azithromycin
Summary
Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic used to treat a variety of bacterial infections.
Brand Names: Azasite, Zithromax, Zmax
Generic Name: Azithromycin
Background
Azithromycin is a broad-spectrum macrolide antibiotic with a long half-life and a high degree of tissue penetration 3. It was initially approved by the FDA in 1991 4.
It is primarily used for the treatment of respiratory, enteric and genitourinary infections and may be used instead of other macrolides for some sexually transmitted and enteric infections. It is structurally related to erythromycin 2.
Azithromycin [9-deoxo-9a-aza-9a-methyl-9a-homoerythromycin] is a part of the azalide subclass of macrolides, and contains a 15-membered ring, with a methyl-substituted nitrogen instead of a carbonyl group at the 9a position on the aglycone ring, which allows for the prevention of its metabolism. This differentiates azithromycin from other types of macrolides 4.
In March 2020, a small study was funded by the French government to investigate the treatment of COVID-19 with a combination of azithromycin and the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. The results were positive, all patients taking the combination were virologically cured within 6 days of treatment, however, larger studies are required.9
Weight Average: 748.9845
Monoisotopic: 748.508525778
Chemical Formula: C38H72N2O12