January 2025
Key facts
You'll usually take azithromycin once a day. Try to take it at the same time each day.
Take azithromycin capsules at least 1 hour before food or 2 hours after eating. You can take tablets or liquid with or without food.
For most infections you should feel better within a few days, but it's important to finish your full course of medicine.
The most common side effects of azithromycin are feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, headaches, or changes to your sense of taste.
Some people get a fungal infection called thrush after taking a course of antibiotics like azithromycin. Symptoms of thrush in the mouth include redness and itching. Women may get vaginal itching.