Patient advice regarding Azithromycin for treatment of Chlamydia infection

How it works: Azithromycin is an antibiotic used to treat various infections, including chlamydia. It kills the chlamydia bacteria.

Alternative treatments: Usually chlamydia is treated with another antibiotic, called doxycycline. Reasons you are being treated with azithromycin include that you are pregnant; at risk of pregnancy; breastfeeding; allergic to doxycycline; have a medical condition or take a medicine that is not safe with doxycycline.

Effectiveness: When taken correctly, Azithromycin will kill the bacteria causing the infection.

  • You should avoid sexual intercourse completely until treatment has been completed, AND until any partner(s) has completed their treatment. This means avoiding all sex, even with condoms, even genital to genital skin contact or oral sex. This is because of the risk of being infected again
  • It is important to inform any partners so that they can get tested and treated. This will stop you getting re-infected. Please let our health advisors know if you would prefer us to contact partners anonymously. Partners can order via GP/pharmacies, or online if under 25 years old
  • It is not a vaccination. You can be re-infected with chlamydia. Using condoms every time you have sex (oral, vaginal, anal) is the best way to make sure you do not get STIs. Re-test every year or whenever you have a new partner
  • Please book an appointment at LSH if you have fever, lower abdominal pain (women only), or testicle pain. This is because you may need a different course of antibiotics.
  • If you have ongoing symptoms, then please make an appointment at LSH for review.

If you are pregnant, then it is important to do a repeat test in 6 weeks to make sure the chlamydia is gone and that there is no risk to the baby.

How to take it:

  • Follow the instructions on the box. The dose is 1g (1000mg) all together on the first day (day 1), then 500mg on day 2, then 500mg on day 3.
  • Swallow whole with a drink of water
  • If you have got capsules, then take then at least 1hour before eating or 2 hours after eating. Tablets or liquid can be taken at any time.
  • If you vomit within 3 hours of taking the tablet, then please contact us as you may need to restart the treatment.
  • Make sure you complete the 3-day course.

Speak to the doctor or nurse is you take any of the following:

  • antacids/indigestion remedies (separate by 6 hours).
  • Warfarin; edoxaban; ticagrelor; phenindione; acenocoumarol; digoxin; colchicine; hydroxychloroquine; berotralstat; some cancer medicines; rifabutin

It does NOT have any effect on the contraceptive pill or other forms of contraception

Do not take if you:

  • have ever had an allergic reaction to azithromycin
  • have kidney or liver problems
  • have heart problems, including irregular heartbeat (arrythmia)
  • have myasthenia gravis, a condition that causes severe muscle weakness

Side-effects:

  • Common side effects: upset stomach, diarrhoea, headache; loss of appetite, feeling dizzy or tired, changes to your sense of taste
  • Rare side effects include: fast or irregular heartbeat; white of your eyes or skin turn yellow or pale poo or dark wee; ringing in your ears, hearing loss of unsteadiness on your feet; severe stomach or back pain; diarrhoea with blood or diarrhoea lasting >4days. See a Dr or call 111 if you have any of these side-effects.

Finally:

Any concerns please contact the Care Navigators on 0113 843 4495, our lines are open Monday to Friday 8:15 -4:30pm.