Zithium O

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

Ofloxacin Eye: It is used for the treatment of external ocular infections such as acute & sub-acute conjunctivitis, keratitis, kerato-conjunctivitis, blepharo-conjunctivitis, blepharitis, corneal ulcer and pre-operative prophylaxis in ocular surgery.

Ofloxacin Ear: It is used for the treatment of external ear infections (otitis externa) and certain middle ear infections (otitis media).

Ofloxacin Oral/Injection are used for the treatment of adults with mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible strains.

• Lower Respiratory Tract: Acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis lung abscess, pneumonia.
• Gastrointestinal Tract: Enteric fever, shigellosis.
• Multi-drug-resistant Tuberculosis.
• Skin and skin structures: Uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections.
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Acute, Uncomplicated urethral and cervical gonorrhoea. Nongonococcal urethritis and cervicitis. Mixed infections of the urethra and cervix.
• Urinary tract: Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections, Complicated urinary tract infections.

Zithium O 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, UrethritisAcute Bacterial Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis (ABECB), Acute Otitis Media, Bacterial Infections, Cervicitis, Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), Complicated Urinary Tract Infection, Conjunctivitis, Epididymitis, Hansen's Disease, Nongonococcal urethritis, Otitis Externa, Prostatitis, Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Bacterial Infections, Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP), Traveler's Diarrhea, Ulcerative keratitis, Acute Pelvic inflammatory disease, Acute, uncomplicated Gonorrhea, Chronic suppurative Otitis media, Uncomplicated Cystitis

How Zithium O 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 .

Ofloxacin acts on DNA gyrase and toposiomerase IV, enzymes which, like human topoisomerase, prevents the excessive supercoiling of DNA during replication or transcription. By inhibiting their function, the drug thereby inhibits normal cell division.

Dosage

Zithium O 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.

Ofloxacin Eye: Instill 1 drop in the affected eye(s) every 2 to 4 hours for the first two days and then 4 times daily. The length of treatment should not exceed ten days.

Ofloxacin Ear: Instill 1-2 drops in the affected ear(s) twice daily or as needed.

Ofloxacin Intravenous (Adult):

• Skin and soft tissue infections: 400 mg bid infused over at least 1 hr.
• Complicated urinary tract infections: 200 mg daily by infusion over at least 30 min. Max: 400 mg bid infused over at least 1 hr.
• Lower respiratory tract infections, Septicaemia: 200 mg bid by infusion over at least 30 min. Max: 400 mg bid infused over at least 1 hr.

Ofloxacin Oral (Adult):

General dosage recommendations: The dose of ofloxacin is determined by the type and severity of the infection. The dosage range for adults is 200 mg to 800 mg daily. Up to 400 mg may be given as a single dose, preferably in the morning, larger doses should be given as two divided doses. Ofloxacin tablets should be swallowed with liquid; they should not be taken within two hours of intake of magnesium/aluminium containing antacids or iron preparations since reduction of absorption of ofloxacin can occur.

• Enteric fever: For adults 200 mg, every 12 hours, for 5 days. For children 15 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses for 3 days.
• Shigellosis: 400 mg single dose.
• Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis: 400 mg twice daily along with conventional anti-tuberculosis drugs.
• Lower respiratory tract infection: 400 mg daily, increasing, if necessary, to 400 mg twice daily.
• Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections: A single dose of 200/400 mg.
• Uncomplicated urethral and cervical gonorrhoea: A single dose of 400 mg.
• Non-gonococcal urethral and cervicitis: 400 mg daily in single or divided doses.
• Complicated Urinary Tract Infection: 200/400 mg/day for 7 days.

Children: Ofloxacin is usually not indicated for use in children or growing adolescents.

Elderly: No adjustment of dosage is required in the elderly.

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.

May be taken with or without food. Avoid antacids or supplements containing Fe or Zn within 2 hr before or after ofloxacin. Ensure adequate hydration.

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.

Ofloxacin Eye: Transient ocular irritation, burning, stinging, redness, itching or photophobia have been reported.

Ofloxacin Ear: Mild irritation or mild discomfort in the ear may occur. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling or trouble breathing.

Ofloxacin tablet or injection is generally well tolerated and clinical side-effects of ofloxacin has been quite low. Among the adverse effects gastrointestinal and central nervous systems' reactions are common. Nausea, rash, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and gastrointestinal distress are the gastrointestinal adverse effects. Common central nervous system reactions are headache, dizziness and insomnia.

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 .

LD₅₀=5450 mg/kg (orally in mice)

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.

Patients being treated with Ofloxacin should not expose themselves unnecessarily to strong sunlight and should avoid UV rays. Caution is recommended if the drug is to be used in psychotic patients or in-patients with a history of psychiatric disease.

Prolonged use of eye drops & ear drops may result in overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms and secondary infection respectively.

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.

Antacids containing magnesium, aluminium or calcium may decrease absorption of ofloxacin. Iron or Zinc may decrease oral absorption of ofloxacin.

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 .

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 .

Bioavailability of ofloxacin in the tablet formulation is approximately 98%

Half Life

Terminal elimination half-life: 68 hours

9 hours

Clearance

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

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 .

Ofloxacin is mainly eliminated by renal excretion, where between 65% and 80% of an administered oral dose of ofloxacin is excreted unchanged via urine within 48 hours of dosing. About 4-8% of an ofloxacin dose is excreted in the feces and the drug is minimally subject to biliary excretion.

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.

Use in pregnancy: There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. This drug should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Use in lactation: It is not known whether Ofloxacin is excreted in human milk. Cautions should be taken when Ofloxacin eye & ear drops is administered during lactation.

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.

It is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to Ofloxacin or any other component of Ofloxacin (Eye/Ear Drops).

Ofloxacin tablet injection should not be used in-patients with known hypersensitivity to 4-fluoroquinolone antibacterials. It is contraindicated in-patients with a history of epilepsy or with a lowered seizure threshold. Ofloxacin is usually contraindicated in children or growing adolescents and in pregnant or breast feeding women.

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.

Renal Impairment:

• CrCl <20 and patients on haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis: 100 mg 24 hrly following usual initial dose.
• CrCl 20-50: Reduce dose by half 24 hrly following usual initial dose.

Hepatic Impairment:Severe: Reduce dose. Max: 400 mg daily

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.

Symptoms: Confusion, dizziness, impairment of consciousness, convulsive seizures, GI reactions (e.g. nausea, mucosal erosions).

Management: Symptomatic and supportive treatment. Remove any unabsorbed drug by gastric lavage or admin of adsorbants and Na sulfate. Antacids are recommended for protection of gastric mucosa. Elimination may be increased by forced diuresis.

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 between 15-30° C. Protect from light.

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