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STDs (Expert Forum)
Possible exposure to chlamydia and gonorrhea
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
Possible exposure to chlamydia and gonorrhea
by DR79, Nov 19, 2005 12:00AM
Hello...I hope you can answer my questions.
I have reason to believe that I was possibly exposed to chlamydia and gonorrhea. I went to a doc (I am new in town and had not been to this doctor before) and he did a test and then prescribed Zithromax for both myself and my girlfriend. He gave us each 8 250mg pills and told us to take all 8 pills in one dose. Here are my questions:
1. Is that dose of antibiotic enough to kill both chlamydia and gonorrhea if my test does in fact come back positive? I was not tested for syphilis - would this drug have killed that too, if I had been exposed?
2. My girlfriend experienced bad diarrhea about 5 hours after taking her dose, and I experienced the same about 8 hours after taking my dose. We chalked this up to a side effect of the meds. Sound right? Would this diarrhea have done anything to the effectiveness of the drug? It is possible to poop it out? It is now almost 24 hours since we took the meds. We have no other side effects. Do you think we will experience any more side effects and if so what would they be?
3. My girlfriend is on birth control - Mircette I believe is the name. Would this have any affect on the zithromax and vice versa would the Zithromax have any affect on the birth control?
Thank you for your time.
I have reason to believe that I was possibly exposed to chlamydia and gonorrhea. I went to a doc (I am new in town and had not been to this doctor before) and he did a test and then prescribed Zithromax for both myself and my girlfriend. He gave us each 8 250mg pills and told us to take all 8 pills in one dose. Here are my questions:
1. Is that dose of antibiotic enough to kill both chlamydia and gonorrhea if my test does in fact come back positive? I was not tested for syphilis - would this drug have killed that too, if I had been exposed?
2. My girlfriend experienced bad diarrhea about 5 hours after taking her dose, and I experienced the same about 8 hours after taking my dose. We chalked this up to a side effect of the meds. Sound right? Would this diarrhea have done anything to the effectiveness of the drug? It is possible to poop it out? It is now almost 24 hours since we took the meds. We have no other side effects. Do you think we will experience any more side effects and if so what would they be?
3. My girlfriend is on birth control - Mircette I believe is the name. Would this have any affect on the zithromax and vice versa would the Zithromax have any affect on the birth control?
Thank you for your time.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Nov 20, 2005 12:00AM
, Nov 20, 2005 12:00AM
Azithromycin (Zithromax) in a single dose of 2 grams is overkill for chlamydia (1 g is sufficient), and it also will prevent syphilis if exposed (or even if infection has started, but not yet caused symptoms). It is pretty good for gonorrhea, but probably only around 90-95% effective; if your gonorrhea test, or your partner's test, turns up positive for gonorrhea, have another test in 2-3 weeks to make sure you were cured. Abdominal cramping, nausea, and diarrhea are common side effects a few hours after azithromcyin, especially at the high dose you and your partner were given. But it does not make the drug any less effective. There is no interaction between single-dose azithromycin and birth control pills; no problem there.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Member Comments (1)
by Blu8989, Apr 20, 2009 02:39PM
A related discussion, is it possibel to not get gonorrhea if exposed to it? was started.
