Azithromycin

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 if 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:

If you are aged under 25, then repeat Chlamydia testing is recommended 3 months after the infection is treated. You should receive a text reminder for this.

Further information:

Chlamydia – Leeds Sexual Health

Any concerns please contact us, you can find our contact details here.

Further information

Azithromycin advice if you have tested positive for Chlamydia

You have been given this medication Azithromycin to treat your chlamydia infection.

Azithromycin is not considered first line treatment for chlamydia.

Doxycycline is considered first line treatment drug of choice however certain criteria mean it is not suitable for some people to take, below is the excluded criteria of those who cannot take Doxycycline:

You have advised us that you are pregnant or there could be a risk of pregnancy.
You have a known allergy to Doxycycline.
You have advised the clinician that you are breastfeeding

Additionally:

You have no symptoms of lower abdominal pain for women or painful testicles for men. You may be experiencing a slight discharge or some stinging when you pass urine and females may experience some “spotting” between periods or after sex.

The medication you receive will be in two boxes each containing four tablets. You will need to take one box of four tablets on day one (four tablets in one go) and then two tables on the second day and the final two tablets on the third day.

The medication can cause an upset stomach and/or diarrhoea. Ideally you should take your medication with food or within an hour of eating. If you vomit within 3 hours of taking your medication please contact the department as you may need to start the course again.

You are not allowed to have any sex while on treatment and for a further four days ( 7 days in total). This includes sex with a condom, oral sex or any genital to genital contact. This must also be the rule until your partner(s) have also completed treatment.

Please ensure that all your partner(s) are made aware of the infection so they can get access to testing. This will reduce the risk of re-infection to you. Partners under the age of 25 can order chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing kits online at https://www.freetest.me/

Routine repeat testing is not recommended unless the nurse or doctor has advised this. Tests may remain positive up to 6 weeks after testing.

If you’re under the age of 25 or we would recommend repeat testing 3 months after the infection is treated. You should receive a text reminder for this.

If you are pregnant it is highly recommended that you do a test to ensure your infection had cleared. This is essential to entire that there is no risk to your baby.

Azithromycin advice if you have come into contact with Chlamydia

You have been given this medication Azithromycin to treat your possible chlamydia infection.

DO NOT START YOUR TREATMENT UNTIL YOU HAVE DONE YOUR TEST.

Note if your test result is positive for gonorrhoea this treatment will not work and you must contact clinic and arrange to attend for further treatment.

Azithromycin is not considered first line treatment for chlamydia.

Doxycycline is considered first line treatment drug of choice however certain criteria mean it is not suitable for some people to take. Below is the criterion for those for who may prescribe azithromycin as an alternative:

You have advised us that you are pregnant or there could be a risk of pregnancy.
You have a known allergy to Doxycycline.
You have advised the clinician that you are breastfeeding.

Additionally:

You have no symptoms of lower abdominal pain for women or painful testicles for men. You may however be experiencing a slight discharge or some stinging when you pass urine and females may experience some “spotting” between periods or after sex.

The medication you received will be in two boxes each containing four tablets. You will need to take one box of four tablets on day one (four tablets in one go) and then two tables on the second day and the final two tablets on the third day.

The medication can cause an upset stomach and / or diarrhoea. Ideally you should take your medication with food or within an hour of eating. If you vomit within 3 hours of taking your medication please contact the department as you may need to start the course again.

You are not allowed to have any sex while on treatment and for a further 4 days (7 days in total). This includes sex with a condom, oral sex or any genital to genital contact. This may last longer as you wait until your partner(s) has also tested and completed their treatment.

If your result is positive for chlamydia please ensure that all your partner(s) are made aware of the infection so they can get access to testing. This will reduce the risk of re-infection to you. Partners under the age of 25 can order chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing kits online at https://www.freetest.me/

Routine repeat testing is not recommended unless the nurse or doctor has advised this. Tests may remain positive up to 6 weeks after testing.

If you’re under the age of 25 or we would recommend repeat testing 3 months after the infection is treated. You should receive a text reminder for this.

If you are pregnant it is highly recommended that you do a test to ensure your infection has cleared. This is essential to entire that there is no risk to your baby.

Links to other useful pages

Online Chlamydia Treatment

Doxycycline

Contact us

If you need further information about opening times and how to contact us please visit the contact us page.