Azithromycin

Product Information

Field
Value
CAS #
83905-01-5
Mode of Action
In order to replicate, bacteria require a specific process of protein synthesis, enabled by ribosomal proteins 6. Azithromycin binds to the 23S rRNA of the bacterial 50S ribosomal subunit. It stops bacterial protein synthesis by inhibiting the transpeptidation/translocation step of protein synthesis and by inhibiting the assembly of the 50S ribosomal subunit Label, 5. This results in the control of various bacterial infections 7, Label. The strong affinity of macrolides, including azithromycin, for bacterial ribosomes, is consistent with their broad‐spectrum antibacterial activities 7. Azithromycin is highly stable at a low pH, giving it a longer serum half-life and increasing its concentrations in tissues compared to erythromycin 4.
Pharmacodynamics
Macrolides stop bacterial growth by inhibiting protein synthesis and translation, treating bacterial infections 4. Azithromycin has additional immunomodulatory effects and has been used in chronic respiratory inflammatory diseases for this purpose 3.
Metabolism
In vitro and in vivo studies to assess the metabolism of azithromycin have not been performed Label, however, this drug is eliminated by the liver 8, Label.
Toxicity
Rat Oral LD50: >2000 mk/kg MSDS Possible major adverse effects include cardiovascular arrhythmias and hearing loss. Macrolide resistance is also an ongoing issue 3. Hepatotoxicity has been since in rare cases 4. A note on the risk of liver toxicity: Due to the act that azithromycin is mainly eliminated by the liver, caution should be observed when azithromycin is given to patients with decreased hepatic function Label. A note on potential renal toxicity: Because limited data in patients with renal GFR <10 mL/min, caution should be exercised when prescribing azithromycin to these patients Label. Use in Pregnancy: This drug is categorized as a pregnancy category B drug. Reproduction studies have been done in rats and mice at doses up to moderately maternally toxic doses (for example, 200 mg/kg/day). These doses, based on a mg/m2 basis, are approximately 4 and 2 times, respectively, the human daily dose of 500 mg. In the animal studies, no harmful effects to the fetus due to azithromycin were observed. There are, at this time, no conclusive and well-controlled studies that have been done in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies do not always predict human response, azithromycin should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed Label. Nursing Mothers: It is unknown at this time whether azithromycin is excreted in human milk. Because many other drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be observed when azithromycin is given to a nursing woman Label. Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility: Long-term studies in animals have not been performed to study carcinogenic potential. Azithromycin has demonstrated no potential to be mutagenic in standard laboratory tests. No evidence of negative effects on fertility due to azithromycin was found Label.
IUPAC
(2R,3S,4R,5R,8R,10R,11R,12S,13S,14R)-11-{[(2S,3R,4S,6R)-4-(dimethylamino)-3-hydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy}-2-ethyl-3,4,10-trihydroxy-13-{[(2R,4R,5S,6S)-5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4,6-dimethyloxan-2-yl]oxy}-3,5,6,8,10,12,14-heptamethyl-1-oxa-6-azacyclopentadecan-15-one
Formula
C38-H72-N2-O12
DrugBank
DB00207
SMILES
CC[C@H]1OC(=O)[C@H](C)[C@@H](O[C@H]2C[C@@](C)(OC)[C@@H](O)[C@H](C)O2)[C@H](C)[C@@H](O[C@@H]2O[C@H](C)C[C@@H]([C@H]2O)N(C)C)[C@](C)(O)C[C@@H](C)CN(C)[C@H](C)[C@@H](O)[C@]1(C)O
InChl
InChI=1S/C38H72N2O12/c1-15-27-38(10,46)31(42)24(6)40(13)19-20(2)17-36(8,45)33(52-35-29(41)26(39(11)12)16-21(3)48-35)22(4)30(23(5)34(44)50-27)51-28-18-37(9,47-14)32(43)25(7)49-28/h20-33,35,41-43,45-46H,15-19H2,1-14H3/t20-,21-,22+,23-,24-,25+,26+,27-,28+,29-,30+,31-,32+,33-,35+,36-,37-,38-/m1/s1