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Azithromycin correct doses
I had a fever for 2 days along with a mild cough and sore throat. So I went to a pharmacy and got Nimsen Cold and Azimic 500 over the counter.
The pharmacist told me to take Azithromycin 500 mg twice on the first day and then one tablet daily for the next three days.
However, I am concerned that azithromycin may cause stomach problems. Instead of taking it as advised, if I take one 500 mg tablet daily for 3 days (3 tablets in total), would that be enough to complete the course?
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Two honest points from me. First, on the dosing you asked about: the pharmacist's advice (500 mg twice on day 1, then 500 mg daily for 3 more days) is not a standard regimen and is unnecessarily high. The recognised adult courses for azithromycin are either 500 mg once daily for 3 days, or 500 mg on day 1 followed by 250 mg once daily for days 2-5. So yes â 500 mg once daily for 3 days (3 tablets total) is a complete, accepted course, and it is also gentler on your stomach. Second, and more important: a 2-day mild fever with mild cough and sore throat in a healthy 24-year-old is almost always viral, and azithromycin does nothing for a virus. Taking it will not shorten your illness; it will only risk diarrhoea, stomach upset and antibiotic resistance. Nimesulide (in Nimson Cold) is also a drug I would avoid for simple fever â plain paracetamol is safer and works just as well.
Next Steps
1) My advice would be not to start the antibiotic at all yet for a 2-day mild illness. Treat it as a viral upper respiratory infection: paracetamol 500-650 mg up to three or four times a day only if fever or throat pain, warm saline gargles 3-4 times a day, steam inhalation, warm fluids, and rest. Most people turn the corner by day 4-5. 2) If you have already begun azithromycin, do NOT stop midway and do not take the doubled dose â complete it as 500 mg once daily for 3 days total, taken at the same time each day, with or just after food to reduce the stomach upset you are worried about. Never take it with an antacid containing aluminium or magnesium within 2 hours. 3) Add a probiotic and plenty of curd to reduce the chance of loose motions. 4) Reconsider antibiotics only if: fever persists beyond 4-5 days or crosses 101-102°F, you get one-sided severe throat pain with white patches and tender neck glands and cannot swallow, ear pain, thick coloured nasal discharge with facial pain beyond 10 days, or the cough becomes productive with breathlessness or chest pain. At that point get examined and, if needed, a CBC, CRP and throat swab or chest X-ray to decide properly. 5) If you would like me to look at your symptoms and tell you clearly whether you need the antibiotic, you are welcome to consult me on Practo, or see me at Synergy Multispeciality Hospital, Miraj, if you are in this area.
Health Tips
Word of caution: azithromycin can prolong the heart's QT interval â avoid it if you have a known heart rhythm problem, low potassium/magnesium, or are on medicines like ondansetron, domperidone, antifungals or antipsychotics. Seek care immediately for breathlessness at rest, chest pain, palpitations or fainting, a rash with facial/lip swelling, or severe watery/bloody diarrhoea during or after the course. And please do not buy antibiotics over the counter in future â a pharmacist cannot examine your chest and throat.
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Fever with cough and sore throat for 2 days is often due to a simple infection, and an antibiotic may not always be needed. Please don't change the azithromycin dose or course on your own, even if you are worried about stomach problems. Since you have already started the medicine, I would like to know your current temperature, other symptoms, and exactly what medicines you have taken. Please consult me with these details, and I can review your symptoms and advise you about whether you need to
continue the medicine and what is appropriate for you
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If you would like to discuss your concern in more detail, please feel free to contact me on WhatsApp at nine one one nine two five five six nine nine. Alternatively, you can connect with me through the Practo app for a detailed consultation
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For an uncomplicated 2-day fever with mild cough and sore throat, azithromycin is often not indicated if a viral URTI is suspected.
If azithromycin is genuinely indicated, don’t arbitrarily shorten the regimen to 500 mg OD × 3 days; the appropriate dose/duration depends on the diagnosis. The pharmacist’s regimen (500 mg BD on day 1) is not a standard azithromycin regimen for most respiratory infections.
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(1)Take Tab.PCM 500 mg SOS for the fever , minimum gap between two doses should be 6hrs .
(2) Tab. Azithral 500mg once for 3 days
Preferably during the same time for three days and after food
(3) Tab Pan 40 BBF for 3 days
(4) Warm saline gargles for 3-4 times / day
(5) Warm fluids and adequate hydration
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The duration of an azithromycin treatment, including 500 mg formulations, varies significantly depending on the type and severity of the infection. It is typically taken ONCE DAILY for a duration determined by a healthcare provider.
It is essential to complete the full course as prescribed by a physician to ensure the infection is fully treated and to help prevent the development of antibiotic resistance.
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Yes...
Take one tablet daily for 3 days
Maintain the same timings for better results
For example : If you are taking morning time then take the remaining 2 doses also in the morning time only for the next two days
Along with that add an antacid tablet to reduce the chances of acidity
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Firstly Azithromycin is not a OTC medication Azithromycin dose for fever depends on the cause—there is no correct dose simply for “fever.” It should not be used routinely for viral fever, dengue, COVID, or influenza.
For adults, when a doctor has diagnosed a bacterial infection for which azithromycin is appropriate, common regimens include:
500 mg once daily for 3 days, or
500 mg on day 1, then 250 mg once daily on days 2–5
The appropriate regimen varies with the infection, and some infections require different dosing.
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Azithromycin is not always needed for fever mild cough and sore throat as these are commonly caused by a viral infection commonly called a common cold antibiotics will not help viral infections so check with your doctor to determine whether the infection is bacterial or viral and do not alter or shorten an antibiotic
course on your own
Its its bacterial ..azithromycin 500 od for days is the dosage
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Yes, you did the right thing by taking Azithromycin 500 mg once a day for 3 days. The dosing of Azithromycin is once a day usually for 3-5 days.
Next Steps
If you feel your symptoms are worsening, I'd suggest taking the antibiotic for 5 days in total.
Health Tips
For sorr throat, you can try MAXTRA gargle (green colored liquid). Just gargle and spit it out. Do it 3-4 times a day
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Better to take a consultation to know If you really need an antibiotic. And yeah , 500 mg od can be continued for 3 days , considering you've already started with the stat dose .
Next Steps
Get consultation done for further evaluation and management
Health Tips
You're welcome for consultations
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