Carcinogenesis Mutagenesis Impairment Of Fertility
Long-term studies in animals have not been performed to evaluate carcinogenic potential. Azithromycin has shown no mutagenic potential in standard laboratory tests: mouse lymphoma assay, human lymphocyte clastogenic assay, and mouse bone marrow clastogenic assay. In fertility studies conducted in male and female rats, oral administration of azithromycin for 64 to 66 days or 15 days prior to and during cohabitation resulted in decreased pregnancy rate at 20 and 30 mg/kg/day when both males and females were treated with azithromycin. This minimal effect on pregnancy rate did not become more pronounced when the dose was increased from 20 to 30 mg/kg/day and it was not observed when only one animal in the mated pair was treated. There were no effects on any other reproductive parameters, and there were no effects on fertility at 10 mg/kg/day. The relevance of these findings to patients being treated with azithromycin at the doses and durations recommended in the prescribing information is uncertain.
What Happens If Chlamydia Is Left Untreated
If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to more serious health problems.
In people assigned female at birth, untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease , a condition which can scar the fallopian tubes and lead to infertility.
Chlamydia can also be passed on to babies during birth if the parent has the infection while pregnant.
In people assigned male at birth, untreated chlamydia can cause epididymitis, an infection in the prostate gland, and male chlamydial urethritis.
Randomization And Sequence Generation Allocation Concealment And Blinding
A computer-generated randomization sequence will be created by an independent statistician. Blinded therapy will be prepared by an independent organization and labelled with individual kit numbers according to randomization. Study drugs will be packaged into individually numbered kits stored by independent site pharmacists. All tablets will be identical in appearance and feel, and all medications will be packaged identically to maintain blinding. Participants, physicians, nurses, trial statistician and all other trial staff will be masked to treatment group. The effectiveness of blinding will be tested at completion of the trial when participants will be asked to indicate which treatment they thought they received .
The side-effect profiles of the drugs will have negligible impact on blinding. They have been widely used for chlamydia for decades at the dosages we will be using. Their side-effect profiles are well established and similar including minor gastrointestinal upset . Photosensitivity may occur for doxycycline but is more common with longer or higher dosages . Rash is a rare side effect for each drug, occurring in 0.11% of cases . Our packaging will clearly state sunscreen should be used and exposure to sun minimalized, thereby reducing the risk of photosensitivity. We examined the side-effect data from treatment trials for urethral/cervical chlamydia and found that among 17 trials, there was no difference in side-effects .
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Why Is Treating Chlamydia Important
Untreated chlamydia can lead to several serious complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease, or epididymitis. In some cases these conditions can cause infertility.
Those who do not seek treatment for chlamydia also risk passing the infection on to their sexual partners.
Treatment is also necessary because the immune system is not capable of fighting off the infection on its own. The only way to effectively rid the body of chlamydia is to treat it with antibiotics.
Does Chlamydia Cause Cervical Cancer
No, chlamydia doesn’t cause cervical cancer.
It’s possible to get a sexually transmitted infection by having sex with someone who has an STI, even if they have no symptoms.
The following measures will help protect you from most STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV.
If you have an STI, they’ll also help prevent you from passing it on to someone:
- Use condoms every time you have vaginal or anal sex.
- If you have oral sex , use a condom to cover the penis, or a dam to cover the vulva or anus.
- Avoid sharing sex toys. If you do share them, wash them or cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them.
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Long Term Complications Of Chlamydia In Males
In men, chlamydia can be diagnosed from a urine test or swab, even if you have no symptoms. In 50% of men who test positive, chlamydia symptoms are absent. However if untreated, because chlamydia also causes inflammation in the male genital tract, this may result in the following.
- Urethritis pain within the penis and on passing urine, often with discharge
- Epididymo-orchitis painful, swollen testicles
- Prostatitis a painful, swollen, prostate gland
- Chlamydial infection also affects male fertility. Semen is poorer quality, and as it is packed full of inflammatory cells, sperm have less ability to swim freely.
When Can I Have Sex Again
If you had doxycycline, you shouldn’t have sex including vaginal, oral or anal sex, even with a condom until both you and your partner have completed treatment.
If you had azithromycin, you should wait 7 days after treatment before having sex .
This will help ensure you don’t pass on the infection or catch it again straight away.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Chlamydia
Many people with chlamydia have no symptoms at all, and their infection is only picked up with a screening test.
Guidelines currently recommend that all women under the age of 25 get screened for chlamydia every year. Older women at increased risk for an infection, such as those with a new sex partner, more than one sex partner, a sex partner with concurrent partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection, should also be screen regularly.
Although routine screening for chlamydia in young men is not currently recommended, it should be considered in populations with a high prevalence of chlamydia or those at high risk for chlamydia .
Some people may have symptoms.
