Azitrex D

Uses

Azithromycin is used for infections caused by susceptible organisms in-

Upper respiratory tract infections including sinusitis, pharyngitis and tonsillitis

Lower respiratory tract infections including bronchitis, acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary

disease (COPD)

Otitis media

Skin and soft tissue infections including cellulitis, pyoderma, erysipelas, wound infections

Diarrhea, Shigellosis

Sexually transmitted diseases, especially in the treatment of non-gonococcal urethritis and cervicitis due to Chlamydia trachomatis

Genital ulcer disease in men due to Haemophilus ducreyi (chancroid)

Mild or moderate typhoid due to multiple-antibacterial resistant organisms

Prophylaxis against a-hemolytic (viridans group) streptococcal bacterial endocarditis

Other infections including odontogenic infections, bartonella infections, toxoplasmosis, babesiosis

Endocrine disorders: Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the drug of choice; synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy, mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance). Acute adrenocortical insufficiency, pre operatively and in the event of serious trauma or illness, in patients with known adrenal insufficiency or when adrenocortical reserve is doubtful. Shock unresponsive to conventional therapy if adrenocortical insufficiency exists or is suspected congenital adrenal hyperplasia, nonsuppurative thyroiditis, hypercalcemia associated with cancer

Rheumatic disorders: As adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in: post-traumatic osteoarthritis, synovitis of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may require low-dose maintenance therapy), acute and sub-acute bursitis, epicondylitis, acute nonspecific tenosynovitis, acute gouty arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis.

Collagen diseases: During an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of Systemic lupus erythematosus and acute rheumatic carditis

Dermatologic diseases: Pemphigus,Severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome), Exfoliative dermatitis, Bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, Severe seborrheic dermatitis,Severe psoriasis, Mycosis fungoides

Allergic states: Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in bronchial asthma, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, serum sickness, seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, urticarial transfusion reactions, acute non-infectious laryngeal edema (epinephrine is the drug of first choice)

Ophthalmic diseases: Severe acute and chronic allergic and inflammatory processes involving the eye, such as: herpes zoster ophthalmicus, iritis, iridocyclitis, chorioretinitis, diffuse posterior uveitis and choroiditis, optic neuritis, sympathetic ophthalmia, anterior segment inflammation, allergic conjunctivitis, keratitis, allergic corneal marginal ulcers.

Gastrointestinal diseases: To tide the patient over a critical period of the disease in ulcerative colitis (systemic therapy), regional enteritis (systemic therapy) Respiratory diseases Symptomatic sarcoidosis, berylliosis, fulminating or disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis when used concurrently with appropriate anti-tuberculous chemotherapy, Loeffler's syndrome not manageable by other means, aspiration pneumonitis.

Hematologic disorders: Acquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in adults (I.V. only: I.M administration is contraused), secondary thrombocytopenia in adults, erythroblastopenia (RBC anemia), congenital (erythroid) hypoplasticanemia

Neoplastic diseases: For palliative management of leukemias and lymphomas in adults, acute leukemia of childhood.

Edematous states: To induce diuresis or remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome, without uremia, of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus.

Miscellaneous: Tuberculous meningitis with subarachnoid block or impending block when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy,Trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement

Cerebral Edema: Cerebral Edema associated with primary or metastatic brain tumor, craniotomy, or head injury. Use in cerebral edema is not a substitute for careful neurosurgical evaluation and definitive management such as neurosurgery or other specific therapy.May also be useful in cystic tumors of an aponeurosis or tendon (ganglia).

