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How long does Zithromax stay in your system?

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 28, 2024.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Zithromax has an elimination half-life of 68 hours.
The half life is used to estimate how long it takes for a drug to be eliminated from the body. Generally it takes 5.5 x half-life for a drug to be removed from the body, when it is deemed to no longer have an effect.
Therefore for Zithromax it would take about 374 hours (5.5 x 68 hours) which is 15.5 days to be removed from the body.

Elimination of a drug varies from person to person due to factors like age, weight, other medications taken, or other medical conditions present, also kidney function, liver function etc. Therefore half life is used as a guide or an estimate of how long it may take for the drug elimination.

For more information on Zithromax see:
https://www.drugs.com/pro/zithromax.html

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Is Zithromax a penicillin?

Zithromax is not a penicillin it is a type of antibiotic called a macrolide. Macrolides kill bacteria by inhibiting protein synthesis and blocking the assembly of the 50S ribosomal subunit, which is a structure in a cell that helps coordinate protein synthesis. Macrolides are unrelated to penicillin and are safe to use in people who are allergic to penicillin. Continue reading

Can I drink alcohol while taking Zithromax?

There are no documented interactions between Zithromax and alcohol so you could drink a small amount of alcohol (one or two glasses) if you wanted to. But drinking larger quantities of alcohol is not recommended generally while you are fighting an infection because it may hinder the body’s ability to fight the infection, lead to dehydration, and interrupt sleep. Drinking large quantities of alcohol while taking Zithromax may also worsen common side effects of Zithromax such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, flatulence, fatigue, and headache. Continue reading

Is Zithromax available over the counter?

Zithromax is not available over the counter, it is a prescription medicine that must be prescribed by a doctor. Continue reading

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