Zmax® (azithromycin extended release) for oral suspension is an antibiotic, a medicine that kills bacteria. Zmax is used for the treatment of bacterial respiratory infections, including sinusitis and pneumonia. [1]
Sinusitis (acute bacterial sinusitis, or ABS)
Sinuses are cavities or open spaces behind the eyes and nose. Sometimes sinuses can get infected. If so, the infection could be bacterial. Common symptoms of sinusitis include:
- Stuffed-up nose
- Fever
- Discolored mucus (yellow, green, rust-colored, bloody) [2]
Pneumonia (community-acquired pneumonia, or CAP)
Pneumonia is a bacterial infection in the lungs. The type of pneumonia you get outside the hospital is called community-acquired pneumonia. [3] Common symptoms of this form of pneumonia include:
- High fever
- Chills
- Fast breathing and rapid heart rate
- Coughing that brings up mucus
Most antibiotics need to be taken for 7 to 10 days. But Zmax is taken just once—it’s a full course of therapy in a single dose. So there’s no worry about forgetting to take your medicine or missing a dose.
Day 1: Take Zmax in 1 dose. Zmax starts working to clear up your infection.
Days 2-10: As with any antibiotic, you probably won’t feel better right away. Zmax keeps working for 10 days to help you feel better and better every day, and cure your infection for good.
*Zmax is indicated for ABS due to Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, or Streptococcus pneumoniae in patients appropriate for oral therapy. [1]
†Zmax is also indicated for CAP due to Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, or Streptococcus pneumoniae in patients appropriate for oral therapy. [1]
References
1. Zmax® (azithromycin extended release) for oral suspension. Prescribing Information. Pfizer Inc, New York, NY. August 2007.
2. Piccirillo JF. Acute bacterial sinusitis. N Engl J Med. 2004;351:902-910.
3. Schmitt SK. Community-acquired pneumonia. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. 2004.