Azitrex D is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Acute Bacterial Sinusitis (ABS), Acute Otitis Media, Acute bacterial exacerbation of COPD caused by Haemophilus Influenza Infections, Moraxella Catarrhalis Infection, Streptococcus Pneumoniae Infections, Bacterial Conjunctivitis, Bacterial Sinusitis, Cervicitis, Chancroid, Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), Genital Ulcer Disease (GUD), Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), Pharyngitis, Streptococcal Pharyngitis, Streptococcal tonsillitis, Tonsillitis bacterial, Traveler's Diarrhea, Uncomplicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections, UrethritisAcne Rosacea, Acute Gouty Arthritis, Acute Otitis Externa, Acute Otitis Media, Adrenal cortical hypofunctions, Adrenocortical Hyperfunction, Alopecia Areata (AA), Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Anterior Segment Inflammation, Aspiration Pneumonitis, Asthma, Atopic Dermatitis (AD), Berylliosis, Bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, Bursitis, Chorioretinitis, Choroiditis, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), Congenital Hypoplastic Anemia, Conjunctivitis, Conjunctivitis allergic, Corneal Inflammation, Cushing's Syndrome, Dermatitis, Dermatitis exfoliative generalised, Dermatitis, Contact, Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE), Drug hypersensitivity reaction, Edema of the cerebrum, Epicondylitis, Episcleritis, Erythroblastopenia, Eye Infections, Eye allergy, Eye swelling, Glaucoma, Hypercalcemia, Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Infection, Inflammation, Inflammation of the External Auditory Canal, Intraocular Inflammation, Iridocyclitis, Iritis, Keloid Scars, Leukemia, Acute, Lichen Planus (LP), Lichen simplex chronicus, Loeffler's syndrome, Macular Edema, Malignant Lymphomas, Middle ear inflammation, Mucosal Inflammation of the eye, Multiple Myeloma (MM), Muscle Inflammation caused by Cataract Surgery of the eye, Mycosis Fungoides (MF), Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum, Noninfectious Posterior Uveitis, Ocular Infections, Irritations and Inflammations, Ocular Inflammation, Ocular Inflammation and Pain, Ocular Irritation, Ophthalmia, Sympathetic, Optic Neuritis, Otitis Externa, Pemphigus, Perennial Allergic Rhinitis (PAR), Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis, Postoperative Infections of the eyes caused by susceptible bacteria, Regional Enteritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Juvenile, Sarcoidosis, Scleritis, Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis, Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis, Secondary thrombocytopenia, Serum Sickness, Severe Seborrheic Dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Synovitis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Trichinosis, Tuberculosis (TB), Tuberculosis Meningitis, Ulcerative Colitis, Uveitis, Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis, Acquired immune hemolytic anemia, Acute nonspecific tenosynovitis, Acute rheumatic carditis, Corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses, Ear infection-not otherwise specified caused by susceptible bacteria, Granuloma annulare lesions, Non-suppurative Thyroiditis, Ocular bacterial infections, Severe Psoriasis, Steroid-responsive inflammation of the eye, Varicella-zoster virus acute retinal necrosis, Watery itchy eyes

How Azitrex D works

In order to replicate, bacteria require a specific process of protein synthesis, enabled by ribosomal proteins . Azithromycin binds to the 23S rRNA of the bacterial 50S ribosomal subunit. It stops bacterial protein synthesis by inhibiting the transpeptidation/translocation step of protein synthesis and by inhibiting the assembly of the 50S ribosomal subunit , . This results in the control of various bacterial infections , . The strong affinity of macrolides, including azithromycin, for bacterial ribosomes, is consistent with their broad‐spectrum antibacterial activities .

Azithromycin is highly stable at a low pH, giving it a longer serum half-life and increasing its concentrations in tissues compared to erythromycin .

The short term effects of corticosteroids are decreased vasodilation and permeability of capillaries, as well as decreased leukocyte migration to sites of inflammation. Corticosteroids binding to the glucocorticoid receptor mediates changes in gene expression that lead to multiple downstream effects over hours to days.

Glucocorticoids inhibit neutrophil apoptosis and demargination; they inhibit phospholipase A2, which decreases the formation of arachidonic acid derivatives; they inhibit NF-Kappa B and other inflammatory transcription factors; they promote anti-inflammatory genes like interleukin-10.

Lower doses of corticosteroids provide an anti-inflammatory effect, while higher doses are immunosuppressive. High doses of glucocorticoids for an extended period bind to the mineralocorticoid receptor, raising sodium levels and decreasing potassium levels.

Dosage

Azitrex D dosage

Azithromycin tablet can be taken with or without food. Azithromycin suspension should be taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meal.

Oral:

Adult:

For respiratory tract infections, otitis media and skin & soft tissue infections: 500 mg once daily for 3 days or an alternative to this as 500 mg once on day 1, followed by 250 mg once daily for next 4 days. For sexually transmitted diseases like genital ulcer, non-gonococcal urethritis and cervicitis due to Chlamydia trachomatis : a single 1 gm (1000 mg) dose. For the treatment of urethritis and cervicitis due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae : a single 2 gm (2000 mg) dose. In typhoid, 500 mg once daily for 7 days. In Cholera, a single 1 gm (1000 mg) dose. In Shigellosis, 500 mg once on day 1, followed by 250 mg once daily for next 4 days.

