Azithromycin is an antibiotic. Its active ingredient is azithromycin dihydrate [1].
What other inactive ingredients are in azithromycin?
Inactive ingredients vary depending on the specific formulation (e.g., tablet, oral suspension, injection) and the manufacturer. Common inactive ingredients found in azithromycin tablets can include:
* Dibasic calcium phosphate [1]
* Pregelatinized starch [1]
* Sodium starch glycolate [1]
* Magnesium stearate [1]
* Hypromellose [1]
* Titanium dioxide [1]
* Polysorbate 80 [1]
* Triacetin [1]
For oral suspension, common inactive ingredients may include:
* Sucrose [1]
* Xanthan gum [1]
* Hypromellose [1]
* Anhydrous citric acid [1]
* Sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous [1]
* Magnesium aluminum silicate [1]
* Saccharin sodium [1]
* Flavoring agents (e.g., artificial strawberry) [1]
The injectable form may contain different excipients. Always refer to the specific product's labeling or prescribing information for a complete list of ingredients.
Why are there inactive ingredients in my medication?
Inactive ingredients, also known as excipients, serve several important functions in pharmaceutical formulations. They can help with tablet binding, disintegration, dissolution, stability, taste masking, and ease of administration [2]. For azithromycin oral suspension, excipients are crucial for creating a stable liquid form that can be accurately dosed, particularly for pediatric patients [1].
How does azithromycin work to fight infections?
Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. It works by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis, which is essential for bacterial growth and replication [3]. It binds to the 50S ribosomal subunit of susceptible bacteria, preventing the translocation step of peptide chain elongation [4]. This effectively stops the bacteria from producing the proteins they need to survive, leading to their death or preventing their proliferation [3][4].