LIFE DRUG INDEX

Zmax is an antibiotic, a medicine that kills bacteria. Most antibiotics need to be taken for 7 to 10 days. But Zmax is taken just once—it's a full course of therapy in a single dose.

What is Zmax?
Zmax is an antibiotic, a medicine that kills bacteria. Zmax is used for the treatment of certain types of bacterial respiratory infections, including sinusitis and pneumonia.

What makes Zmax different?
Most antibiotics need to be taken for 7 to 10 days. But Zmax is taken just once—it's a full course of therapy in a single dose. So there's no worry about forgetting to take your medicine or missing a dose.

Who can Zmax help?
Zmax is now available in both adult and pediatric prescriptions that can help fight the types of bacteria that are making you or your child sick

The Zmax advantage

• Zmax is a single dose of therapy, instead of 7 to 10 days of therapy.
• Because it's a single dose, you never need to worry about forgetting your medicine or missing a dose.
• A single dose of Zmax keeps working for 10 days.
• Zmax is a pleasant-tasting, easy-to-drink liquid.

Remember that like any antibiotic, Zmax takes time to work. You should start feeling better after a few days. If your symptoms do not start to go away, talk to your doctor

Zmax is for the treatment of acute bacterial sinusitis and community-acquired pneumonia in adults and for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in children ages 6 months and older.

What are sinusitis and pneumonia?

Sinusitis (Acute Bacterial Sinusitis)
Sinuses are cavities or open spaces behind the eyes and nose. Sometimes sinuses can get infected. If so, the infection could be bacterial. Common symptoms of sinusitis include:

• Stuffed-up nose.
• Fever.
• Discolored mucus (yellow, green, rust-colored, bloody).

• High fever.
• Chills.
• Fast breathing and rapid heart rate.
• Coughing that brings up mucus.

Getting better with Zmax: 1 dose keeps working for days
Day 1: Take Zmax in 1 dose. Zmax starts working to clear up your infection.
Days 2-10: As with any antibiotic, you probably won't feel better right away. Zmax keeps working for 10 days to help you feel better and better every day, and cure your infection for good.

Common Side Effects
Like all medicines, Zmax may cause some side effects. Side effects in Zmax clinical studies were generally mild to moderate. The most common side effects include:

• Diarrhea/loose stools.
• Nausea.
• Stomach pain.

Less Common Side Effects
Other, less common, side effects reported with Zmax are:

• Headache.
• Vomiting.

IMPORTANT: Allergic Reactions May Occur
Zmax is not for patients who have allergies to some antibiotics.
Get emergency help right away if you:

• Have hives, trouble swallowing, or your face or throat swells after taking Zmax.
• Have wheezing or trouble breathing after taking Zmax.

IMPORTANT: Watch for Severe Diarrhea
A small amount of diarrhea may be common with most antibiotics. But diarrhea that does not go away can be serious. Call your doctor right away if you have diarrhea that does not go away, is severe, watery, or has blood in it.

Helpful Tips,
If you don't feel well, it's important that you and your doctor work together to find the best treatment for you. Zmax is one of many antibiotic treatment options that you and your doctor can consider. These tips can help you feel better:

• Drink plenty of liquids (though not cola or coffee).
• Get plenty of rest.
• Use a humidifier—a machine that puts water into the air. It helps you breathe better.
• Do not smoke.
• Do not drink alcohol.
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water (to avoid spreading bacteria).
• Do not touch your nose, eyes, or mouth. These are some ways bacteria enter the body.

How Zmax can help children?
Children is likely to have the most bacteria in his or her body early in the infection. That is when you need your medicine to be the strongest.

Zmax fights the types of bacteria that are making children sick. Give Zmax to children as a single, one-time dose that keeps working to fight the bacteria in children’s body for up to 10 days.

Zmax is indicated in children ages 6 months of age or older for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia.

What is community-acquired pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a bacterial infection in the lungs. The type of pneumonia you get outside the hospital is called community-acquired pneumonia. Common symptoms of this form of pneumonia include:

• High fever.
• Chills.
• Fast breathing and rapid heart rate.
• Coughing that brings up mucus.

How does children takes Zmax?
Zmax is a single-dose, liquid medicine that comes in a great-tasting cherry-banana flavor for children.
Follow these steps for dosing:

• Shake it well.
• Give your child the amount of Zmax prescribed by the doctor—try giving Zmax in small sips using a dosing cup or spoon.
• Have your child take it on an empty stomach (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal). This helps minimize side effects.
• Give your child the medicine within 12 hours after you get it from the pharmacy.
• Do not freeze or refrigerate Zmax.

Side effects

The most common side effects in children taking Zmax are vomiting, diarrhea/loose stools, and stomach pain. Others include rash, loss of appetite, fever, and nausea. For children who took Zmax and got diarrhea, most symptoms went away by the second day.

Do not give Zmax to children with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to azithromycin, erythromycin, or any other antibiotic.

Call your doctor right away if your child has hives, trouble swallowing, swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing, such as wheezing, after taking Zmax, or if youir child vomits within one hour of taking Zmax.

References

• Liu P, Allaudeen H, Chandra R, et al. Comparative pharmacokinetics of azithromycin in serum and white blood cells of healthy subjects receiving a single-dose extended-release regimen versus a 3-day immediate-release regimen.Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2008;51:103-109.
• Zmax® (azithromycin extended release) for oral suspension Prescribing Information. Pfizer Inc, New York, NY. October 2008.
• Data on file. Pfizer Inc, New York, NY.
• D'Ignazio J, Camere MA, Lewis DE, Jorgensen D, Breen JD. Novel, single-dose microsphere formulation of azithromycin versus 7-day levofloxacin therapy for treatment of mild to moderate community-acquired pneumonia in adults. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2005;49(10):4035-4041.
• Drehobl MA, De Salvo MC, Lewis DE, Breen JD. Single-dose azithromycin microspheres vs clarithromycin extended release for the treatment of mild-to-moderate community-acquired pneumonia in adults. Chest. 2005;128:2230-2237.