Taking Azithromycin With Other Medicines And Herbal Supplements

Cautions with other medicines

Some medicines and azithromycin can affect each other.

Tell your doctor before you start azithromycin if you're taking any other medicines, including:

antacids for indigestion
ergotamine or dihydroergotamine - for migraine
medicines used to treat or prevent blood clots, such as warfarin, dabigatran, or edoxaban
hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine - medicines for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions
ciclosporin or tacrolimus - medicines to stop your immune system overreacting
colchicine, a medicine used for gout and some other inflammatory conditions
digoxin for some heart problems
rifabutin, an antibiotic
a statin medicine to lower your cholesterol, such as simvastatin or atorvastatin

Azithromycin can affect your heartbeat, so it's best not to take it with other medicines that have the same side effect.

Tell your doctor if you're taking medicines that can affect your heartbeat, including:

any medicines for an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), such as amiodarone or sotalol
antidepressants such as citalopram
antipsychotics used to treat mental health conditions
some anti-sickness medicines, such as domperidone
some antibiotics, such as moxifloxacin

These are not all the medicines that may cause problems if you take them with azithromycin. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. Talk to a pharmacist or your doctor if you're worried.

Mixing azithromycin with herbal remedies and supplements

There's not enough information to say that complementary medicines and herbal remedies are safe to take with azithromycin. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

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