Can You Crush Azithromycin Tablets?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not you can safely crush or split azithromycin tablets.
Is it safe to crush azithromycin 250mg tablets and put them in applesauce or a drink?
May 26, 2021- It is safe to crush azithromycin 250mg tablets if you have trouble swallowing them.
- Avoid taking azithromycin with foods or drinks that contain significant amounts of calcium or magnesium, such as milk, as these can prevent the medication from being absorbed properly.
- Azithromycin has a bitter taste, so you may want to have another drink or food available to chase it with after taking it.
Hi and thanks for reaching out to us.
Azithromycin is a very commonly used antibiotic to treat a variety of infections such as sinus infections, ear infections, upper respiratory infections, and several other common bacterial infections.
It is perfectly safe to crush up your azithromycin 250mg tablet if you are having a difficult time swallowing it, with a few exceptions.
In general, with most medications, as long as the tablet doesn’t say extended release, delayed release, or specifically not to cut them, it’s usually safe to cut or crush these medications. However, exceptions do exist, so please continue to double check for each individual medication.
Now, about those exceptions.
One major interaction with azithromycin is drugs or foods that contain a sizable amount of calcium or magnesium.
For example, if you were to take azithromycin with a glass of milk, the calcium in the milk would bind to the azithromycin in your stomach and wouldn’t get properly absorbed and may not work well enough to kill off the infection.
You can still have calcium or magnesium, but To be safe, try to separate azithromycin from foods or drinks with a sizable amount of calcium or magnesium by a few hours — your pharmacist can give you specific guidance on the best timing for your schedule.
I looked at the nutrition information on several different brands of applesauce and it doesn't look like they contain a sizable amount of calcium, so it should be safe to take azithromycin with them... but double check the nutrition information of YOUR product specifically. Likewise, it would be fine to crush up and dissolve the azithromycin in a drink, as long as it doesn’t contain any calcium or magnesium.
If you decide to take the azithromycin in a drink, I would make sure that you use a small volume of liquid to make sure that you drink the entire dose.
Lastly, azithromycin doesn’t taste very good. Azithromycin has been reported to have a bitter taste. It may be a good idea to have another drink or food that you like next to it to “chase” it with.
I hope this helps! Feel free to write us again in the future.
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Antibiotic
- A medication that kills bacteria or stops them from growing to treat infections.
- Extended release
- A type of medication designed to release slowly into your body over a long period of time.
- Delayed release
- A type of medication that is designed to release in a specific part of your digestive system rather than immediately.
- Interaction
- When a medication reacts with another substance in a way that affects how well the medication works.
- Bind
- When two substances attach or stick together, preventing proper absorption.
- Absorbed
- When a medication passes through the stomach or intestines into the bloodstream to work in your body.
- Calcium
- A mineral found in foods like milk and dairy products that can prevent some medications from working properly.
- Magnesium
- A mineral found in various foods that can interfere with how some medications are absorbed in the body.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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