How Effective Is Azithromycin for Diarrhea?

The effectiveness of azithromycin for diarrhea is largely dependent upon the causes underlying the loose stool. Like most antibiotics, azithromycin is only deemed effective for specific bacterial strains, which is why using azithromycin for diarrhea is situation specific. Diarrhea can also be caused by a plethora of conditions in addition to bacterial infection, meaning that there are times when no antibiotic would be effective.

Azithromycin, commonly marketed at Zithromax or referred to as a Z-Pack, is one of the most widely known and prescribed antibiotics in Western medicine. This is mostly due to the broad spectrum of bacteria that are effected by its action. The mechanism by which azithromycin acts against infection is by interfering with bacterial reproduction, specifically in a manner that stops protein synthesis occurring through the prevention of mRNA translation. Without protein synthesis, genetic material cannot successfully transfer from one organism to the next, causing a cessation of reproduction and a decrease in infection.

Diarrhea is the common term for frequent bowel movements generally characterized by loose stool. The technical definition of diarrhea is having three or more of these movements in a 24-hour cycle; however, the term is loosely defined. Diarrhea can be due to a variety of causes, the most common culprit being an irritation of the digestive system. This irritation may be allergic, viral, or bacterial in nature or may also be brought about by an adverse reaction to a particular type of food.

There are a number of ways to treat diarrhea. If this condition is severe enough and does not subside within a few days of its onset, a medical professional should be consulted. The medical assessment should act to identify the cause of the bowel discomfort, upon which a doctor will plan a course of treatment. If a bacteria susceptible to Zithromax is thought to be responsible, then azithromycin for diarrhea is a possible prescription.

There will likely be a number of treatments prescribed in coalition to treat a bout of diarrhea. An example of such a multifaceted treatment plan is to drink plenty of fluids, get bed rest, restrict the diet, and take a course of azithromycin for diarrhea. This is, of course, one example of several options, which is why it is important to seek a professional consult before treating this uncomfortable condition. Due to the danger of taking any prescribed medication, it is also important to weigh the possible adverse effects before taking antibiotics.