Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Azithromycin and Syphilis

I was prescribed Azithromycin to syphilis (early stage). I am allergic to penicilin. However, the doctor prescribed 5 doses (one a day) of 500mg (that is, during 5 days). But I have read that for Syphillis the recommendation is 1g dose (instead of 500mg).
1) Is the dose prescribed enough for Syphillis?
2) five days is enough?
Thanks
8 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Glad to help.  EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It would be quite difficult to handle this without your help. Thanks very much.
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
As I said above, particularly if you are in a setting where it may be difficult to be followed closely by experts, I would prefer the doxycycline listed above.  At the very least, if you are treated with azithromycin it is important that you be followed closely with blood tests for response to therapy.  EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for such a kindness. This will be my last post.
I dont think I will be able to go to the doctor in the next few weeks.
Do you think 2g of azithromycin (4 tablets of 500mg at once) could be enough also for syphillis?
Thanks again.
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The 2.0 gram dose of azithromycin will cure gonorrhea.

Given your limited access to medications, my advice would be for you to seek therapy with doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 14 days.  This is the recommended alternate therapy for treatment of early syphilis.  If you have gonorrhea you could take either the azithromycin as a single 2.0 gram dose or cefixime. The CDC has only recently (last week) recommended against cefixime for gonorrhea therapy, when possible, thus I would probably go with the 2.0 gram dose of azithromycin.  EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Unfortunatelly, I am not in San Francisco anymore. I was there for just a couple of months. At that time I went to City Clinic STD in San Francisco. It is really excellent.
Currently,I live in a region in South America where there is a strong lack of resources. I got syphillis here in South America about 4 weeks ago.
I got just one box of azithoromycin (5 x 500 mg tablets). I didnt take the medication yet. So, please, allow me just two more questions:

1)Do you think it would be a good idea to talk to my doctor about the possibility of taking 4 tablets (500mg) at one time, instead of 500mg for 5 days?

2)They suspect I can also have gonorrhea. Just in case, will the 2g azithoromycin dosage cure it as well? I know that cefixime is also recommended, but due to lack of resources I would like to know if 2g azithoromycin would be enough.

PS.: the lesion is in anus.

Thanks again for your help.
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to our Forum.  In reviewing your past threads I note that you recently had a sore on your abdomen- it this thought to be your syphilis lesion?

As chance would have it, I have lead most of the research that has been done on azithromycin for syphilis therapy.  A number of studies have shown that azithromycin in a dose or 2.0 grams (4 500 mg pills) taken at one time is just as effective as penicillin for syphilis treatment however, there are some cases of treatment failures with azithromycin for syphilis treatment and many of the treatment failures have come from San Francisco where you apparently live.  Thus this is a matter of concern.  

While many people will be cured by therapy of early syphilis with azithromycin, the dose you have received is not the recommended dose. It is also being given over too long a period of time. In addition, because of the potential for treatment failures, you need to be carefully followed and have your infection further evaluated.  

The San Francisco Department of Health has an excellent STD Clinic staffed by knowledgeable experts.  I strongly recommend that you go there to get checked out.  They may wish to provide alternative therapy with a medication like doxycycline – that is what I would do.

I hope this information is helpful to you.  Please let us know how things progress for you. EWH
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum

Popular Resources
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.