Can I get azithromycin over the counter?

Antibiotic drugs are known for their ability to stop bacteria from spreading. These meds are effective against infections caused by unchecked microbial growth. These meds however cannot provide remedy for conditions caused by virus or fungi. But, as symptoms of viral and bacterial infections are quite similar, it requires expert advice to differentiate between them. Azithromycin is a widely used antibiotic medication. In this light, can I get azithromycin over the counter? It becomes important to know more on this.

Antibiotic medications are used to manage and treat different types of infections. These drugs are known for managing infections of skin, eye-related conditions, gastric tract infections, a few sexually transmitted infections, etc. But people who took these drugs without being infested by a microbe may make such infectants to turn more resistant to antibiotics. When such resistance develops, bacterial strands successfully evade key ingredients of antibiotics.

You need to know that antibiotics are a very popular genre of drugs. As high as 210 million prescriptions are written in the US each year for these drugs. Most antibiotics are bought with a prescription from a caregiver. However, a few topical meds of this genre are available as meds.

What is azithromycin?

This drug is one of the popularly known antibacterial meds. It is widely taken to stop bacterial growth and to stop the spread of infections. Key constituents of azithromycin help inhibit infections from progressing; this med treats reddening inflammation of ear, eye infections, select kinds of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), etc. Azithromycin must not be taken if there is no infection. Also, this med is not effective against fungal as well as viral infections.

Azithromycin can trigger a few adverse outcomes like weakness, yellowish skin and/or decrease in appetite as well as a few other typical signs of jaundice. If you encounter any of these adverse effects, talk to your caregiver/pharmacist on an urgent mode.

Can I get azithromycin over the counter?

Azithromycin can be purchased only with a prescription written by a qualified clinical professional. It is a safe practice to administer this med strictly as per advice of the caregiving team. In other words, this med is not sold through over the counter (OTC) route. If you aim to save a few dollars, you can also buy the generic version of this antibiotic med – of course, with a prescription from a caregiver.

It is a vital thing to remember that meds of the generic kind cost lesser than branded versions. While buying azithromycin with a prescription, you can look for discount schemes drugstores run to enable greater savings. You can also further your savings by purchasing this drug in bulk supply. It is also possible to save more by joining price-off programs run by pharmacies.

All these aforesaid practices can help maximise your savings when procuring azithromycin. Thus, it is not possible to purchase azithromycin over the counter without a suitable prescription. You will need a qualified caregiver’s prescription if you are buying this med from drugstores.

Needful precautions while using azithromycin

Users who have witnessed adverse outcomes on taking drugs like telithromycin, erythromycin or clarithromycin need to inform their physician of all such prior conditions. This drug is not safe for people who are living with liver conditions.

Azithromycin – in some rare cases – may cause tightness of chest, episodes of headache, watery stool, dyspepsia, etc. In such cases, inform your doctor without much time delay. If effects such as tiredness, darkened discharge of urine, yellowing of eyes, etc. persist for more than a day, dial 911 (in the US). Those living in Canada must seek help from Health Canada soon.

Disclaimer

Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.