Friday, April 26, 2024
HomeUpdatesHow Much Clarithromycin Should I Take For Chlamydia

How Much Clarithromycin Should I Take For Chlamydia

Amoxicillin For Chlamydia Dosage

Chlamydia: The Basics

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.

What Is Clarithromycin And How Does It Work

Clarithromycin is a prescription drug used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. This medication can also be used in combination with anti-ulcer medications to treat certain types of stomach ulcers. It may also be used to prevent certain bacterial infections. Clarithromycin is known as a macrolideantibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.

Clarithromycin is available under the following different brand names: Biaxin, and Biaxin XL.

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection

KARL E. MILLER, M.D., University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Am Fam Physician. 2006 Apr 15 73:1411-1416.

SORT: KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Azithromycin or doxycycline is recommended for the treatment of uncomplicated genitourinary chlamydial infection.

SORT: KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Azithromycin or doxycycline is recommended for the treatment of uncomplicated genitourinary chlamydial infection.

Recommended Reading: Does Walgreens Sell Antibiotics For Chlamydia

Also Check: Can Any Type Of Antibiotics Cure Chlamydia

How Should I Take Clarithromycin

Take clarithromycin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Do not use this medicine to treat any condition that has not been checked by your doctor. Do not share this medicine with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

You may take the regular tablets and oral suspension with or without food.

Clarithromycin extended-release tablets should be taken with food.

Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow it whole.

Shake the oral liquid well just before you measure a dose. Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Clarithromycin is usually given for 7 to 14 days. Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses can increase your risk of infection that is resistant to medication. Clarithromycin will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.

Store this medicine in the original container at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light.

Do not keep the oral liquid in a refrigerator. Throw away any liquid that has not been used within 14 days.

Usual Adult Dose For Acne

IV:-Initial dose: 200 mg IV on the first day, given in 1 or 2 infusions-Maintenance dose: 100 to 200 mg/day IVORAL:Most Products:-Initial dose: 200 mg orally on the first day, given in 2 divided doses -Maintenance dose: 100 mg orally once a day OR 50 mg orally every 12 hoursMore severe infections : 100 mg orally every 12 hoursDoryx MPC:-Initial dose: 240 mg orally on the first day, given in 2 divided doses -Maintenance dose: 120 mg orally once a day or 60 mg orally every 12 hoursMore severe infections : 120 mg orally every 12 hours

Recommended Reading: Does The Same Antibiotic Treat Chlamydia And Gonorrhea

Can Chlamydia Become Resistant To Amoxicillin

Chlamydia in pregnant women can still be treated with amoxicillin. However, bacteria in the body can become resistant if you indiscriminately use antibiotics without a prescription from a certified healthcare provider.

There are few documented instances of Chlamydia resistance to antibiotics and no cases of natural and consistent antibiotic resistance in humans.

What Is The Treatment For Chlamydia

Chlamydia can be easily cured with antibiotics. HIV-positive persons with chlamydia should receive the same treatment as those who are HIV-negative.

Persons with chlamydia should abstain from sexual activity for 7 days after single dose antibiotics or until completion of a 7-day course of antibiotics, to prevent spreading the infection to partners. It is important to take all of the medication prescribed to cure chlamydia. Medication for chlamydia should not be shared with anyone. Although medication will stop the infection, it will not repair any permanent damage done by the disease. If a persons symptoms continue for more than a few days after receiving treatment, he or she should return to a health care provider to be reevaluated.

Repeat infection with chlamydia is common. Women whose sex partners have not been appropriately treated are at high risk for re-infection. Having multiple chlamydial infections increases a womans risk of serious reproductive health complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy. Women and men with chlamydia should be retested about three months after treatment of an initial infection, regardless of whether they believe that their sex partners were successfully treated.

Infants infected with chlamydia may develop ophthalmia neonatorum and/or pneumonia. Chlamydial infection in infants can be treated with antibiotics.

Read Also: Can Azo Get Rid Of Chlamydia

How Long To Take It For

For skin problems such as cellulitis, you may have to take the medicine for about 7 days before you see any improvement.

