Roxithromycin
Roxithromycin is a semi-synthetic antibiotic group medication with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. It belongs to the group of medicines called macrolides and has a bacteriostatic effect. The drug is used to treat infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract, atypical pneumonia, purulent-inflammatory diseases of the skin and its appendages, diphtheria, erythrasma, gonorrhea, syphilis, listeriosis, Legionnaires' disease, prevention and treatment of rheumatism in case of intolerance of beta-lactam antibiotics. Sometimes it can be prescribed for the treatment of eye infections like conjunctivitis and trachoma.
This medication can be prescribed to children for the treatment of the following conditions: upper respiratory tract infections: tonsillitis, pharyngitis, acute sinusitis; lower respiratory tract infections, bronchitis; infections of the skin and soft tissues.
Roxithromycin is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract after oral application. It is stable in the acidic environment of the stomach. Food intake 15 minutes after taking the tablet of Roxithromycin does not affect the absorption. Roxithromycin is excreted in breast milk in small amounts.
Application and Dosage
The drug should be taken orally before meals with a sufficient amount of liquid. Adult patients are usually prescribed 150 mg twice a day, with an interval of 12 hours. The patients with renal insufficiency usually take Roxithromycin in the dosage of 150 mg twice a day.
As other macrolides, Roxithromycin in Canada can aggravate the course of myasthenia gravis, and therefore, the use of Roxithromycin in such patients requires monitoring of the patient's condition.
When prescribing Roxithromycin to the patients suffering from renal insufficiency, as well as to elderly patients, there is no need for dose adjustment. With the development of allergic reactions taking the drug should be discontinued immediately and appropriate therapy should be prescribed.
The duration of the therapy depends on the indication for use, the microorganism causing the infection and the severity of the infectious process. For adults, the common treatment course is 5-10 days. For the treatment of infections caused by beta-hemolytic streptococcus, the course of treatment should be at least 10 days. As for children, the usual course of the treatment lasts commonly 5-10 days. The duration of therapy with this medication should not exceed 10 days. Patients with severe hepatic impairment take the dose, which should be twice reduced, that is 150 mg of Rox in Canadaithromycin once a day.
Roxithromycin Contraindications
Taking the medication is not allowed to the patients, who experience the following conditions: hypersensitivity, infants (up to 2 months), and concomitant use of ergotamine or dihydroergotamine. Roxithromycin should not be used in case of severe liver conditions, pregnancy and breastfeeding. When prescribed to patients with hepatic impairment the medication should have careful correction of the dose and the monitoring of a liver function. If the drugs like Terfenadine, Astemizole, Cisapride, and Pimozide are taken at the same time, then ECG should be monitored constantly. Due to the possibility of the occurrence of dizziness, it should be taken with caution while driving and working with any technology.
Roxithromycin passes into breast milk in small amounts, so if it is necessary to take the drug during lactation, then the issue of stopping breastfeeding should be resolved. Patients over 65 years of age should use this medicine with caution, strictly following the doctor’s prescription.
Side Effects
As many other medicines Roxithromycin may cause the occurrence of some side effects. Among the most widespread unwanted reactions there are dyspeptic disorder (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, etc.), abnormal liver function, generalized convulsions, hallucinations, disturbances of consciousness, dizziness, reversible hearing loss, ventricular tachycardia, prolongation of interval QT. Follow the instruction strictly to make the treatment results effective and avoid side-effects.
Skin reactions are possible. They may include: angioedema, bronchospasm, eosinophilia; anaphylactic shock. Unwanted effects from the side of gastrointestinal tract may include the following: pancreatitis, diarrhea (sometimes with blood), nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and pseudomembranous colitis. From the side of nervous system there may occur: dizziness, headache, changes in taste, impaired smell (including anosmia), hallucinations, temporary hearing loss, incomplete hearing loss, vertigo.
If after taking the drug you’ve got any of the listed above side effects, then you should tell the doctor about them. If they bother you greatly, then you should seek medical help immediately.
Take into consideration that the information on the drug in this article is not complete. Contact your healthcare provider to get the full data concerning the drug, its side effects and contraindications.