Penicillin is an antibiotic med, sourced from molds and taken through purification processes. There are many natural sources of penicillin. The initial form is known to be effective in treating streptococcus and staphylococcus infections. This drug is popular even today, and used for treating different forms of bacterial infections. But is azithromycin a penicillin? It is worth your while to have more inputs.
Penicillin is one of the first cohort of antibacterial meds. Fleming, Alexander witnessed strains of staphylococcus stop growing on molds of penicillin. The scientist discovered it to have properties to kill strands of bacteria that are harmful to humans. Natural form of penicillin – labelled as Penicillin V and Penicillin G – are in active use.
This drug is unstable in acids; it gets broken down in the acidic ambience of the tummy. This is one of the reasons it is administered as an injection. However, penicillin V is more stable and hence can be taken through the oral route. Penicillin-based antibiotics work by blocking chemicals needed for bacterial reproduction and growth.
As an outcome, penicillin as well as its derivatives largely work on bacteria that produce cellular membrane, and those multiplying at a faster rate. However, these meds do not cause harmful effects on cells of humans. This is mainly because humans’ cells do not have cellular walls, similar to bacteria.
In this light, what is azithromycin?
Azithromycin is an antibiotic drug administered for conditions such as pneumonia, inner-ear conditions, infections in gastric tract. This med is available as an intravenous offering, as an eyedrop and also as tablets.
Azithromycin
This drug was put to medical use in late-1980s; currently it is sold as a generic drug. As per recent estimates, it ranks among top-100 meds widely-taken in US. Number of prescriptions each year is ~10 million. Caregivers use azithromycin for a wide range of conditions such as tonsilitis and / or pharyngitis, sinusitis, otitis media and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases like pneumonia.
Azithromycin can be used for fighting bacterial infections in pregnant woman as well. But it is not clear if it is safe on women whose is nursing an infant, or breastfeeding a baby. It is also prescribed for treating episodes of asthma. This med is known to have anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial capabilities.
Azithromycin blocks bacterial growth by disrupting how microbes process proteins. It also a relatively high-level of stability to sustain in acidic environment. This is a reason why its tablet-form is widely prescribed. Another advantage is: it can be absorbed without difficulties in lesser time i.e., 2.5 – 3 hours by when this med reaches its maximum concentration in adult and in children.
Is azithromycin a penicillin?
Azithromycin forms a part of a genre called macrolide antibiotics. It is hence not a penicillin. It is available in a longer-acting / extended-release version. It can be taken either without or with a meal. But, for the extended-release liquid-version, you are advised to take it at least 60-minutes prior to a meal.
Azithromycin is also taken for treating gastric infections such as travellers’ diarrhea and conditions triggered by H. pylori. Some caregivers use it to treat a pertussis and Legionnaires’ syndrome. This drug is known to have a few other uses; in order to know more about the range of conditions it treats, you are advised to speak with your treating physician.
Azithromycin may cause a few discomforts such as pain in your tummy, spells of diarrhea, severe headache and vomiting with nausea. In some rare instances, a few severe conditions such as an erratic pulse rate, yellowing of eyes, formation of hives or blisters on skin, internal bruising / bleeding or systems of flu are observed.
If any of these undesired outcomes persist for long, reach out to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US; in Canada, you can call Health Canada or a local poison management cell.
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.
Education: Bachelor’s in Psychology from Stanford University; Master’s in Health Communication from Boston University. Experience: Over 12 years of experience as a health writer and content strategist, working with healthcare organizations to create patient-centric content.
