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Download medical form and take it with you to the appointment
If the pharmacist considers this treatment suitable for you , you will have the treatment the same day
The usual dose of Azithromycin to treat travellers’ diarrhoea is 500 mg per day.Take one 500mg tablet every day after symptoms start for 3 days.
Azithromycin is a prescription only medication, so a healthcare professional needs to assess whether you can use it. It may not suitable for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or for people taking medications that could interact with antibiotics.
Take Azithromycin exactly as you’ve been instructed. Even if you have taken tablets with you, you should also take precautions to avoid food and waterborne diseases.
As most medications, Azithromycin can cause side effects in some patients. Possible side effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea.
Travellers’ diarrhoea is a common complaint, which can be caused by bacteria, viruses and protozoa. Many travellers experience diarrhoea at some point during their travels when visiting high risk countries in South America, Africa, or Asia. Most diagnosed cases of travellers’ diarrhoea are caused by bacteria, and they are transmitted via contaminated food or drink.
Symptoms usually clear up without treatment. However, if you experience severe symptoms while travelling, or your symptoms don’t improve within three days, you need to see a doctor.
Travellers who are planning to visit high risk regions for travellers’ diarrhoea, and who will be unable to access medical help during their trip, may be advised to take medication with them in order to be able to treat the condition if they catch it.
Most patients with travellers’ diarrhoea find that they get better without treatment. During your travel health consultation, the nurse or pharmacist will assess whether it’s advisable to take treatment for travellers’ diarrhoea with you. This will depend on your medical history, as well as the countries you are travelling to and what you have planned during your trip.
While the majority of cases of travellers’ diarrhoea are caused by bacteria, it is important to note that bacteria is not the only cause of travellers’ diarrhoea, and these antibiotics will be ineffective against diarrhoea caused by viral infections or protozoa. There is no treatment that can guarantee successful treatment of travellers’ diarrhoea from every possible cause.
It is important that you drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Rehydration salts can be helpful to ensure you remain hydrated and maintain the correct balance of sugars and salts despite your symptoms.
You can try using over the counter diarrhoea remedies such as loperamide or Bismuth subsalicylate to reduce your symptoms where toilet facilities may be an issue.
If you experience traveller’s diarrhoea lasting beyond 3 days and you haven’t been prescribed an antibiotic treatment, or you have very severe symptoms, you should see a doctor without delay. If your symptoms are mild, they may resolve without treatment.