Can you take Azithromycin with dairy products? (3 research studies explained)

This article will discuss the query, “Can you take Azithromycin with dairy products?” We will also discuss whether Azithromycin truly interacts with dairy products, what practical recommendations you should follow while taking Azithromycin, and what other drugs you should avoid using with dairy products.

Can you take Azithromycin with dairy products?

Yes, you can take Azithromycin with dairy products. Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yoghurt do not affect the absorption of Azithromycin. Therefore, it is safe to use Azithromycin with them.

Using dairy products with antibiotics is often discouraged, as these products contain calcium and other ions that alter the absorption of antibiotics, thus reducing their efficacy.

However, you can use Azithromycin with dairy products, as they do not impact the absorption of Azithromycin. Still, it is best to take Azithromycin on an empty stomach, as food decreases the absorption of Azithromycin, thus decreasing its bioavailability by 43% (1).

Scientific Evidence: Does Azithromycin truly interact with dairy products?

A common myth suggests that taking Azithromycin with dairy products will affect its absorption and efficacy. However, according to most healthcare professionals, using Azithromycin with milk and other dairy products is safe. This is because most of the gastric adverse effects of Azithromycin, such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, are relieved with milk.

Moreover, this practice can also improve patient compliance, as for most people, adhering to azithromycin therapy is difficult because of these side effects (3).

Research conducted to identify the effect of milk on the absorption of macrolides concludes that when Azithromycin is co-administered with dairy products like milk, it does not lose its efficacy, indicating that milk does not impact the serum level of Azithromycin.

However, the serum levels of other macrolides, such as roxithromycin and erythromycin, are affected when administered with milk. So, it is suggested not to use milk or other dairy products with these macrolides (3).

Tips for taking Azithromycin with dairy products

It would be best if you considered the following tips while taking Azithromycin with dairy products:

• It is preferred to take antibiotics with water, not juice, milk, or alcohol because these might influence drug absorption and efficacy (2).
• Azithromycin is more effective when taken on an empty stomach. Therefore, taking milk or dairy products at least two hours after taking Azithromycin is recommended (1).

Practical Recommendations for Taking Azithromycin

Azithromycin (a macrolide antibiotic) treats many respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary infections (4). According to the NHS guidelines, you should consider the following things while taking Azithromycin:

• Azithromycin is usually taken once daily for 3-5 days.
• It is recommended to take your azithromycin dose at the same time every day.
• Try to take your azithromycin dose with a glass of water.
• Azithromycin capsules should always be taken 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours after eating. You can take azithromycin tablets and liquids with or without food.
• Avoid taking antacids with your azithromycin dose, as antacids interact with Azithromycin by altering its absorption.
• Use a measuring spoon or syringe to administer the exact quantity of azithromycin liquid.
• In case of a missed dose, please take it as soon as you remember it. However, if it’s near your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one on time. Avoid taking two doses at the same time.

Exploring other drugs that you should avoid with dairy products

There are certain medicines that you should avoid with dairy products. Co-administration of such drugs with dairy products, such as milk, cheese, etc., will either affect their absorption or increase/decrease their excretion (5).

Here is the list of the drugs that you should avoid taking with dairy products (5):

• Tetracycline antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline) (5).
• Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin) (5).
• Mercaptopurine (5).
• Omeprazole (5).
• Ranitidine (5).

Conclusion

This article discussed the query, “Can you take Azithromycin with dairy products?” We have also discussed, through scientific evidence, whether Azithromycin truly interacts with dairy products, what practical recommendations you should follow while taking Azithromycin, and what other drugs you should avoid using with dairy products.

References