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.
How Long Does It Take To Get Rid Of Chlamydia
By | Aug. 24, 2010, 11:11 a.m.
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How long does it take to get rid of chlamydia?
It depends. If youre diagnosed with chlamydia, your health care provider will probably prescribe an antibiotic. In some cases, treatment is possible with a single dose of medication in the health care providers office. Other medications must be taken for seven days. Its important to make sure that you take the antibiotic exactly as directed for as long as its prescribed even if your symptoms go away. Avoid having sex until your treatment is complete and the infection is cured. Its also important to let your sex partner know that you have chlamydia so they can get tested and treated, too. Some health care providers will give you medications to take home to your partner.
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How Can I Tell My Partner Will They Think I’ve Cheated On Them
You may feel embarrassed, scared or angry. However it is important and respectful to let your partner know as soon as possible so they can get tested and treated. Remember that chlamydia often has no symptoms, so a diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean the infection was caught recently. You may not be sure when you were exposed. Many people are surprised how supportive their partner is, and how they appreciate being confided in.
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Treatment For Gonorrhea Is Quick And Easy Too
The CDC currently recommends a shot of the antibiotic Rocephin and an oral dose of the antibiotic azithromycin, given at the same time, to treat gonorrhea.
Treatment recommendations for gonorrhea have changed over the years as the bacteria that causes gonorrhea, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, has become resistant to a growing number of antibiotics.
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How Is Chlamydia Diagnosed
Self-collected vaginal swab testing is available and many women find this screening strategy highly acceptable.
- Geisler WM, Uniyal A, Lee JY, et al. Azithromycin versus Doxycycline for Urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis Infection. N Engl J Med. 2015 373:2512-2521. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1502599
- Workowski, K, Bolan G. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2015. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
- WHO Guidelines for the Treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis. Geneva: World Health Organization 2016. 4, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TREATMENT OF CHLAMYDIAL INFECTIONS. Available from:
- Chlamydia Treatment and Care. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/treatment.htm
- Chlamydia Treatment Information Sheet. Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
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The Steadyhealth Team Reacts
Chlamydia often has no symptoms unless left untreated for a long time, and the same also holds true for many other sexually-transmitted diseases. This is why anyone who is sexually active benefits from regular STD testing even if you’re monogamous, there’s a chance your partner may not be. It is, however, especially good to get tested:
- If you have just started a new relationship
- You and your partner would like to ditch the condoms
- You have just found out your partner has had sex with someone else or multiple other people
- You have sex with multiple partners of unknown STD status, even if you use condoms
If, after an STD test, you are positive for Chlamydia, you will be treated with antibiotics.
What If My Chlamydia Test Is Positive
If you test positive to chlamydia, heres the good news! Chlamydia can be successfully treated. This means that after proper treatment, the infection will have completely disappeared from your body.
However, it is extremely important you get treated without delay.
You need the right advice, the right medication, and the right support.
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How To Take The Medicine
- you should take these pills with food
- you should have 2 pills of azithromycin. Each pill contains 500g of the medicine. You should take both with water at the same time. You need to take 2 pills to be cured
- do not take antacids for 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking the azithromycin pills
- do not share or give this medicine to anyone else.
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Chlamydia Treatment And Prevention
Milly DawsonSanjai Sinha, MDShutterstock
Chlamydia is easy to cure. If you test positive for chlamydia, basically you take an antibiotic, says Jill Rabin, MD, cochief in the division of ambulatory care for womens health programs and prenatal care assistance program services for Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, New York.
Your partner must take an antibiotic, too, to keep them from reinfecting you, she says.
You have to have your partner treated, and if you have more than one partner, they should all be treated, says Dr. Rabin, regardless of your partners genders.
Even if you dont have chlamydia now, its wise to learn how to protect yourself so you wont develop this common infection in the first place. In women, chlamydia can create serious health problems, including infertility. Besides, no one ever wants to have a sexually transmitted disease and then have to tell other people about it.
