Chlamydia Antibiotics: Azithromycin Vs Doxycline
A test was conducted on data between 1975 and 2001 to find and compare the efficacy and differences between Azithromycin and Doxycycline. The patients were randomly given dosages of either Azithromycin or Doxycycline in the prescribed quantities of one 1g dosage of Azithroymycin and two dosages of 100mg twice a day for a week with no patient getting both. The tests were conducted on 1543 patients for checking the microbial efficacy of the drugs and on 1717 patients for checking any adverse effects of the drug. Cure rates of about 98% were found out for both the Chlamydia Antibiotics proving the efficacy of both as equally compelling.
However, azithromycin is more convinent as it is just 1 dose antibiotic. Overall one dosage of Azithromycin has proved to be very impactful in comparison to the multiple dosages of Doxycycline.
Signs & Symptoms
Chlamydia is known to be a silent or asymptomatic disease and about 50% of infected men and 60% of infected women dont show any signs or symptoms initially.
Women are prone to be more asymptomatic than men. This means women generally show no symptoms and act as carriers of the diseases.
However women are at greater risk from long term complications and hence it is important to get treated.
Chlamydia in Women
Chlamydia in Men
References:
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The Costs Of Infertility
Treating chlamydia is easy, but for those who do not get treated or get treated too late, living with the damage caused by the infection can be hard.
Rabin has treated many women who never knew they had had chlamydia until they couldnt get pregnant due to blocked fallopian tubes. These women often wind up trying in vitro fertilization , which does not always succeed.
There are all kinds of costs involved for these women, say Rabin. There are emotional costs and physical costs. There are also financial costs with IVF. Its much better to not let the tubes get damaged, she says, and get pregnant the old-fashioned way.
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Chlamydia Symptoms & Treatment
FAST FACTS
- Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that is normally passed on through sex without a condom or sharing sex toys with someone who has the infection.
- Using male or female condoms and dental dams during sex will help to protect you from getting chlamydia.
- Chlamydia is often symptomless however if left untreated it can lead to long-term health problems.
- Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics.
- Chlamydia can be passed on from mother to child during pregnancy, so its important for pregnant women to get tested.
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When To See A Healthcare Professional
If you suspect you have chlamydia, see a healthcare professional as soon as possible. Abstain from allsexual activity until your appointment.
If you arent comfortable getting tested for STIs with your usual provider, you can find a clinic in your area.
There are many free or low-cost clinics. Heres how to find one near you.
You can also visit GetTested or call CDC Info at 800-232-4636 to find local clinics.
Essential Tips And Precautions Before Using Amoxicillin For Chlamydia
Before deciding to use amoxicillin, it is vital to factor in some precautions to avoid complications of the medication.
- You should take amoxicillin as precisely as prescribed by your doctor.
- You can use amoxicillin with or without food.
- If you dont like swallowing capsules, amoxicillin is available as an oral suspension and chewable tablets.
- You can experience trouble breathing, tightness, or bloating of the throat if you use this medication.
- You can also suffer a skin rash or have prolonged diarrhea when you use this drug. Contact your doctor immediately.
- Suppose you are using amoxicillin for a sustained period. In this case, your doctor may have to periodically check your liver and kidney functions and conduct blood tests.
You should also consider the following before using amoxicillin:
Allergies: Inform your healthcare provider if you have experienced any allergic reaction to this drug or any other drugs in the past. You should also let your doctor know the other things you are allergic to, like food, dyes, preservatives, or animals. If youre buying a generic non-prescription product, study the label carefully to know the ingredients.
Children: Newborns and babies aged 3 months old and younger have underdeveloped kidney functions, so they must be administered a lower dose of this medication. Currently, no study indicates amoxicillin is harmful or less effective in children.
Caution should be applied when prescribing amoxicillin to older people
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How To Prevent Gonorrhea
Unfortunately, there are no drugs or vaccines that prevent gonorrhea. The best way to avoid gonorrhea is by employing safe sex practices, including the use of condoms. Getting a gonorrhea Infection does not protect you against future infections.
Gonorrhea is a common STI that is treatable. However, if you wait too long to get treatment, you run the risk of having serious complications, like scarring, PID, and possible future fertility issues. Know your STI status and encourage your sexual partner to do the same. Practicing safe sexual practices is the only way to prevent the transmission of gonorrhea.
Amoxicillin For Chlamydia Dosage
It is vital to follow the usage instructions as recommended by your healthcare professional. When using amoxicillin, even if your symptoms ease up, you must complete the entire course of the treatment. Stopping the drug early may allow bacteria to continue developing, which may cause reinfection.
For pregnant women using amoxicillin for chlamydia as an alternate to azithromycin, the usual adult dose recommended by the CDC is 500 mg orally 3 times per day for 7 days.
