Azithromycin/Food Interaction
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug, changing your diet or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Important. Possible changes in your diet, medicine, or dosage should be discussed with your doctor or pharmacist.
How the interaction occurs:
The cause of the interaction is not known.
What might happen:
Food may cause a decrease in the level of azithromycin in your blood. This may decrease the beneficial effects of taking this medicine.
What you should do about this interaction:
This medicine should be taken on an empty stomach (one hour before or two hours after food). Contact your healthcare professional (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) for more information.Your healthcare professionals may be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change your medicine or diet before checking with them first.
References:
1.Welling PG, Huang H, Hewitt PF, Lyons LL. Bioavailability of erythromycin stearate: influence of food and fluid volume. J Pharm Sci 1978 Jun; 67(6):764-6.
2.Malmborg AS. Effect of food on absorption of erythromycin. A study of two derivatives, the stearate and the base. J Antimicrob Chemother 1979 Sep; 5(5):591-9.
3.Randinitis EJ, Sedman AJ, Welling PG, Kinkel AW. Effect of a high-fat meal on the bioavailability of a polymer-coated erythromycin particle tablet formulation. J Clin Pharmacol 1989 Jan;29(1):79-84.
4.Zithromax (azithromycin) capsule US prescribing information. Pfizer Laboratories February, 1992.
