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Macrolides for pneumonia
Examples
| Generic Name | Brand Name |
|---|---|
| azithromycin | Zithromax, Zmax |
| clarithromycin | Biaxin |
| erythromycin | Eryc, EryPed, Ery-Tab |
How It Works
Macrolides prevent bacteria from reproducing.
Why It Is Used
Doctors often use macrolides to treat
pneumonia in otherwise healthy people younger than 65.
For these people, macrolides are effective against the most common causes of
bacterial infections in the lower
respiratory tract
.
Macrolides may be given to people who are allergic to penicillin.
Doctors use macrolides in people 65 and older and people who have other long-lasting (chronic) health problems if the doctor suspects an uncommon cause of the pneumonia.
How Well It Works
In general, all antibiotics used have a high cure rate for pneumonia caused by bacteria. Cure rates are greater than 80%, meaning at least 80 people out of 100 are cured. 1
Macrolides are effective against a wide range of bacteria.
You most likely will have some improvement in symptoms 2 to 3 days after treatment begins. Unless you get worse during that time, treatment is not changed for at least 3 days. The number of days you continue to take antibiotics depends on your illness and the type of antibiotic.
Side Effects
The most common side effects of macrolides include:
- Diarrhea.
- Nausea.
- Upset stomach.
- Vomiting.
- Sore mouth.
A large study shows that people who take erythromycin along with certain common medicines may increase their risk of sudden cardiac death. 2 The study shows that the risk of sudden cardiac death is greater when erythromycin is taken with some medicines that inhibit certain liver enzymes-such as certain calcium channel blockers, certain antifungal medicines, medicines to stop vomiting, and some antidepressants-than when erythromycin is taken by itself.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Clarithromycin and azithromycin cost more than erythromycin. But both are effective against a wide range of bacteria and have fewer side effects. They may replace erythromycin to treat people who have pneumonia who also have other health problems or are 65 and older. Clarithromycin and azithromycin may be the best choice for people who:
- Cannot take erythromycin.
- Smoke.
- Are more likely to have pneumonia caused by Haemophilus influenzae.
All the macrolide antibiotics are effective against lower respiratory tract infections caused by Legionella pneumophila, which also causes Legionnaires' disease.
To treat bronchitis or pneumonia, long-acting antibiotics are usually given for a shorter length of time than standard antibiotics.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF)
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to help you understand this medication.
Citations
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
An emerging field of medicine called interventional pulmonology is providing never-before-seen views during delicate surgeries.