Intraarticular-

Inflammatory joint diseases:

• Adult: 0.8-4 mg depending on the size of the affected joint. For soft-tissue inj, 2-6 mg may be used. May repeat inj every 3-5 days to every 2-3 wk.

Intravenous-

Prophylaxis of nausea and vomiting associated with cytotoxic therapy:

• Adult: Prevention: 10-20 mg 15-30 minutes before admin of chemotherapy on each treatment day. For continuous infusion regimen: 10 mg every 12 hr on each treatment day. For midly emetogenic regimen: 4 mg every 4-6 hr.

Unresponsive shock:

• Adult: As phosphate: Initially, 40 mg or 1-6 mg/kg as a single IV inj, may repeat every 2-6 hr. Continue high-dose treatment only until patient's condition has stabilised and not to be continued beyond 48-72 hr.

Bacterial meningitis:

• Adult: 0.15 mg/kg 4 times daily, to be given 10-20 min before or with the 1st dose of anti-infective treatment. Treatment should be given for the first 2-4 days of the anti-infective treatment.
• Child: As phosphate: 2 mth-18 yr: 150 mcg/kg every 6 hr for 4 days, starting before or with 1st dose of antibacterial treatment.

Cerebral oedema caused by malignancy:

• Adult: As phosphate: 10 mg IV followed by 4 mg IM every 6 hr until response is achieved, usually after 12-24 hr. May reduce dosage after 2-4 days then gradually discontinued over 5-7 days. In severe cases, an initial dose of 50 mg IV may be given on day 1, with 8 mg every 2 hr, reduced gradually over 7-13 days. Maintenance dose: 2 mg 2-3 times daily.
• Child: As phosphate: 35 kg: Initially 25 mg, then 4 mg every 2 hr for 3 days, then 4 mg every 4 hr for 1 day, then 4 mg every 6 hr for 4 days, then decrease by 2 mg daily. Doses are given via IV inj.

Oral-

Anti-inflammatory:

• Adult: 0.75-9 mg daily in 2-4 divided doses; may also be given via IM/IV admin.
• Child: 1 mth-18 yr: 10-100 mcg/kg daily in 1-2 divided doses via oral admin, adjusted according to response; up to 300 micrograms/kg daily may be used in emergency situations.

Screening test for Cushing's syndrome:

• Adult: 0.5 mg every 6 hr for 48 hr after determining baseline 24-hr urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroid (17-OHCS) concentrations. During the second 24 hr of dexamethasone admin, urine is collected and analysed for 17-OHCS. Alternatively, after a baseline plasma cortisol determination, 1 mg may be given at 11 pm and plasma cortisol determined at 8 am the next morning. Plasma cortisol and urinary output of 17-OHCS are depressed after dexamethasone admin in normal individuals but remain at basal levels in patients with Cushing's syndrome.

Acute exacerbations in multiple sclerosis:

• Adult: 30 mg daily for 1 wk followed by 4-12 mg daily for 1 mth.
• Child: 1 mth-12 yr: 100-400 mcg/kg daily in 1-2 divided doses; 12-18 yr: Initially 0.5-24 mg daily. Max. 24 mg daily.

Azithromycin can be taken with or without food.

To reconstitute Azithromycin 15 ml powder for suspension: Add 10 ml or 2 tea spoonfuls of just boiled and cooled water to the content of the bottle and shake well to mix uniformly.

To reconstitute Azithromycin 30 ml powder for suspension: Add 20 ml or 4 tea spoonfuls of just boiled and cooled water to the content of the bottle and shake well to mix uniformly.

To reconstitute Azithromycin 50 ml powder for suspension: Add 35 ml or 7 tea spoonfuls of just boiled and cooled water to the content of the bottle and shake well to mix uniformly.

Side Effects

Azithromycin is well tolerated with a low incidence of side efects. The side effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort (pain/cramps), flatulence, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, and skin rashes and are reversible upon discontinuation of therapy. Reversible elevations in liver transaminases have been observed occasionally. Transient mild reductions in neutrophil counts have occasionally been observed in clinical trials, although causal relationship to Azithromycin has not been established.