To avoid chlamydial infection and post-delivery complications in the infant, women less than 25 years and people at an increased risk of the infection should be re-screened during the third trimester of pregnancy.
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Are There Any Over The Counter Treatments For Chlamydia
Treatment, however, does not prevent infections in the future, and reinfection is common. 1 There are both recommended and alternative antibiotic regimens, with specific recommendations for women who are or may be pregnant. Over-the-counter therapies are not effective against chlamydia and should not be used.
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Does Chlamydia Treatment Have Side Effects
An antibiotic called Doxycycline is the most common medicine used to treat chlamydia. Like most medicines, it can cause mild side effects. The most common side effects of Doxycycline are nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, loss of appetite, mild diarrhea, skin rash or itching, change in skin color, vaginal itching, or discharge. These side effects should go away after you finish taking the medicine. Talk to your nurse or doctor about any medicines youre already taking and any medical issues you already have before taking Doxycycline.
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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.
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Does Amoxicillin Fit In Anywhere
As stated, amoxicillin is not a recommended therapy for chlamydia infections.
This is because several studies have reported that penicillin-family antibiotics may not effectively eradicate a chlamydia infection, which may then persist after a course of antibiotics is completed .
Azithromycin is still the preferred treatment during pregnancy.
However, the CDC states that amoxicillin is an option for pregnant women since doxycycline is contraindicated during the second and third trimester and quinolone antibiotics may cause cartilage damage in infants.
If amoxicillin is used in a pregnant woman, the dose recommendation is as follows:
- Amoxicillin 500 mg three times a day for 7 days
Recommendations for the treatment of chlamydia in pregnant women is summarized below in a chart provided by the CDC:
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Will The Doctor Be Able To Write Me A Chlamydia Prescription
If you test positive for chlamydia, a PlushCare doctor can write you a prescription for antibiotics. Before writing you a prescription for chlamydia pills, the doctor will order a lab test for you. You will need to test positive for chlamydia before beginning treatment to rule out other conditions. A physician at PlushCare can help provide STD treatment online and help develop a treatment plan for you.
How To Help Partners Get Treatment
If you are not sure whether your sexual partner will seek treatment, ask your doctor for extra chlamydia medication . You can give it to them so they can be treated as soon as possible.
This is known as patient delivered partner therapy for chlamydia. Talk to your doctor to see if PDPT is right for you and your sexual partner.
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Using Amoxicillin For Chlamydia
As earlier noted, even though amoxicillin is an antibiotic, it is not necessarily the preferred treatment option for chlamydia for most people. In fact, the CDC only recommends using amoxicillin for chlamydia in pregnant people. You should only use amoxicillin to medicate chlamydia as prescribed by a doctor.
Some forms of amoxicillin can be used with or without food, so you should study the label/package of the drug to know which one youre using.
If youre using the oral suspension form of the drug, make sure you shale the bottle properly before measuring a dose.
Using a dosing syringe instead of a kitchen spoon, you can measure the amoxicillin oral suspension.
Liquid amoxicillin can be mixed with fruit juice, water, baby formula, milk, or ginger ale, but you must drink the mixture immediately. Do not keep it for later.
If youre using the chewable tablet, do not swallow it as a whole. You must chew the drug before you swallow it.
Do not chew, crush or break the regular tablet. You must swallow it.
Keep to your dosage timing. You must use this drug at the same time each day until you complete your prescription.
How Do I Talk To My Partners
Preventing chlamydia begins with knowing more about your sexual partners and establishing safe sex practices.
You can get chlamydia by engaging in a variety of sexual behaviors with someone who has chlamydia. This includes contact with the genitals or other affected areas as well as penetrative sex.
Before having sex, talk to your partners about:
- whether theyve been tested recently for STDs
- their sexual history
- their other risk factors
Talking to your partner about STDs can be difficult. There are ways to ensure you can have an open and honest conversation about the issue before engaging in sex.
Mens symptoms can include:
- changes in the testicles, such as pain or swelling
You may also experience chlamydia away from the genitals.
Symptoms in your rectum can include pain, bleeding, and unusual discharge. You may even get chlamydia in your throat, causing redness or soreness or no symptoms at all. Conjunctivitis may be the sign of chlamydia in your eye.
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How Do You Know If Chlamydia Is Gone After Treatment
Your chlamydia symptoms should improve within a week of completing your course of antibiotics.
You do not need an immediate follow-up test to check if your chlamydia treatment has worked, as dead chlamydia bacteria may be detected 3 to 5 weeks after treatment, which would give a false positive result. But, if you have a rectal infection, you should have a test after treatment is completed.
If you are under 25 and have tested positive for chlamydia, it is recommended you take a repeat test 3 months after completing your treatment, to check you have not caught chlamydia again.
