AboutJoe Haynes, R.Ph., MBA Expertise I can answer pharmacy/pharmacology questions as they relate to both pediatric and adult therapies. Please note that since I practice in Florida that I may not be able to answer specific questions regarding pharmacy practice in your state.
As a disclaimer, I have no financial interest in recommending or failing to recommend any drug product. My goal is to give you the best answer to your questions regardless of product.
Experience I have 24 years experience in pharmacy practice including pediatric and adult hospital, home-infusion, and long-term care (nursing home/ALF). I enjoy assisting with pediatric dosing and medication questions since children respond differently and are dosed differently than adults. I can help you determine if the dose you want to administer to your child is appropriate. I am currently director of pharmacy for a small community hospital in St. Petersburg, FL.
Organizations Florida Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists
American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists
Florida Pharmacy Association
Education/Credentials BS in Microbiology from Auburn University (1989)
BS in Pharmacy from Northeastern University (1994)
MBA (generalist) from St. Leo University (2005)
Question QUESTION: I was given azithromycin 250m tablets(5 daily dose) on 02/23/2009 for a possible bacterial infection. How long does this medication stay in my system?
ANSWER: Sherry-
The half life (the time it takes for 1/2 of the drug in your blood to me removed) is 24 hours. It takes, on average, 5 half lives for a drug to clear; therefore, it would take about 120 hours (roughly another 5 days) before the drug is completely gone.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I started another azithromycin 500mg(3 daily dose)on 03/06/2009. Do I have to worry about an overdose because I started this pack 12 days later?(02/23/2009-03-06-2009)or will I experience more of the common side effects?
Answer Hi Sherry-
No not a problem. With antibiotics the thing to watch out for is diarrhea because the bacteria in the intestine is susceptible to azithromycin.
Whatever side effects you may have noticed the first time will be the same now but not necessarily any worse.
