Helpful Tips

If you don't feel well, it's important that you and your doctor work together to find the best treatment for you. Zmax is one of many antibiotic treatment options that you and your doctor can consider. These tips can help you feel better:

Drink plenty of liquids (though not cola or coffee)
Get plenty of rest
Use a humidifier—a machine that puts water into the air. It helps you breathe better
Do not smoke
Do not drink alcohol
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water (to avoid spreading bacteria)
Do not touch your nose, eyes, or mouth. These are some ways bacteria enter the body

If your doctor recommends taking Zmax for your condition, keep in mind that it will take some time for it to kill the bacteria causing the infection. It can still take a few days before you start to feel better. Make sure you give your medicine time to work.

Next: Zmax for Your Child

Important safety information for adults

Zmax fights bacteria that cause infections. These include sinusitis and pneumonia. Like other antibiotics, Zmax takes time to work.

Do not take Zmax if you have a known allergy or hypersensitivity to azithromycin, erythromycin, or any antibiotic.

Call your doctor right away if you have hives, you have trouble swallowing, your face or throat swells, or you have wheezing or trouble breathing after taking Zmax.

Diarrhea is a common problem caused by antibiotics which usually ends when the antibiotic is discontinued. Sometimes, however, patients can develop watery and bloody stools (with or without stomach cramps and fever) even as late as two or more months after taking their last dose of the antibiotic. If this occurs, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.

As with other antibiotics like Zmax, worsening of symptoms of myasthenia gravis (a disease causing muscle weakness) may occur.

The most common side effects in adults taking Zmax are diarrhea/loose stools, nausea, and stomach pain. Others include headache and vomiting. For patients who took Zmax and got diarrhea, most symptoms went away by day 2. Call your doctor if you vomit within one hour of taking Zmax.

Important safety information for children

Zmax fights bacteria that cause infections. This includes pneumonia. Like other antibiotics, Zmax takes time to work.

Do not give Zmax to children with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to azithromycin or any antibiotics such as erythromycin or telithromycin.

Call your child's doctor right away if your child has hives, trouble swallowing, swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing, such as wheezing, after taking Zmax.

Diarrhea is a common problem caused by antibiotics, usually ending when the antibiotic is discontinued. Sometimes, however, patients can develop watery and bloody stools (with or without stomach cramps and fever) even as late as two or more months after taking their last dose of the antibiotic. If this occurs, you should contact your child's doctor as soon as possible.

As with other antibiotics like Zmax, worsening of symptoms of myasthenia gravis (a disease causing muscle weakness) may occur.

The most common side effects in children taking Zmax are vomiting, diarrhea/loose stools, nausea, and stomach pain. Others include rash, and loss of appetite. For children who took Zmax and got diarrhea, most symptoms went away by day 2. Call your child's doctor if your child vomits within one hour of taking Zmax.

Please see full prescribing information for Zmax.

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The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a health care provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a health care provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.

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