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Commonly used in the treatment of tonsillitis, sinusitis and pharyngitis cases, Carithromycin is the one drug all doctors turn to for such cases. For severe cases of pneumonia or bronchitis the drug Carithromycin is prescribed. If there are skin infections or if a person has HIV or AIDS then too Carithromycin is prescribed to alleviate the condition. Common trade names under which these active pharmaceutical ingredients are marketed include Clacid, Biaxin, Klabax, Klaricid, Claridar, Claripen, Fromilid, Infex etc.
The drug Carithromycin bears its origins during the 1970s and the company that invented it was called Taisho Pharmaceuticals in Japan. Through the efforts of scientists to create a newer version of the erythromycin drug, the drug Carithromycin was born. The aim was to create a drug, which would not result in acidic instability in the digestive system and thus would prevent stomachaches and nausea.
The drug Carithromycin works by hampering the protein synthesis initiated by bacteria, which enter the body. By binding itself to bacterial ribosome Carithromycin prevents formation of harmful peptides. Unlike erythromycin drugs, which fail to work against gram-negative versions of bacteria, Carithromycin works in such cases too. This gives this drug a distinct edge.
Carithromycin is an acid-stable drug. Hence, administration through oral means is not feasible because it requires protection from the gastric acids. It can be easily absorbed into the tissues. Since Carithromycin contains a high percentage of phagocytes, it can be easily carried to the infectious site. The process of phagocytosis releases large amounts of Carithromycin and these help combat infection spread.
Patients administered Carithromycin usually experience common side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting as well as swelling on the face. At times, pain in the abdomen is also experienced. Other less noted side effects include motion sickness, headaches, differences in taste and smell sensations, metallic taste in the mouth etc. Other side effects include dryness inside the mouth, anxiety, nightmares as well as hallucinations. In more severe conditions, side effects can also result in jaundice in patients.
Other associated liver disorders may also be noted in patients. Kidney failure is another side effect associated with these active pharmaceutical ingredients in the drug. In addition, often Carithromycin can produce false positive results in a urine sample-testing positive for cocaine presence.
There are certain precautions one needs to observe if taking Carithromycin. If you have a history of asthma or allergy of any kind you should not be taking Carithromycin. If you have had a tendency to contract hives or hay fever, then your body maybe more prone to contract the above-mentioned side effects. Hence, it is best to avoid intake of Carithromycin in such cases.
Some of the common allergic side effects include wheezing, hallucinations, itchiness, swelling, hives, throat spasms, neck and face swelling, muscular pains, skin rashes, fever, shortness of breath etc. Some of the more severe cases of skin rashes manifest as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis diseases. Vomiting and Nausea are mostly gastrointestinal reactions and are not part of allergic reactions to Carithromycin.