FAQs:
Roxithromycin is an antibiotic that acts on a broad spectrum of bacteria that cause infections in the throat, airways, tonsils, lungs, skin, and urinary tract, including kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra.
It treats the infection by interfering with its growth pattern as it inhibits its protein synthesis.
It belongs to the macrolide class of antibiotics, including erythromycin, azithromycin and clarithromycin.
What are the uses of Roxithromycin?
Roxithromycin has an extended antibacterial action which makes it suitable to be prescribed in conditions such as
– Pharyngitis – sore throat and discomfort while swallowing food.
– Tonsillitis – an infection of your tonsils (two masses of tissue at the back of your throat).
– Sinusitis – the cavities around the nasal passages become inflamed.
– Bronchitis – infection of the bronchi causing coughing.
– Pneumonia – infection that inflames air sacs in the lungs, which may get fluid-filled.
– Skin and soft tissue infections – Inflammation of the skin and underlying soft tissue, with other cardinal signs such as fever, progressive lesions, abscess and bullae.
– Urinary tract infections – occur in the bladder or urethra, serious infections involve the kidney with pelvic pain, increased urination, pain with urination and blood in the urine.
– Impetigo – sores on the skin.
Non-gonococcal urethritis – irritation of the urethra, a white or cloudy discharge from the tip of your penis, a burning or painful sensation while urinating, may be asymptomatic.
What are the side effects of Roxithromycin?
The common side effects don’t need any medical vigilance as they will fade away as your body gets adapted to the medication.
Some common and major side effects of Roxithromycin you might face are:
– Nausea
– Vomiting
– Abdominal pain
– Diarrhoea
– Allergy
– Stomach ache
– Vaginal thrush
– Skin rash
– Pins and needles
– Flatulence
– Headache
– Decrease in appetite
– Ringing in the ears
However, if you face any kind of serious or rare side effects, then immediately seek medical attention.
1. Is Roxithromycin a penicillin?
Roxithromycin and penicillin are antibiotics used to treat serious infections like community-acquired pneumonia, non-specific arthritis, H. pylori infection, etc. The difference is that Penicillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic while Roxithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. Since the antimicrobial spectrum of macrolides is slightly wider than that of penicillin, antibiotics such as Roxithromycin have proven to be helpful alternatives to penicillin.
2. How long does Roxithromycin stay in your system?
Roxithromycin is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract producing peak levels within 2 hours. The drug has an elimination half-life of about 11 hours, which means it can stay in our system for 60 hours or 2-3 days. You can take the medication as One tablet of 300 mg – once a day or, One tablet of 150 mg – twice a day or, Two tablets of 150 mg can be taken once a day.
3. Can Roxithromycin treat a sore throat?
Yes. The clinical efficacy of Roxithromycin has been confirmed in the treatment of respiratory tract infections, including community-acquired and atypical pneumonia, tonsillitis and (acute pharyngitis) sore throat infection.
4. Can we take Roxithromycin with isotretinoin?
Yes. Roxithromycin can be taken in low doses with isotretinoin for the treatment of some skin infections.
5. Can we take Roxithromycin with Accutane?
Yes, we can take Accutane with Roxithromycin. Accutane is the brand name for isotretinoin. Roxithromycin in low doses with isotretinoin is used for the treatment of some skin infections.
6. Can we take Roxithromycin with paracetamol?
Yes, it is safe to take paracetamol with Roxithromycin. Paracetamol is a safe painkiller in most cases and hardly causes adverse effects. Hence, it can be used with a wide range of antibiotics.
7. Which is better: azithromycin or Roxithromycin?
For the treatment of atypical pneumonia, azithromycin appears to be as effective as Roxithromycin. Under its more effective administration, the 3-day azithromycin regimen may offer a supplementary benefit over the 10-day Roxithromycin regimen.
8. Is Roxithromycin the same as amoxicillin?
Amoxicillin is also an antibiotic used to treat several bacterial infections. Both drugs are equally effective in the treatment of respiratory tract infections, but Roxithromycin is better tolerated.
9. What class of antibiotic is Roxithromycin?
Roxithromycin is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic. Macrolides belong to the polyketide class of natural products. Some macrolides have antibiotic activity and are used as pharmaceutical drugs. Macrolide antibiotics are bacteriostatic. This means that they suppress bacterial growth rather than killing them completely.
10. When is the best time to take Roxithromycin?
Roxithromycin should be taken on an empty stomach 15 minutes before or 3 hours after eating, every day at the same time as the prescribed schedule. Take it with food if it makes you feel unstable.
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Side Effects:
– Vomiting
– Abdominal pain
– Diarrhoea
– Allergy
– Stomach ache
– Vaginal thrush
– Skin rash
– Pins and needles
– Flatulence
– Headache
– Decrease in appetite
– Ringing in the ears
References:
More about Roxithromycin:
Non-gonococcal urethritis – irritation of the urethra, a white or cloudy discharge from the tip of your penis, a burning or painful sensation while urinating, may be asymptomatic.
The common side effects don’t need any medical vigilance as they will fade away as your body gets adapted to the medication.