Serious side effects - like allergic reactions, liver problems, dizziness, and chest pain - are rare.Ī note about cardiovascular risk: The FDA issued a warning in 2013 that azithromycin use may be associated with an increased risk for ventricular arrhythmia, a type of irregular heartbeat, compared to taking nothing. What are the side effects of a Z-Pak?Ĭommon side effects of azithromycin are usually gastrointestinal, like: With viral infections, you’ll have to let the illness run its course. The only way to really tell if you have a viral or bacterial sinus infection is to see a provider and possibly get some tests run. If you still don’t feel better, your healthcare provider may suggest nasal or lung inhalers for other symptoms. Pain medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to help with fever, muscle aches, and throat painĭecongestants like loratadine/pseudoephedrine (Claritin-D) or pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) to relieve sinus congestion and runny nose Zinc lozenges, which can shorten and lessen the severity of a cold if you take them in the first 24 hours of getting symptoms Inhaling steam from a vaporizer or shower to help you breathe easier Getting plenty of rest and drinking lots of fluids Treatment is aimed at managing symptoms and includes: In fact, viral sinus infections have no cure. And antibiotics like the Z-Pak are not effective against viral infections. Treating a sinus infection boils down to whether it’s viral or bacterial. Most people improve within a week, but symptoms can last up to 2 weeks. You’re also likely to feel more tired and achy and maybe even experience a low-grade fever. After all, your body is waging war against an infection. If you have a sinus infection, expect to feel lousy for several days. Indeed, azithromycin is no longer recommended for bacterial sinus infections due to the risk of resistance. Overprescribing antibiotics increases the chance that bacteria will become resistant to them and disrupt the gut bacterial flora for months. In fact, studies have found that about a third of antibiotic prescriptions for sinus infections, sore throats, and ear infections aren’t even necessary. But it turns out that only a minority of these prescriptions are appropriate because the majority of sinus infections are viral and not bacterial. Spoiler alert: it’s not! Because it’s so easy to use, the Z-Pak used to be a go-to prescription for sinus infections. When is a Z-Pak good for a sinus infection? It’s used to treat certain bacterial infections, including some sinus infections and upper respiratory tract infections that lead to: The Z-Pak is a 5-day course of azithromycin (Zithromax), an antibiotic.
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