If you have a Helicobacter pylori infection, even if the bacteria are no longer in your stomach, it can take some time before you feel better.

Your doctor will usually give you a medicine to reduce stomach acid, such as omeprazole or lansoprazole, while the ulcer heals. You should start feeling better when you finish the treatment to reduce your stomach acid.

What Other Information Should I Know

New STI Guidelines: Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body’s response to clarithromycin.

The extended-release tablet does not dissolve in the stomach after swallowing. It slowly releases the medication as it passes through your digestive system. You may notice the tablet coating in the stool. This is normal and does not mean that you did not get the full dose of medication.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Your prescription is probably not refillable. If you still have symptoms of infection after you finish the clarithromycin, call your doctor.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Don’t Miss: Does Any Antibiotic Cure Chlamydia

How Is Chlamydia Treated

The following are the recommended treatment regimens for chlamydia according to the Guidelines for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, released in 2015, but still considered current. Only one regimen should be chosen.

  • Ofloxacin 300 mg orally twice a day for 7 days.

Before Taking This Medicine

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to clarithromycin or similar medicines such as azithromycin , erythromycin, or telithromycin, or if:

  • you have had jaundice or liver problems caused by taking clarithromycin or

  • you have liver or kidney disease and you also take a medicine called colchicine.

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with clarithromycin. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use any of the following drugs:

  • an electrolyte imbalance .

Clarithromycin may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

In animal studies, clarithromycin caused birth defects. However, it is not known whether these effects would occur in humans. Ask your doctor about your risk.

Clarithromycin can pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in the nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

This medicine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 months old.

You May Like: How Soon After Exposure To Chlamydia Can You Be Tested

What Are Warnings And Precautions For Clarithromycin

Warnings

  • Discontinue clarithromycin immediately if signs and symptoms of hepatitis occur
  • This medication contains clarithromycin. Do not take Biaxin or Biaxin XL if you are allergic to clarithromycin or any ingredients contained in this drug
  • In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately

Contraindications

  • Coadministration with pimozide, cisapride, ergotamine, and dihydroergotamine
  • History of cholestatic jaundice or hepatic dysfunction associated with previous use of clarithromycin
  • Coadministration with colchicine in patients with kidney or liver impairment
  • Coadministration with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors that are extensively metabolized by CYP3A4 , due to the increased risk of muscle disease , including destruction of muscle tissue

Effects of Drug Abuse

  • See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Clarithromycin?”

Long-Term Effects

  • See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Clarithromycin?”

Cautions

Pregnancy and Lactation

  • Use clarithromycin during pregnancy with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies are not available, or neither animal nor human studies were done
  • Clarithromycin is excreted in breast milk use with caution if breastfeeding. Consult your doctor

How Much To Take

The dose of Clarithromycin Sandoz will depend on the infection to be treated.

For respiratory tract infections and skin infections, the usual adult dose is one Clarithromycin Sandoz 250mg tablet twice a day.

For more severe infections, the dose can be increased to two Clarithromycin Sandoz 250mg tablets twice a day.

Your doctor will adjust the amount or frequency of your doses according to the infection being treated and the severity of your condition.

Also Check: How Do Doctors Test Males For Chlamydia

Interactions With Other Medicines And Other Forms Of Interactions

Azithromycin does not interact significantly with the hepatic cytochrome P450 system. It is not believed to undergo the pharmacokinetic drug interactions as seen with erythromycin and other macrolides. Hepatic cytochrome P450 induction or inactivation via cytochrome metabolite complex does not occur with azithromycin.

Read Also: Pills For Gonorrhea And Chlamydia

Azithromycin For Sinus Infection

People who are suffered from sinus most probably ask the doctor to prescribe an antibiotic. Acute sinus infections mostly last for about three-four weeks. Azithromycin is the most common antibiotic prescribed to treat sinus infections. There is evidence that Azithromycin works at its best level and quickly cure sinus infections. But it is not necessary that antibiotics can help sinus patients every time. Judicious usage of antibiotics is essential to cure sinus infections.

