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(C) Vancouver
General Hospital.
This monograph may not be reproduced without permission.
For further information, please contact a Pharmacist. |
NAME OF DRUG
azithromycin
CLASSIFICATION
Antibiotic
ALTERNATE NAME
Zithromax
INDICATIONS
- treatment of infections caused by susceptible strains of
microorganisms in patients with community acquired pneumonia or pelvic
inflammatory disease
RECONSTITUTION AND STABILITY
- stable at room temperature
- add 4.8 mL to 500 mg vial to make a final concentration of
100 mg/mL
- diluted solutions stable x 24 hours at room temperature
COMPATIBILITY
- compatible with NS , D5W, 0.45%NS, LR
- compatible via Y-site with diphenhydramine and dolasetron
- incompatible with other medication
ROUTES OF ADMINISTRATION
- IV intermittent - dilute 500 mg in 250 mL IV fluid and
administer over 60 minutes
VH & HSC ADMINISTRATION POLICY
A - Not to be administered by the direct IV route
DOSAGE
Adult :
- 500 mg IV once daily; convert to oral therapy as soon as
indicated
- dosage adjustment not necessary in renal dysfunction
POTENTIAL HAZARDS OF PARENTERAL ADMINISTRATION
- local injection site reactions
- pain at site of injection and/or during infusion, local
inflammation
- hypersensitivity reactions
IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS
- adverse effects: headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting,
abdominal pain, diarrhea
- biliary excretion of azithromycin, predominantly as
unchanged drug, is the main route of elimination
- use with caution in patients with severe hepatic
dysfunction
January 2006