Select a medication above to begin.
azithromycin
generic
Adult Dosing .
Dosage forms: TAB: 250 mg, 500 mg, 600 mg; PWDR: 1 g per pkt; SUSP: 100 mg per 5 mL, 200 mg per 5 mL; INJ: various
infections, bacterial
- [500 mg PO x1 on day 1, then 250 mg PO q24h x4 days]
pharyngitis/tonsillitis, streptococcal
- [500 mg PO x1 on day 1, then 250 mg PO q24h x4 days]
COPD exacerbation, acute bacterial
- [500 mg PO x1 on day 1, then 250 mg PO q24h x4 days]
- Alt: 500 mg PO q24h x3 days
pneumonia, community-acquired
- [500 mg PO x1 on day 1, then 250 mg PO q24h x4 days]
- Alt: 500 mg IV q24h x2 or more days, then 500 mg PO q24h; Info: may give 500 mg PO/IV q24h for at least 5 days as part of multi-drug regimen; refer to IDSA guidelines
infections, chlamydial
- [pregnant pts]
- Dose: 1 g PO x1; Info: 1st-line agent
- [non-pregnant pts]
- Dose: 1 g PO x1; Info: not 1st-line agent
infections, uncomplicated gonococcal
- [2 g PO x1]
- Info: for infections of cervix, urethra, rectum; give w/ gentamicin; not 1st-line agent
PID
- [500 mg IV q24h x1-2 days, then 250 mg PO/IV q24h x12-14 days]
- Info: for pts w/ cephalosporin allergy and low gonorrhea risk; give w/ metronidazole
urethritis, non-gonococcal
- [1 g PO x1]
- Alt: 500 mg PO x1 on day 1, then 250 mg PO q24h x4 days; Info: not 1st-line agent
chancroid
- [1 g PO x1]
MAC tx, disseminated
- [500-600 mg PO q24h]
- Info: not 1st-line agent; use w/ ethambutol
MAC prophylaxis, primary
- [1200 mg PO qwk]
- Alt: 600 mg PO 2x/wk
MAC prophylaxis, secondary (off-label)
- [500-600 mg PO q24h]
- Info: not 1st-line agent; use w/ ethambutol
endocarditis prophylaxis, dental (off-label)
- [500 mg PO x1]
- Start: 30-60min before procedure; Info: see Infectious Disease: Endocarditis Prophylaxis, Adult table
COPD exacerbation risk reduction (off-label)
- [250 mg PO q24h]
- Alt: 500 mg PO 3x/wk; Info: for pts w/ exacerbation hx; search 'gold' for epocrates COPD GOLD decision tools
cervicitis, presumptive (off-label)
- [1 g PO x1]
- Info: not 1st-line agent
lymphogranuloma venereum (off-label)
- [1000 mg PO qwk for at least 3wk]
- Info: not 1st-line agent
granuloma inguinale (off-label)
- [1000 mg PO qwk for at least 3wk]
- Alt: 500 mg PO qd for at least 3wk; Info: may extend tx if not healed after 3wk; 1st-line agent
salmonellosis, acute (off-label)
- [1 g PO q24h x1 day, then 500 mg PO q24h x2-6 days]
- Info: may extend tx x1wk if immunocompromised
shigellosis, severe (off-label)
- [1000-1500 mg PO q24h]
- Info: duration varies w/ infection severity; refer to CDC guidance
campylobacteriosis (off-label)
- [500 mg PO q24h x3 days]
typhoid fever, adjunct tx (off-label)
- [10 mg/kg/dose PO q24h x1wk]
babesiosis (off-label)
- [mild-moderate infection, immunocompetent pts]
- Dose: 500 mg PO x1 on day 1, then 250 mg PO q24h x6-9 days; Info: give w/ atovaquone as 1st-line regimen
- [severe infection, immunocompetent pts]
- Dose: 500-1000 mg IV q24h x7-10 days; Info: give w/ atovaquone as 1st-line regimen; switch to azithromycin 250-500 mg PO q24h for step-down tx
- [immunocompromised pts]
- Dose: 500-1000 mg IV q24h for at least 6wk; Info: give w/ atovaquone as 1st-line regimen; switch to azithromycin 500-1000 mg PO q24h for step-down tx
pertussis (off-label)
- [500 mg PO x1 on day 1, then 250 mg PO q24h x4 days]
Lyme dz (off-label)
- [500 mg PO q24h x7 days]
- Info: for early, localized dz; not 1st-line agent; search 'Lyme' for epocrates Lyme Disease Dx & Tx decision tool
meningococcal prophylaxis (off-label)
- [10 mg/kg/dose PO x1]
- Max: 500 mg; Info: for close contacts of pts w/ invasive meningococcal dz; not 1st-line agent
renal dosing
- [see below]
- CrCl >10: no adjustment; CrCl <10: not defined, caution advised
- HD/PD: no adjustment; no supplement
hepatic dosing
- [see below]
- hepatic impairment: not defined, caution advised
Peds Dosing .