Women may notice an unusual vaginal discharge or problems when urinating , such as pain or burning, an increased need to urinate pain during sex bleeding between periods or after sex lower abdominal , or pelvic pain or cramps or.
Men may notice a discharge from their penis, pain or discomfort while urinating , or pain or swelling in their testicles.
What Dosage Treats Chlamydia
For people with uncomplicated genital chlamydia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a single dose of azithromycin taken orally to cure the infection.
Azithromycin comes in three forms:
- Tablet
- Regular-release powder
For both powder formulas, either you or a pharmacist mix it with liquid to take.
Always follow the directions from your doctor or pharmacist for taking azithromycin.
Azithromycin is taken as a single dose, one time.
It should be taken as soon as you receive the prescription. Azithromycin can be taken with or without food, however, the extended-release form is typically taken on an empty stomach.
If you take the liquid form, shake it well before using and use a dosing spoon to measure an accurate dose. If you are prescribed the powder, mix it with water according to directions.
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How Long Does It Take
It takes about one week for azithromycin to completely cure a chlamydial infection, and in some cases it can take up to two weeks for the infection to clear.
If you are sexually active during this time, you can pass the infection to your partner, even if you have no symptoms. For these reasons, you should avoid having sex of any kind during treatment.
Usual Adult Dose For Tonsillitis/pharyngitis
Immediate-release: 500 mg orally as a single dose on day 1, followed by 250 mg orally once a day on days 2 to 5Use: Treatment of pharyngitis/tonsillitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes as an alternative to first-line therapy in patients who cannot use first-line therapyIDSA Recommendations:Individuals with penicillin allergy: 12 mg/kg orally once a day-Maximum dose: 500 mg/day-Duration of therapy: 5 daysUse: Treatment of Group A streptococcal pharyngitis
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What Extra Measures Need To Be Taken During Treatment
If someone suspects they or their partner has come into contact with chlamydia, or are displaying symptoms of chlamydia, they should get tested immediately, and refrain from having sexual intercourse until they have either:
- received confirmation that they and their partner are clear of infection
or, if they or their partner has tested positive for chlamydia:
- waited for seven days following successful completion of treatment with antibiotics and the disappearance of any symptoms.
If symptoms persist, you should notify your doctor as soon as possible.
In certain cases, a person may be advised to undertake a test of cure following treatment, to confirm that the infection is no longer present, before having sex again. This test should be taken at least three weeks following completion of treatment.
Where a person has tested positive for chlamydia, or has not yet tested positive but is strongly suspected of having the infection, it is crucial for them to notify their sexual partner as soon as possible. Sexual services such as GUM clinics can provide help in doing so.
Patients will also be given information on safe sex practices, to help reduce their risk of infection in future.
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Does Azithromycin Give You A Yeast Infection
If you get a sore, white mouth or tongue while taking or soon after stopping azithromycin, tell your doctor. Also tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge. This may mean you have a yeast infection called thrush. Sometimes the use of azithromycin allows yeast to grow and the above symptoms to occur.
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How Soon Can I Have Sex Again
Dont have oral, vaginal or anal sex, or use sex toys, until you and your partner have both finished the treatment and any symptoms have gone. This is to help prevent you being re-infected or passing the infection on to someone else.
If youre given antibiotic treatment called azithromycin, youll still need to avoid sex for seven days after starting the treatment as thats how long it takes to work.
When Should I See My Doctor
You should visit your GP or pharmacist if you are taking any medication that potentially may interact with azithromycin, you fall into the category of those in whom azithromycin may not be safe, you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Generally speaking, there is no need to visit your clinician again after treatment with azithromycin, as it has a very high success rate. If symptoms persist, there is a small chance it can still be chlamydia that hasnt been cured, but it is more likely to be attributed to another condition. You should see your doctor about getting further tests done such as a full STD screen.
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Right Methodology To Take Azithromycin
Health experts say Azithromycin is recommended to take once a day unless you are consuming it with the help of an injection. Make sure you take medication every day on the same day.
- Depending on the infection being treated, a 500 mg dose per day for 3 to 10 days is usually recommended.
- In severe infections a higher dose is prescribed
- If you have a kidney or liver problem, then you should lower the dose.
Sometimes, Azithromycin is recommended for a long time to prevent liver disease if you continue to take medicine. In this case, it should usually be done three times a week.
In case you have an overdose of Azithromycin, it can be dangerous for your body. This can cause liver damage and an irregular heartbeat. If you think you have taken too much medicine, talk to your doctor or local poison control center. If symptoms are severe, you should not wait and dial 911. Also, you can visit to the nearest emergency department immediately.
The Price of Azithromycin is varied from region to region. So its not easy to mention the standard price of this particular medicine. But you can easily check out the accurate price on Google as per your location.
