Luisa asked
Hi there. Yesterday I went to urgent care and the doctor told prescribed me Claritin D 24 hour 5-day pack. But when I went to the pharmacy they gave me Azithromycin 250 mg tablets which tells me to drink 2 the first day and then 1 daily after that. I just wanted to make sure if they are the same thing or not. Thanks so much for your help!
Answer
Azithromycin is often known by its brand name “Z-Pak.” The typical directions for the Z-Pak is 500 mg on day 1 (2 tablets), followed by 250 mg (1 tablet) each day thereafter for a total of 5 days. This is not the same as Claritin-D. Claritin-D is a combination of loratadine and pseudoephedrine. It is possible the doctor misspoke or there is some sort of mix-up. Be sure to contact the office to clarify.
See more information about
both drugs below.
Information About Azithromycin
Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that can treat a variety of infections including bronchitis, sinus infections, ear infections, skin infections, sexually transmitted infections, and more. Azithromycin can cover several types of bacteria, but is not effective in treating the flu, the common cold, or other viral infections.
Like most antibiotics, azithromycin may cause diarrhea,
nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Macrolides are more likely to cause these
types of side effects, but azithromycin is one of the more tolerable drugs in
the class. Another concern with azithromycin is that it can cause QT
prolongation in patients with a past medical history related to the heart. Drug
interactions can also be a concern so always check each new medication prior to
starting a new therapy.
Information About Claritin-D
Claritin-D (loratadine + pseudoephedrine) is a commonly used allergy medication that is available behind the counter upon request from a Pharmacist. It is only available behind the counter because of the pseudoephedrine component. Pseudoephedrine is a nasal decongestant, but has abuse potential and has been used to illegally produce methamphetamine.
Claritin is a second-generation antihistamines that is less
likely to cause drowsiness than first-generation antihistamines such as
Benadryl (diphenhydramine). This is because first-generation antihistamines
cross the blood-brain barrier, whereas the second-generation antihistamines
usually do not.
Summary
Claritin-D (loratadine + pseudoephedrine) and azithromycin
(Z-Pak) are different medications, but may be used together in some cases. For
example, azithromycin could be used to treat the bacteria related to a sinus
infection. Claritin-D could be used for symptom relief including congestion,
sneezing, and runny nose.
