Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.
Doxycycline monohydrate (Monodox, Oracea) and azithromycin (Zithromax) are both antibiotics, but they belong to different classes and treat infections differently. Doxycycline monohydrate is a tetracycline antibiotic that stops bacteria from making certain proteins, while azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that also prevents bacteria from making proteins but in a different way. Doxycycline monohydrate is used for a wide range of bacterial infections, including severe acne and rosacea, and must be taken twice daily for most infections. In contrast, azithromycin is often taken once daily for a shorter duration, typically 3 to 5 days, and is available in a convenient Z-Pak form. Doxycycline monohydrate can cause tooth discoloration in children under 8 and is not safe during pregnancy, whereas azithromycin is generally considered safe during pregnancy but can cause heart rhythm problems. Both medications can cause stomach-related side effects, but doxycycline monohydrate also makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Both are available as lower-cost generic form and come in both tablet and liquid forms.
Doxycycline monohydrate is an antibiotic that treats many types of bacterial infections. It can be used in adults and children to treat infections, but it can sometimes cause tooth discoloration in children 8 years and younger. It's also used to treat rosacea.
Azithromycin (Zithromax) is a macrolide antibiotic. It's used to treat many types of infections in children and adults, including strep throat, sinus infection, and pneumonia. Azithromycin (Zithromax) is taken by mouth once daily. Typically, the length of treatment ranges from 3 to 5 days, depending on the type of infection you have. For convenience, azithromycin (Zithromax) also comes pre-packaged as Z-Pak. Some of the more common side effects of azithromycin (Zithromax) include diarrhea, stomach pain, and nausea.
Doxycycline monohydrate is used to treat many different infections caused by bacteria. Some examples include:
Adults
Azithromycin (Zithromax) can treat certain types of:
Children
Azithromycin (Zithromax) can treat certain types of:
Doxycycline monohydrate (Monodox, Vibramycin):
Adults
Children
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