- Dosage forms: TAB: 250 mg, 500 mg, 600 mg; PWDR: 1 g per pkt; SUSP: 100 mg per 5 mL, 200 mg per 5 mL; INJ: various
pharyngitis/tonsillitis, streptococcal
- [2 yo and older]
- Dose: 12 mg/kg/dose PO x1 on day 1, then 6 mg/kg/dose PO q24h x4 days; Max: 500 mg for 1st dose, 250 mg for subsequent doses
community-acquired pneumonia, atypical
- [mild infection, >3 mo]
- Dose: 10 mg/kg/dose PO x1 on day 1, then 5 mg/kg/dose PO q24h x4 days; Max: 500 mg for 1st dose, 250 mg for subsequent doses
- [moderate-severe infection, >3 mo (off-label)]
- Dose: 10 mg/kg/dose IV q24h x2 days, then 5 mg/kg/dose PO q24h x3 days; Max: 500 mg/dose IV; 250 mg/dose PO
endocarditis prophylaxis, dental (off-label)
- [15 mg/kg/dose PO x1]
- Start: 30-60min before procedure; Info: see Infectious Disease: Endocarditis Prophylaxis, Pediatric table
infections, chlamydial (off-label)
- [infants]
- Dose: 20 mg/kg/dose PO qd x3 days; Info: not 1st-line agent
- [preadolescents 8 yo and older or >45 kg]
- Dose: 1 g PO x1; Info: 1st-line agent
- [pregnant pts, adolescents]
- Dose: 1 g PO x1; Info: 1st-line agent
- [non-pregnant pts, adolescents]
- Dose: 1 g PO x1; Info: not 1st-line agent
infections, uncomplicated gonococcal (off-label)
- [adolescents]
- Dose: 2 g PO x1; Info: for infections of cervix, urethra, rectum; give w/ gentamicin; not 1st-line agent
PID (off-label)
- [adolescents]
- Dose: 500 mg IV q24h x1-2 days, then 250 mg PO/IV q24h x12-14 days; Info: for pts w/ cephalosporin allergy and low gonorrhea risk; give w/ metronidazole
urethritis, non-gonococcal (off-label)
- [preadolescents >45 kg and adolescents]
- Dose: 1 g PO x1; Alt: 500 mg PO x1 on day 1, then 250 mg PO q24h x4 days; Info: not 1st-line agent
chancroid (off-label)
- [preadolescents <45 kg]
- Dose: 20 mg/kg/dose PO x1; Max: 1 g/dose
- [preadolescents >45 kg and adolescents]
- Dose: 1 g PO x1
MAC tx (off-label)
- [1 mo-12 yo]
- Dose: 10-12 mg/kg/dose PO q24h for at least 1mo; Max: 500 mg/day; Info: not 1st-line agent; use w/ ethambutol
- [13 yo and older]
- Dose: 500-600 mg PO q24h; Info: not 1st-line agent; use w/ ethambutol
MAC prophylaxis, primary (off-label)
- [1 mo-12 yo]
- Dose: 20 mg/kg/dose PO qwk; Max: 1200 mg/wk; Alt: 5 mg/kg/dose PO q24h, max 250 mg/day
- [13 yo and older]
- Dose: 1200 mg PO qwk; Alt: 600 mg PO 2x/wk
MAC prophylaxis, secondary (off-label)
- [1 mo-12 yo]
- Dose: 5 mg/kg/dose PO q24h; Max: 250 mg/day; Info: not 1st-line agent; use w/ ethambutol
- [13 yo and older]