Usual Adult Dose For Mycoplasma Pneumonia
Community-acquired pneumonia:Oral:-Immediate-release: 500 mg orally as a single dose on day 1, followed by 250 mg orally once a day on days 2 to 5-Extended-release: 2 g orally once as a single doseParenteral: 500 mg IV once a day as a single dose for at least 2 days, followed by 500 mg orally to complete a 7- to 10-day course of therapyComment: Extended-release formulations should be taken on an empty stomach.Uses:-Treatment of mild community acquired pneumonia due to Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, or Streptococcus pneumoniae in patients appropriate for oral therapy-Treatment of community-acquired pneumonia due to C pneumoniae, H influenzae, Legionella pneumophila, Moraxella catarrhalis, M pneumoniae, or S pneumoniae in patients who require initial IV therapy
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What You Need To Know About Azithromycin For Chlamydia Treatment
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in America.
In fact, in 2018, four million infections occurred in the U.S. However, many cases may go unreported because people with chlamydia are often asymptomatic and therefore dont know they have an infection.
Because chlamydia can go undetected, regular testing is extremely important in both fighting the spread of the infection and in treating it.
If you happen to test positive, the good news is, the vast majority of chlamydia cases can be cured easily with antibiotics such as azithromycin.
In this article, Ill explain if azithromycin treats chlamydia, who can take this antibiotic, the best dosage to treat chlamydia, and how to take it.
Then Ill break down how azithromycin compares with another antibiotic, doxycycline, for treating chlamydia.
Finally, Ill share everything you need to know about being tested for chlamydia.
How Is Chlamydia Treated During Pregnancy
Because Doxycycline and Ofloxacin are not suitable for use in pregnancy, expectant mothers requiring chlamydia treatment will be given an alternative.
NICE recommends that prescribers consider one of the following in such cases:
- a three day course of Azithromycin
- or a seven day course of Erythromycin
- or a 14-day course of Erythromycin
- or a seven day course of Amoxicillin
Of course every case is different, and dependent on a patients medical profile.
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What Should You Do If You Test Positive For Chlamydia Or Gonorrhea
Testing positive for gonorrhea or chlamydia is a nerve-wracking experience, but its important to stay calm. If you test positive for either STD, seek medical treatment right away. If your symptoms do not improve after taking the prescribed antibiotics, make sure to contact your doctor to discuss other treatment options so you can avoid these serious complications.
Be sure to get tested again once you have completed the full course of antibiotics. Taking another test will help you confirm that the treatment was successful. If you are still testing positive for either gonorrhea or chlamydia after completing your treatment, contact your doctor to discuss your next steps.
You will also need to reach out to your sexual partners as soon as possible after testing positive for chlamydia or gonorrhea. Share your test results with your sexual partners and encourage them to get tested right away. This may be an uncomfortable conversation, but you shouldnt put it off. Telling your sexual partners about your test results right away is the only way to stop the spread of chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Why Change Advice About Chlamydia Treatment
In the past, chlamydia was often treated with a single dose of the antibiotic azithromycin.
Azithromycin was felt to be a good first choice, because taking just the 1mg dose results in very good antibiotic levels in the blood stream for several days, without the need to take further tablets.
Azithromycin taken as a single dose, was also ideal, because it was easier for patients to take all their treatment at once. The alternative treatment option, was a 7-day course of doxcycline, but in fact, many people never finish a 7-day course of antibiotics.
In a clinic setting, the doctor/nurse would often watch you swallow the azithromycin tablets there and then, meaning this ensured the complete regime had been taken.
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Can You Get Chlamydia More Than Once
Yes, you can get the infection even if youve successfully treated it already.
A sexual partner who has chlamydia can transmit it to you again, even if youve already had it and treated it.
You can also get chlamydia again if it wasnt fully treated the first time. This can happen if you stop taking the necessary treatment. Its important to complete the antibiotics youve been given, even if your symptoms get better.
The CDC recommends getting tested 3 months after treatment of your initial infection to ensure the infection is cleared.
Usual Adult Dose For Pneumonia
Community-acquired pneumonia:Oral:-Immediate-release: 500 mg orally as a single dose on day 1, followed by 250 mg orally once a day on days 2 to 5-Extended-release: 2 g orally once as a single doseParenteral: 500 mg IV once a day as a single dose for at least 2 days, followed by 500 mg orally to complete a 7- to 10-day course of therapyComment: Extended-release formulations should be taken on an empty stomach.Uses:-Treatment of mild community acquired pneumonia due to Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, or Streptococcus pneumoniae in patients appropriate for oral therapy-Treatment of community-acquired pneumonia due to C pneumoniae, H influenzae, Legionella pneumophila, Moraxella catarrhalis, M pneumoniae, or S pneumoniae in patients who require initial IV therapy
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