Patient was educated on the side effects of using Azithromycin as follows:
- Ototoxicity
- Azithromycin intake in high doses can lead to reversible hearing loss.
- Sometimes, the damage can be severe causing the hearing loss to be permanent.
- Normal therapeutic doses of Azithromycin in individuals with compromised renal function can lead to incomplete elimination of Azithromycin and elevated drug levels for longer duration, thus precipitating ototoxicity and hearing loss.
- Central nervous system findings
- Azithromycin use can sometimes result in severe dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, tremors, and seizures.
- Hepatic damage
- Long term Azithromycin intake can lead to hepatic injury, thus compromising liver function.
- Hepatic injury and altered liver function can result in increased bilirubin levels in the body, resulting in itching, jaundice with yellowing of skin and sclera, dark urine, altered metabolism with nausea and vomiting, pain in the right upper abdominal quadrant, and fatigue.
- Photosensitivity
- Long-term Azithromycin intake can result in photosensitivity and skin rash.