Dexamethasone is generally well tolerated in standard low doses, Nausea, vomiting, increased appetite, and obesity may occur. Higher doses may result behavioral personality changes. Following adverse reactions have been associate with prolonged systemic glucocorticoid therapy, endocrine & metabolic disturbances, fluid & electrolyte disturbances, musculo-skeletal effects like osteoporosis etc; GI effects like ulcer, bleeding, perforation; Opthelmic effects like Glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure etc; immunosuppressive effects like increased susceptibility to infection etc.

Toxicity

Rat Oral LD50: >2000 mk/kg

Possible major adverse effects include cardiovascular arrhythmias and hearing loss. Macrolide resistance is also an ongoing issue. Hepatotoxicity has been observed in rare cases.

A note on the risk of liver toxicity:

Due to the act that azithromycin is mainly eliminated by the liver, caution should be observed when azithromycin is given to patients with decreased hepatic function .

A note on potential renal toxicity:

Because limited data in patients with renal GFR Label.

Use in Pregnancy:

This drug is categorized as a pregnancy category B drug. Reproduction studies have been done in rats and mice at doses up to moderately maternally toxic doses (for example, 200 mg/kg/day). These doses, based on a mg/m2 basis, are approximately 4 and 2 times, respectively, the human daily dose of 500 mg. In the animal studies, no harmful effects to the fetus due to azithromycin were observed. There are, at this time, no conclusive and well-controlled studies that have been done in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies do not always predict human response, azithromycin should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed .

Nursing Mothers:

It is unknown at this time whether azithromycin is excreted in human milk. Because many other drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be observed when azithromycin is given to a nursing woman .

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility:

Long-term studies in animals have not been performed to study carcinogenic potential. Azithromycin has demonstrated no potential to be mutagenic in standard laboratory tests. No evidence of negative effects on fertility due to azithromycin was found .

The oral LD₅₀ in female mice was 6.5g/kg and 794mg/kg via the intravenous route.

Overdoses are not expected with otic formulations. Chronic high doses of glucocorticoids can lead to the development of cataract, glaucoma, hypertension, water retention, hyperlipidemia, peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, myopathy, osteoporosis, mood changes, psychosis, dermal atrophy, allergy, acne, hypertrichosis, immune suppression, decreased resistance to infection, moon face, hyperglycemia, hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, metabolic acidosis, growth suppression, and secondary adrenal insufficiency. Overdose may be treated by adjusting the dose or stopping the corticosteroid as well as initiating symptomatic and supportive treatment.

Precaution

As with any antibiotic, observation for signs of super infection with non-susceptable organisms, including fungi, is recommended. Precaution should be taken in patients with more severe renal impairment.

The lowest possible dose of corticosteroids should be used to control the conditions under treatment. Dexamethasone should be used with caution in patient with cardiomyopathy, heart failure, hypertension, or renal insufficiency, drug induced secondary adrenocortical insufficiency, peptic ulcer, diverticulitis, intestinal anastomosis, ulcerative colitis, osteoporosis, & latent tuberculosis etc.

Interaction

Antacids: Peak serum levels but not the total extent of absorption are reduced by aluminium and magnesium containing antacids in the stomach. Azithromycin should therefore be taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking these antacids.

Ergot Derivatives: Because of the theoretical possibility of ergotism, concomitant administration of ergot derivatives and Azithromycin should be avoided. Digoxin & Cyclosporin: Macrolides have been known to increase the plasma concentration of Digoxin & Cyclosporin and so caution should be exercised while co-administration is necessary.

Anti-Histamines: A potentially life threatening interaction between erythromycin and terfenadine or astemizole have been reported. Although such an interaction with Azithromycin is not established yet, it is wise to avoid concomitant use of Azithromycin and terfenadine or astemizole.

Drug interaction can be occurred with following drugs:Diuretics, cardiac glycosides, antidiabetics, NSAIDs, anticoagulants, antacids etc. Besides, if patients undergo long-term therapy of glucororticoids with concomitant salicylates, any reduction in glucocorticoid dosage should be made with caution, since salicylate intoxication has been reported in such cases.

Volume of Distribution

After oral administration, azithromycin is widely distributed in tissues with an apparent steady-state volume of distribution of 31.1 L/kg . Significantly greater azithromycin concentrations have been measured in the tissues rather than in plasma or serum , . The lung, tonsils and prostate are organs have shown a particularly high rate of azithromycin uptake .

