Pfizer for Professionals Pfizer for Professionals




Pfizer Medical Information
(Search Medical Responses)
WyethHCP.com
(Access Wyeth for Professionals)
Explore Other Online Resources
ppn-vr-sso-links.htm
To report an adverse event or to speak to a member of Pfizer Medical Information, please call 1-800-438-1985

Share Your Feedback
Prescribing Information
ZMAX® (azithromycin extended release) for oral suspension
Indications and Usage
Return to the Zmax Product Center

Zmax is indicated for the treatment with mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible isolates of the designated microorganisms in the specific conditions listed below. [See CLINICAL STUDIES]

Acute bacterial sinusitis in adults due to Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis or Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Community-acquired pneumonia in adults and pediatric patients six months of age or older due to Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Streptococcus pneumoniae, in patients appropriate for oral therapy. Pediatric use in this indication is based on extrapolation of adult efficacy. [See USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS]

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of Zmax and other antibacterial drugs, Zmax should be used only to treat infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

Appropriate culture and susceptibility tests should be performed before treatment to determine the causative organism and its susceptibility to Zmax. [See Clinical Pharmacology] Therapy with Zmax may be initiated before results of these tests are known; once the results become available, antimicrobial therapy should be adjusted accordingly.


ZMAX Indication and Important Safety Information
 

Please scroll to see the Indication below.

Important Safety Information

Zmax is indicated for mild to moderate acute bacterial sinusitis in adults due to Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, or Streptococcus pneumoniae and is also indicated for community-acquired pneumonia due to Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, or Streptococcus pneumoniae in adult and pediatric patients aged 6 months and over, deemed appropriate for oral therapy.

Zmax is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to azithromycin, erythromycin, or any macrolide or ketolide antibiotic. If an allergic reaction occurs, appropriate therapy should be instituted. Physicians should be aware that reappearance of the allergic symptoms may occur when symptomatic therapy is discontinued.

There have been rare reports of serious allergic reactions including angioedema, anaphylaxis, Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in patients on other formulations of azithromycin therapy. Rarely, fatalities have been reported.

Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including azithromycin, and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea following antibiotic use. Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over two months after the administration of antibacterial agents. If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibiotic use not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued, and appropriate management and treatment of C. difficile should be instituted as clinically indicated.

As with all macrolides, including Zmax, exacerbations of myasthenia gravis have been reported.

A higher incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events (8 of 19 subjects) was observed when Zmax was administered to a limited number of subjects with GFR <10 mL/min.

Overall, the most common treatment-related adverse reactions in:

  • Adult patients receiving a single 2 g dose of Zmax were diarrhea/loose stools (12%), nausea (4%), abdominal pain (3%), headache (1%), and vomiting (1%).
  • Pediatric patients receiving the recommended Zmax dose of 1 mL/lb were vomiting (11.9%), diarrhea (8%), loose stools (5.6%), abdominal pain (3%), rash (2.8%), nausea (1.7%), and anorexia (1.2%).

Indication

Zmax is a macrolide antimicrobial indicated for mild to moderate infections caused by designated, susceptible bacteria:

  • Acute bacterial sinusitis in adults
  • Community-acquired pneumonia in adults and children
    6 months and older

 

Please see full prescribing information.

Zmax® (azithromycin extended release)

Back to Top

SetPProProdListVar.htm
SetPFPGroupVar.htm