To reduce the development of drug-resistant and maintain the effectiveness of ZITHROMAX® (azithromycin) and other
drugs, ZITHROMAX (azithromycin) should be used only to treat or prevent
infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by
bacteria.
ZITHROMAX (azithromycin for injection) contains the active ingredient azithromycin, an azalide, a subclass of antibiotics, for injection. Azithromycin has the chemical name (2R,3S,4R,5R,8R,10R,11R,12S,13S,14R)-13-[(2,6-dideoxy-3-C-methyl-3-O -methyl-a-L-ribo-hexopyranosyl)oxy]-2-ethyl-3,4,10-trihydroxy-3,5,6,8,10,12,14- hepta-methyl-11-[[3,4,6-trideoxy-3-(dimethylamino) -b-D-xylo-hexopyranosyl]oxy]-1- oxa- 6-azacyclopentadecan-15-one. Azithromycin is derived from ; however, it differs chemically from erythromycin in that a methyl-substituted is incorporated into the lactone ring. Its molecular formula is C38H72N2O12, and its molecular weight is 749.00.
Azithromycin has the following structural formula:
Azithromycin, as the dihydrate, is a white crystalline powder with a molecular formula of
C38H72N2O12· 2H2O and a molecular weight of 785.0.
ZITHROMAX
(azithromycin for injection) consists of azithromycin dihydrate and the
following inactive ingredients: citric acid and
hydroxide. ZITHROMAX (azithromycin for injection) is supplied in
lyophilized form in a 10-mL vial equivalent to 500 mg of azithromycin
for intravenous administration. Reconstitution, according to label
directions, results in approximately 5 mL of ZITHROMAX for intravenous
injection with each mL containing azithromycin dihydrate equivalent to
100 mg of azithromycin.