This drug is concentrated within macrophages and polymorphonucleocytes, allowing for effective activity against Chlamydia trachomatis . In addition, azithromycin is found to be concentrated in phagocytes and fibroblasts, shown by in vitro incubation techniques. In vivo studies demonstrate that concentration in phagocytes may contribute to azithromycin distribution to inflamed tissues .

A 1.5mg oral dose of dexamethasone has a volume of distribution of 51.0L, while a 3mg intramuscular dose has a volume of distribution of 96.0L.

Elimination Route

Bioavailability of azithromycin is 37% following oral administration. Absorption is not affected by food. Macrolide absorption in the intestines is believed to be mediated by P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) efflux transporters, which are known to be encoded by the ABCB1 gene .

Absorption via the intramuscular route is slower than via the intravenous route. A 3mg intramuscular dose reaches a C_max of 34.6±6.0ng/mL with a T_max of 2.0±1.2h and an AUC of 113±38ng*h/mL. A 1.5mg oral dose reaches a C_max of 13.9±6.8ng/mL with a T_max of 2.0±0.5h and an AUC of 331±50ng*h/mL. Oral dexamethasone is approximately 70-78% bioavailable in healthy subjects.

Half Life

Terminal elimination half-life: 68 hours

The mean terminal half life of a 20mg oral tablet is 4 hours. A 1.5mg oral dose of dexamethasone has a half life of 6.6±4.3h, while a 3mg intramuscular dose has a half life of 4.2±1.2h.

Clearance

Mean apparent plasma cl=630 mL/min (following single 500 mg oral and i.v. dose)

A 20mg oral tablet has a clearance of 15.7L/h. A 1.5mg oral dose of dexamethasone has a clearance of 15.6±4.9L/h while a 3.0mg intramuscular dose has a clearance of 9.9±1.4L/h.

Elimination Route

Biliary excretion of azithromycin, primarily as unchanged drug, is a major route of elimination. Over a 1 week period, approximately 6% of the administered dose is found as unchanged drug in urine .

Corticosteroids are generally eliminated predominantly in the urine. However, dexamethasone is 15

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Pregnancy: US FDA pregnancy category B. In the animal studies, no evidence of harm to the fetus due to Azithromycin was found. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, Azithromycin should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Lactation: It is not known whether Azithromycin is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Azithromycin is administered to nursing mother.

Pregnancy Category C. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Corticosteroids should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies. Glucocorticoids appear in breast milk, Mothers taking high dosages of corticosteroids should be advised not to breast-feed.

Contraindication

Azithromycin is contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to Azithromycin or any other macrolide antibiotic. Co-administration of ergot derivatives and Azithromycin is contraindicated. Azithromycin is contraindicated in patients with hepatic diseases.

In case of adrenal insufficiency, no absolute contraindications are applicable. In the treatment of non endocrine diseases where pharmacological doses are more likely to be used, the contraindications have to be considered carefully.

Relative contraindications include the followings: patient with Cushing’s syndrome, Osteoporosis, Diabetes mellitus, renal insufficiency, gastrointestinal ulcers, systemic fungal infection & acute infection.

Special Warning

Pediatric Use: Azithromycin oral dosage forms can be administered to pediatric patients from 6 months of age. Safety and effectiveness of azithromycin for injection in children or adolescents under 16 years have not been established.

Acute Overdose

There are no data available on overdose with Azithromycin. Typical symptoms of overdosage with macrolide antibiotics include hearing loss, severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Gastric lavage and general supportive measures are indicated.

Overdose is unlikely; however, treatment of overdose is by supportive and symptomatic therapy.

Storage Condition

Azithromycin IV infusion: When diluted according to the instructions, azithromycin for injection is stable for 24 hours at or below room temperature 30° C, or for 7 days if stored under refrigeration 5° C.

Azithromycin capsule, tablet and dry powder for suspension: should be stored at room temperature (below 30° C). Any unused portion of reconstituted Azithromycin suspension should be discarded after 5 days.

Azithromycin eye drops: Store unopened bottle under refrigeration at 2°C to 8°C. Once the bottle is opened, store at 2°C to 25°C for up to 14 days. Discard after the 14 days.

Store at 15-30° C.

Innovators Monograph

You find simplified version here Azitrex D