Question

1. In what way is an IV dose of azithromycin different than an oral dose in terms of its dose, onset of activity, effect on the infection and on the body?

Answer 1

In general, an orally administered dose have slower onset of action than an iv dose due to the necessity of passing through the stomach while being absorbed eventually into the blood stream. An oral dose will have slower effect on the infection compared to an iv dose as it has quick onset of action.

The dose given orally will be larger than iv dose because, through oral, the absorption of drug into the systemic circulation may not be 100% while iv injection directly add the dose into the systemic circulation.

Likewise, it's effects upon the body will be slower and possible less intense in terms of possible side effects when administered orally as compared to iv administration..