What is Dirithromycin?
Dirithromycin, also known as Dynabac, is a macrolide antibiotic that belongs to the azalide subclass of macrolides. It is used to treat various bacterial infections such as community-acquired pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and mild to moderate respiratory tract infections. Dirithromycin works by inhibiting protein synthesis in bacteria, thereby stopping their growth and replication. The typical dosage form is a 5-day regimen of capsules containing the antibiotic, which can be taken with or without food.
What is Dirithromycin used for?
Dirithromycin is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic that belongs to the azalide class of antibiotics. It was developed in the 1990s and approved by the US FDA in 1997 for the treatment of respiratory tract infections, such as community-acquired pneumonia, acute bacterial sinusitis, and pharyngitis/tonsillitis caused by susceptible bacteria.
Dirithromycin exerts its antimicrobial activity by inhibiting protein synthesis in susceptible bacteria. It binds to the 50S subunit of ribosomes, preventing the translocation of peptides during translation, which ultimately leads to cell death. This mechanism of action is similar to other macrolide antibiotics but is unique due to the azalide structure of Dirithromycin. The drug has a broad spectrum of activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Dirithromycin side effects
• Abdominal pain • Allergic reaction • Anorexia • Asthenia (weakness) • Dizziness • Diarrhea • Headache • Increased risk of bleeding in patients with hemophilia or other bleeding disorders • Laryngitis • Mucocutaneous candidiasis • Myalgia (muscle pain) • Nausea • Rash • Stevens-Johnson syndrome • Thrombocytopenia • Vaginal candidiasis
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