Details

Roxithromycin belongs to a group of medicines called macrolide antibiotics. It is used for the treatment of respiratory infections from both upper and lower airways, such as otitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis and pneumonia skin and soft tissue infections and urinary tract infections. Before starting roxithromycin treatment, tell your doctor if you have severe liver disease, diarrhoea, suffer a heart disease or are receiving medicines for a cardiac disorder, or if you have myasthenia gravis.

Typical Uses

Roxithromycin is used to treat ear, nose and throat infections, pneumonia (lung infection), skin infections and infections of the genitalia.

Side Effects

Common roxithromycin side effects may include headache and tiredness, thrush, dizziness, allergic reaction e.g. itching, altered taste, vaginal thrush, asthma, nausea and vomiting, rash and itching of skin, ringing in ears, stomach pain, loss of appetite, vaginal discharge or itching, severe and persistent diarrhoea or flatulence.

Drug Interactions

Roxithromycin is known to interact with other drugs such as astemizole, cimetidine, digoxin and terfenadine.

Mechanism of action

Roxithromycin prevents bacteria from growing, by interfering with their protein synthesis. Roxithromycin binds to the subunit 50S of the bacterial ribosome, and thus inhibits the translocation of peptides. Roxithromycin has similar antimicrobial spectrum as erythromycin, but is more effective against certain gram-negative bacteria, particularly Legionella pneumophila.

Pregnancy Category : B