Azithromycin (oral)
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sheng Shi, M.D. [2]
Overview
Azithromycin is an azalide, a subclass of macrolide antibiotics. It is derived from erythromycin, with a methyl-substituted nitrogen atomincorporated into the lactone ring, thus making the lactone ring 15-membered.
Category
Macrolide, Azalide
US Brand Names
ZITHROMAX®
FDA Package Insert
Description | Clinical Pharmacology | Microbiology | Indications and Usage | Contraindications | Warnings and Precautions | Adverse Reactions | Clinical Studies | Dosage and Administration | Compatibility, Reconstitution, and Stability | How Supplied | Labels and Packages
Mechanism of Action
Azithromycin prevents bacteria from growing by interfering with their protein synthesis. It binds to the 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome, and thus inhibits translation of mRNA. Nucleic acid synthesis is not affected.[1]
References
- ↑ "azithromycin (Zithromax, Zmax, Z-Pak) - Side Effects, Drug Interactions". MedicineNet. Retrieved 2013-01-06.