Side Effects of Azithromycin

If you have ever suffered from some type of bacterial infection, such as an ear infection, respiratory or skin infection, your doctor may have prescribed you an antibiotic by the name of azithromycin. In addition to these infections, azithromycin prescribed for sexually transmitted diseases as well. Before taking azythromycin, you should be aware of its side effects, the mild and severe.

Mild Side Effects

The mild, or less serious, side effects of azythromycin are typically the most common. Your risk of experiencing these side effects depends on the dose prescribed. These side effects include digestive problems such as nausea, diarrhea and vomiting; dizziness; vaginal discharge and/or itching; hearing problems and stomach discomfort. You may find yourself suffering from headaches or insomnia, developing a skin rash or noticing your sense of smell has decreased. These are all normal drug reactions; however, if they persist you should speak to your doctor.

Reasons to Call Your Doctor

Azythromycin can produce serious side effects that require you to call your doctor immediately. According to eMedTV.com, you should also stop taking this medication immediately, as they may have a profound impact on your health. Serious side effects include bloody stools, an irregular heartbeat and chest pain. Signs of jaundice should also be reported without haste, as they can be an early indication of liver damage. These signs include yellowed skin or eyes accompanied by nausea, darkened urine, light-colored stools and upper-right side abdominal pain.

Overdose and Allergic Reactions

Both of these situations require immediate medical attention. For this reason, it is imperative to recognize the signs of both if and when they occur.
An overdose of azythromycin will produce symptoms such as severe nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain.
The most common signs of an allergic reaction are an unexplained swelling of your face, lips, throat or mouth; an unexplained rash; the hives; wheezing and difficulty breathing or swallowing.

References

Article reviewed by M.J. Ingram Last updated on: Jan 6, 2010

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