Dosing
CrCl > 80: 800 mg po qd.
Important side effects
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, diplopia, difficulty focusing, severe visual disturbances. INCREASED INCIDENCE OF HEPATIC TOXICITY AND DEATH LIMITS ITS USE TO PNEUMONIA AND EVEN THEN WHY NOT USE SOMETHING SAFER? And no, my caps lock key was not inadvertantly on.
Important drug interactions
Antipsychotics, arsenic trioxide, astemizole, atorvastatin, bepridil, carbamazepine, chloral hydrate, chloroquine, cisapride, clarithromycin, class i antiarrhythmic agents, class ia antiarrhythmic agents, class III antiarrhythmic agents, cyclosporine, digoxin, dihydroergotamine, dolasetron, droperidol, enflurane, ergoloid mesylates, ergotamine, erlotinib, erythromycin, fluconazole, fluoxetine, foscarnet, fosphenytoin, halofantrine, halothane, hexobarbital, isoflurane, isradipine, levomethadyl, lidoflazine, lovastatin, mefloquine, mesoridazine, methylergonovine, metoprolol, octreotide, ondansetron, pentamidine, phenobarbital, phenothiazines, phenytoin, pimozide, probucol, rifampin, simvastatin, sirolimus, spiramycin, sulfamethoxazole, tacrolimus, terfenadine, theophylline, thioridazine, tricyclic antidepressants, trimethoprim, vasopressin, venlafaxine, verapamil, warfarin.
Rants and Screeds
Warning. Warning. Fatal hepatic necrosis reported (PubMed).
Pearls
Treatment of choice see side effects above.
Use for
Approved in package insert for acute exacerbation of chronic Bronchitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis. Acute bacterial Sinusitis from Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus.
Mild to moderate community acquired pneumonia from Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, or Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Don't use for
Class
Macrolide.