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What Is The Dosage Of Azithromycin For Chlamydia
The recommended dosage of azithromycin for chlamydia is 1 gram as a single dose. This dose may be taken morning or night and can be taken with or without food. Another name for azithromycin is Zithromax.
If you have taken your dose of azithromycin on an empty stomach and your stomach has become a bit upset or you feel sick, it is Ok to eat some food, which may help to settle it.
A 500mg dose of azithromycin is not recommended by guidelines to cure chlamydia. There is also a chance it may increase the risk of C. trachomatis bacteria becoming resistant to it. If you have only taken or only been prescribed a 500mg dose of azithromycin, you need to return to your doctor to get a 1 gram dose prescribed. You should never share your dose of azithromycin with another person.
How To Use Doxycycline To Treat Chlamydia
The recommended dose of doxycycline for the treatment of chlamydia infection is 200 mg on the first day, followed by 100 mg once daily for seven days. You should take this medication with a full glass of water.
It is best to take it on an empty stomach, at least one hour before or two hours after meals. You should take doxycycline as soon as possible after exposure to chlamydia.
Suppose you miss a dose of doxycycline, ensure to take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take two doses at once.
You should take doxycycline until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better before then. Suppose you stop taking doxycycline too soon or skip doses against the recommendation. In that case, the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics, and your infection may not be treated entirely.
However, this medication may not suit everyone, so you must ask your doctor before using it. For example, doxycycline may not be recommended for pregnant women or children under the age of eight. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about taking doxycycline for chlamydia treatment. They will be able to advise you on whether this is the treatment option for you.
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When To Consult Your Doctor
You must consult your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms while taking doxycycline:
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of the face, lips, face, or throat
These symptoms indicate that you may be experiencing an allergic reaction to doxycycline. Do not hesitate to seek medical attention if you experience any of these highlighted symptoms.
Doxycycline is a safe and effective medication for treating chlamydia. However, as is typical with any drug, specific risks and side effects are associated with its use. Ensure to inform your doctor about these before starting treatment. Nevertheless, with proper care, doxycycline can help you clear your chlamydial infection and get back to enjoying your life.
Infant Pneumonia Caused By C Trachomatis
Chlamydial pneumonia among infants typically occurs at age 13 months and is a subacute pneumonia. Characteristic signs of chlamydial pneumonia among infants include a repetitive staccato cough with tachypnea and hyperinflation and bilateral diffuse infiltrates on a chest radiograph. In addition, peripheral eosinophilia occurs frequently. Because clinical presentations differ, all infants aged 13 months suspected of having pneumonia, especially those whose mothers have a history of, are at risk for , or suspected of having a chlamydial infection should be tested for C. trachomatis and treated if infected.
Diagnostic Considerations
Specimens for chlamydial testing should be collected from the nasopharynx. Tissue culture is the definitive standard diagnostic test for chlamydial pneumonia. Nonculture tests can be used. DFA is the only nonculture FDA-cleared test for detecting C. trachomatis from nasopharyngeal specimens however, DFA of nasopharyngeal specimens has a lower sensitivity and specificity than culture. NAATs are not cleared by FDA for detecting chlamydia from nasopharyngeal specimens, and clinical laboratories should verify the procedure according to CLIA regulations . Tracheal aspirates and lung biopsy specimens, if collected, should be tested for C. trachomatis.
Treatment
Erythromycin base or ethylsuccinate 50 mg/kg body weight/day orally divided into 4 doses daily for 14 days
Azithromycin suspension20 mg/kg body weight/day orally, 1 dose daily for 3 days
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What Are Typical Symptoms Of Chlamydia
These are genitourinary symptoms. Men can experience pain, discomfort, or swelling of the testicles, a burning sensation when passing urine, or a genitourinary discharge. Half of infected men have no symptoms. Symptoms for women are a vaginal discharge, bleeding after sexual intercourse, or between periods, a burning sensation when passing urine, and pelvis or lower abdominal pain. Three quarters of infected women have no symptoms.