Complications Associated With The Treatment Of Chlamydial Infections
The primary frontline antichlamydial antibiotics, tetracyclines and azithromycin , are highly effective in the treatment of uncomplicated chlamydial infections . However, accumulating data suggest that a break in the normal chlamydial developmental cycle can result in persistence and long-term infection that is refractory to antibiotic therapy. An understanding of this phenomenon is far from complete. Although 50% of genital C. trachomatis infections resolve spontaneously within 1 year of testing , a further understanding of long-term infections is important, because it is hypothesized that persistence can cause a cascade of potentially serious inflammatory-induced sequelae, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, blindness, arthritis, asthma and atherosclerosis .
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Why Doctors Dont Recommend This Yet
In most instances, healthcare professionals treat STIs based either on symptoms that you present with, the results of laboratory tests, or both. As STIs dont always have symptoms , it is recommended that people who have sex that puts them at risk test frequently and treat any STIs as soon as they are detected. It is also important to make sure that recent partners are treated.
Taking antibiotics prophylactically is not recommended yet, mainly due to major concerns about the development of antimicrobial resistance. Taking a drug and then catching an infection that easily develops resistance to it could further raise rates of resistance to that drug in the wider community. Resistance means that medications that were once effective at treating certain bacterial infections lose their ability to do so. Essentially, the bacterium outsmarts the medication, rendering it ineffective.
Resistant strains circulate within the population, resulting in the failure of treatments that had previously worked even in people not using antibiotics to prevent STIs. Gonorrhoea has evaded multiple classes of antibiotics, and few options remain available. Most recently, it has become resistant to azithromycin and therefore, this antibiotic is no longer recommended for treatment.
However, when it comes to using specific antibiotics to prevent specific STIs, its not all bad news see more under What about resistance?
Nucleic Acid Amplification Test
The most common test for chlamydia, this is a simple, non-invasive test during which you collect a swab or urine sample yourself . A doctor can assist in taking a swab if you prefer.
The sample is then sent to be tested to see if there is genetic material that indicates the presence of chlamydia bacteria. Results come back quicker than the traditional culture test.
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Interactions With Other Drugs
It is not recommended to mix different drugs in one injection syringe or in a single dropper.
Antibiotic cefataxime can cause bleeding if it is combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or anti-aggregates.
The risk of disrupting the kidneys increases with a combination of loop diuretics and polymyxin B with aminoglycoside antibiotics.
Tetracyclines should not be combined with medications that include metal ions. Antacids, as well as preparations of iron, calcium and magnesium can be referred to such medicines.
Do not combine tetracyclines with penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics, because of the fundamentally different mechanism of action of the drugs.
Anti-acid agents, ethyl alcohol impair the absorption of antibiotics from the digestive tract. In addition, ethanol increases the toxic effect of drugs.
Is Treatment Necessary For Chlamydia
It is conceivable that Chlamydia can go away without treatment in any case it is more probable that these contaminations will remain in the body until treated with the correct anti-toxin. Since you once get stuck by the disease, it is pretty hard to get things completely out of it. Chlamydia can be effortlessly treated and cured with anti-toxins. The main part that should be focused on is the diagnostic part of this disease, which means that if it is diagnosed properly, then the rectification part can be done and it can be treated and cured easily as it does not undergo too much complex procedures of treatment.
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Inflammation Of The Testicles
In men, chlamydia can spread to the testicles and epididymis , causing them to become painful and swollen. This is known as epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis. This is very rare.
The inflammation is usually treated with antibiotics. If its not treated, theres a possibility it could affect your fertility.
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How Do You Avoid Getting Mouth Chlamydia
How to avoid getting infected the only guaranteed way to avoid chlamydia is not having sex, but this is not a suitable options for most people. To reduce your chance of getting chlamydia you can try the following:
- Choose sexual partners carefully however difficult, you should try to discuss any previous sexual history with a new partner before you first have sex
- Get tested before the start of a new relationship and do not have unprotected sex until you know your test results and your partners an extended STI test kit which tests for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis is recommended
- Use barrier contraception such as the male condom carefully and correctly always apply the condom before any sexual contact, including oral sex
- If you are diagnosed with chlamydia, always follow the advice about treatment very carefully try to make sure, if you have had chlamydia once, you dont get it again and keep getting tested regularly
- Use condoms at the same time as other contraceptives other contraceptives dont protect against STIs and using condoms alone as a method of contraception has a high failure rate. Women are advised to use a reliable contraceptive method to avoid an unplanned pregnancy, but to use condoms as well, to reduce the chance of acquiring an STI
Who is it at a higher risk of STIs like oral chlamydia? risk factors for chlamydia include:
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