- Dose: 500-600 mg PO q24h; Info: not 1st-line agent; use w/ ethambutol
cervicitis, presumptive (off-label)
- [preadolescents >45 kg and adolescents]
- Dose: 1 g PO x1; Info: not 1st-line agent
lymphogranuloma venereum (off-label)
- [adolescents]
- Dose: 1000 mg PO qwk for at least 3wk; Info: not 1st-line agent
granuloma inguinale (off-label)
- [preadolescents >45 kg and adolescents]
- Dose: 1000 mg PO qwk for at least 3wk; Alt: 500 mg PO qd for at least 3wk; Info: may extend tx if not healed after 3wk; 1st-line agent
salmonellosis, acute (off-label)
- [10 mg/kg/dose PO q24h x3-7 days]
- Max: 500 mg/day; Info: may extend tx x1wk if immunocompromised
shigellosis, severe (off-label)
- [1 mo and older]
- Dose: 6-20 mg/kg/dose PO q24h; Max: 1000 mg/day; Info: duration varies w/ infection severity; refer to CDC guidance
campylobacteriosis (off-label)
- [1 mo and older]
- Dose: 10 mg/kg/dose up to 500 mg PO q24h x3-5 days
typhoid fever, adjunct tx (off-label)
- [10 mg/kg/dose PO q24h x1wk]
babesiosis (off-label)
- [mild-moderate infection, immunocompetent pts]
- Dose: 10 mg/kg/dose PO x1 on day 1, then 5 mg/kg/dose PO q24h x6-9 days; Max: 500 mg on day 1; 250 mg/day on days 2-10; Info: give w/ atovaquone as 1st-line regimen
- [severe infection, immunocompetent pts]
- Dose: 10 mg/kg/dose IV q24h x7-10 days; Max: 500 mg/day; Info: give w/ atovaquone as 1st-line regimen; switch to azithromycin 10 mg/kg/dose PO q24h for step-down tx
- [immunocompromised pts]
- Dose: 10 mg/kg/dose IV q24h for at least 6wk; Max: 500 mg/day; Info: give w/ atovaquone as 1st-line regimen; switch to azithromycin 10 mg/kg/dose PO q24h for step-down tx
pertussis (off-label)
- [<6 mo]
- Dose: 10 mg/kg/dose PO q24h x5 days; Info: 1st-line agent for pts <1 mo
- [6 mo and older]
- Dose: 10 mg/kg/dose PO x1 on day 1, then 5 mg/kg/dose PO q24h x4 days; Max: 500 mg for 1st dose, 250 mg for subsequent doses
Lyme dz (off-label)
- [10 mg/kg/dose PO q24h x7 days]
- Max: 500 mg/day; Info: for early, localized dz; not 1st-line agent; search 'Lyme' for epocrates Lyme Disease Dx & Tx decision tool
meningococcal prophylaxis (off-label)
- [10 mg/kg/dose PO x1]
- Max: 500 mg; Info: for close contacts of pts w/ invasive meningococcal dz; not 1st-line agent
renal dosing
- [see below]
- CrCl >10: no adjustment; CrCl <10: not defined, caution advised
- HD/PD: no adjustment; no supplement
hepatic dosing
- [see below]
- hepatic impairment: not defined, caution advised