Pharmacokinetic interactions of azithromycin and clinical implication

Authors

Keywords:

interacciones farmacológicas, azitromicina, farmacocinética, infecciones por coronavirus, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2.

Abstract

Introduction: The severe acute respiratory syndrome (due to COVID-19) is currently the leading cause of death in Peru, so effective and safe drugs are required to mitigate the disease. A bibliographic search was carried out in SciELO and PubMed/Medline; 37 of 58 articles on the topic were selected.
Objectives: Review and integrate the information on the pharmacokinetic interactions of azithromycin that are prescribed in the outpatient treatment of COVID-19 in Peru, and evaluate their clinical implication.
Development: Azithromycin is used in COVID-19, due to its anti-inflammatory activity, by inhibiting interleukins (IL1, 6, 8 and TNF-α), and intracellular adhesion molecules 1 (ICAM1); and by inducing the production of type I interferon (IFN-α, IFN-β) and III (IFN-λ) in cells of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The three-arm, randomized and open-label studies indicate that azithromycin does not cause changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters of ivermectin, sildenafil, rupatadine, and desloratadine; single-center, open-label, non-fasting, and two-period studies show that azithromycin influences the pharmacokinetic parameters of venetoclax and psychotropics.
Conclusions: Based on the evidence from the reviewed and integrated clinical studies, it is concluded that these are limited and of little clinical relevance, however, it is proposed to use the antibiotic under the scientific criteria of the doctor, to avoid pharmacokinetic interactions and adverse reactions of drugs.

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Author Biographies

María Saravia Bartra, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, USIL, Lima.

Red Internacional de Investigación en Farmacología y Medicina de Precisión, Carrera de Medicina Humana.

Ricardo Losno García, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, USIL, Lima.

Red Internacional de Investigación en Farmacología y Medicina de Precisión, Carrera de Medicina Humana.

Milton Valderrama-Wong, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, USIL, Lima.

Red Internacional de Investigación en Farmacología y Medicina de Precisión, Carrera de Medicina Humana.

Ana María Muñoz Jáuregui, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, USIL, Lima.

Unidad de Investigación en Nutrición, Salud, Alimentos Funcionales y Nutracéuticos. 

María Bendezú Acevedo, Universidad Nacional San Luis Gonzaga de Ica, Ica.

Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica.

Jorge García Ceccarelli, Universidad Nacional San Luis Gonzaga de Ica, Ica.

Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica.

Felipe Surco Laos, Universidad Nacional San Luis Gonzaga de Ica, Ica.

Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica.

Patricia Basurto Ayala, Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener, Lima

EAP Medicina Humana.

Mario Pineda-Pérez, Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener, Lima

EAP Medicina Humana.

Angel Tito Alvarado Yarasca, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, USIL, Lima.

Coordinador de la Red Internacional de Investigación en Farmacología y Medicina de Precisión, Carrera de Medicina Humana.

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Published

2021-07-01

How to Cite

1.
Saravia Bartra M, Losno García R, Valderrama-Wong M, Muñoz Jáuregui AM, Bendezú Acevedo M, García Ceccarelli J, et al. Pharmacokinetic interactions of azithromycin and clinical implication. Rev Cubana Med Milit [Internet]. 2021 Jul. 1 [cited 2025 Apr. 4];50(3):e02101284. Available from: https://revmedmilitar.sld.cu/index.php/mil/article/view/1284

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Section

Review Article