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Important Information For Your Health
Your partner has recently been diagnosed with Chlamydia infection.
Chlamydia trachomatis is a sexually transmissible infection that you can get from having any kind of sex with a person who already has it. You may have been exposed and for many people there will be no signs of infection. The good news is that it is easily treated.
You have been given a medication called azithromycin to treat your Chlamydia. Your partner may have given you the actual medicine, or a prescription that you can take to a pharmacy. This document tells you about Chlamydia and how to treat it.
The best way to take care of this infection is to see your own doctor or attend Clinic 34 right away. If you cannot get to a doctor in the next several days you should take the azithromycin now.
Even if you decide to take the medicine, it is very important to see a doctor as soon as you can to get tested for other STIs. People can have more than one STI at the same time and having an STI can increase the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV. Azithromycin will not cure other STI infections.
Make sure you discuss getting HIV tested with your doctor.
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How Do I Know If I Have Chlamydia
If you suspect you have chlamydia, your doctor may want to test cervical or penile discharge or urine using one of several available methods.
In most cases of chlamydia, the cure rate is 95%. However, because many women don’t know they have the disease until it has caused serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease, sexually active women under age 25 and others at higher risk should be tested for chlamydia once a year during their annual pelvic exam even if they dont have symptoms.
Pregnant women should also be tested as part of their routine lab work.
What’s The Treatment For Chlamydia
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. If you take the treatment according to instructions, its over 95% effective at treating chlamydia.
- Youll be given a course of antibiotics for 3 or 7 days or sometimes up to two weeks.
- If theres a high chance you have chlamydia, treatment may be started before the results of the test are back. Youll always be given treatment if a sexual partner is found to have chlamydia.
- You may also need other treatment if complications have occurred.
- Tell the doctor or nurse if youre pregnant, or think you might be, or youre breastfeeding. This may affect the type of antibiotic youre given.
- Complementary therapies cant cure chlamydia.
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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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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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How Long Does It Take For Chlamydia Symptoms To Clear
When taking antibiotics , symptoms usually settle quickly. Pain on passing urine and discharge go within a week, pelvic or testicular pain can take two weeks and menstrual irregularities should improve by the next cycle. Always complete the full course of antibiotic.
Chlamydia is unlikely to go away without treatment. Although symptoms may subside temporarily, infection may persist in the body without treatment. It is important to seek diagnosis and treatment to get rid of the infection.
Warnings And Precautions Before Using Doxycycline
Stay away from using doxycycline if you are allergic to it or any other ingredient in the medication.
Your skin can become sensitive to sunlight as a result of using doxycycline. You should avoid direct sunlight exposure and wear protective clothing and sunscreen outdoors.
Doxycycline may also cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and vomiting. These side effects are usually mild and can go away on their own.
If you notice severe adverse effects, such as difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling of the face, throat, lip, or tongue, stop taking doxycycline and seek immediate medical attention.
Drinking on doxycycline may not be particularly hazardous, but it can reduce the drugs effectiveness. If you can help it, dont drink alcohol.
Doxycycline is generally safe for use during pregnancy. However, you should talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant before taking this medication. Doxycycline is an effective antibiotic for the treatment of chlamydia.
However, taking all the medication prescribed is essential, even if you feel better after a few days. This will help prevent a resurgence of the infection. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about taking doxycycline to cure genital chlamydia.
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Is Treatment Always Necessary For Chlamydia
Yes, treatment is necessary for chlamydia, particularly in women of childbearing age, because it reduces the risk of chlamydia-associated ectopic pregnancy, fertility problems, and the transmission of chlamydia to neonates during birth. In women, of all ages, chlamydia treatment reduces the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease.
In men, treatment for chlamydia stops them from infecting or reinfecting sexual partners with the bacteria.
Treat any person testing positive for chlamydia with a recommended course of antibiotics promptly. Delays in treatment have been associated with complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease.
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.
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