Myths And Facts

When it comes to antibiotic use, it's important to separate the myths from the facts. This page tells you more about the infections antibiotics treat, when to use antibiotics and when not to.

Myth: You should take an antibiotic any time you don't feel well.

Fact: Patients sometimes want antibiotics to treat a common cold or the flu. Often these conditions are viral infections, not bacterial, and won't respond to antibiotics. Only your doctor can decide whether you need an antibiotic.¹

Myth: Antibiotics can treat the common cold.

Fact: Very often, the common cold is not a bacterial infection. Taking antibiotics for infections not caused by bacteria may do you more harm than good. It can increase your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.¹ Make sure you talk to your doctor about the correct way to take antibiotics.

Myth: If you start feeling better, it's okay to stop taking your antibiotic.

Fact: If you stop your treatment too soon, some bacteria may survive and be more difficult to kill. In the future, the bacteria that survive may make it harder for you to get better. Antibiotic resistance is a serious health problem.¹

When antibiotics don't work, illnesses can last longer, it may take more doctor visits and longer hospital stays in order to get better. You also may need more medicines. Certain antibiotics kill certain types of bacteria. Not all antibiotics kill all bacteria.¹ Your doctor knows which kind of medicine will work best for your condition. So make sure you take all the medicine your doctor prescribes, exactly the way he or she prescribes it.

Myth: It's okay to share antibiotics with others.

Fact: You should never take antibiotics prescribed for someone else. Someone else's antibiotic may not be right for your illness. Taking the wrong medicine can delay your treatment and allow bacteria to grow and become resistant to antibiotics.¹ If you think you need an antibiotic, be sure to talk to your doctor. Your doctor knows which kind of medicine is right for you.

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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.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work campaign press kit. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/community/files/complete_ABR_VPK.pdf. Accessed January 24, 2008.

The product information provided in this site is intended only for residents of the United States. The products discussed herein may have different product labeling in different countries.

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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