Dont Miss: Is There An Over The Counter Test For Chlamydia

Read Also: Can Chlamydia Cause Weight Gain

Side Effects Of Amoxicillin

Like every other drug, amoxicillin can trigger some side effects when used. The side effects of the drugs range from mild to severe medical complications. If you experience some of these effects for a prolonged period, you should reach out to your doctor.

Two of the most common side effects include

  • Nausea or vomiting

Nausea is a side effect of using amoxicillin

Amoxicillin can have serious side effects, but they are rare and occur in less than 1 in 1,000 people. Nevertheless, you should call a doctor immediately if you notice any of these side effects:

  • Unusual changes in the color of your skin or bruising
  • Muscle or joint pain 2 or more days after using the drug
  • Circular red patches that come with skin rash
  • The yellowish coloration of the skin or eyes. This can be an indication of liver or gallbladder complications.
  • Dark urine or pale poo
  • Severe diarrhea that is prolonged for more than 4 days or diarrhea that contains blood

Some of these severe side effects can occur up to 2 months after completing your amoxicillin dosage.

How To Take Liquid

Chlamydia and fertility

The liquid can be used for children or people who find it difficult to swallow tablets.

If you or your child are taking clarithromycin liquid, your pharmacist will usually make it up for you.

The medicine will come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you take the right amount. If you do not have a syringe or spoon, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not measure the right amount.

You May Like: How To Know If A Guy Has Chlamydia

If You Forget To Take It

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s nearly time for your next dose. If this happens, just leave out the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.

Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.

If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember to take your medicine.

After You Have Finished Taking Clarithromycin Sandoz

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects, even if they occur several weeks after stopping treatment with Clarithromycin Sandoz.

  • severe stomach or abdominal cramps
  • watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody
  • fever, in combination with one or both of the above.

These are rare but serious side effects. You may have a serious condition affecting your bowel and you may need urgent medical care.

Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about side effects, as they have a more complete list of side effects. Inform your doctor promptly about these or any other symptoms. If the condition persists or worsens, seek medical attention.

Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell while you are taking, or soon after you have finished taking Clarithromycin Sandoz even if it is not on this list.

You May Like: What Can You Take For Chlamydia

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 suspension 20 mg/kg body weight/day orally, 1 dose daily for 3 days

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.

You May Like: How Do They Check For Chlamydia

What Does The Research Say

A large 2012 cohort study found a small increase in the risk of cardiovascular death among people taking azithromycin. The risk was higher among those with other risk factors for heart disease, such as smoking, low physical activity levels, and a high body mass index .

The study reported that when compared with amoxicillin, there were 47 additional cardiovascular deaths per 1 million azithromycin prescriptions. Among people with the highest risk of heart disease, there were 245 more deaths per 1 million courses of azithromycin.

This suggests that other antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, may be a safer option for people with heart disease or certain types of heart arrythmias.

In 2018 , the FDA issued a warning about the long term use of azithromycin in people with certain blood or lymph node cancers who have stem cell transplants. Emerging research has suggested that azithromycin may increase the risk of cancer relapse in these people.

Following a stem cell transplant, some people take azithromycin to reduce the risk of an inflammatory lung condition called bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. The FDA have not approved azithromycin for this use, however.

Rarely, azithromycin can cause liver toxicity. People should stop taking the drug and call their doctor if they develop any symptoms of liver problems, including dark urine, itching, or yellow eyes.

Does Amoxicillin For Chlamydia Work

Chlamydia Trachomatis is an infection that is cured by antibiotics. The most commonly recommended antibiotics for chlamydia are doxycycline and azithromycin. Similarly, the CDC also recommends alternative Chlamydia treatment options such as erythromycin, levofloxacin, or ofloxacin. However, that amoxicillin is an antibiotic doesnt necessarily mean that the drug is effective against chlamydia.

Amoxicillin is not the preferred option for treating chlamydia however, healthcare providers recommend this drug to cure chlamydia in pregnant people.

The CDC also recommends amoxicillin can be prescribed to cure chlamydia in pregnant women. So, amoxicillin is not the preferred treatment option for chlamydia. Notwithstanding, if the patient is pregnant with a child, amoxicillin is an effective treatment option against the infection.

Don’t Miss: How Can A Man Know If He Has Chlamydia

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular