Roxithromycin is an oral antibiotic drug used for the treatment of bacterial infections including respiratory tract infections, skin infections and urinary infections. It is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic very similar structurally and pharmacologically to erythromycin, claithromycin and azithromycin. Roxithromycin is partially metabolized in the liver into 3 metabolites descladinose roxithromycin, N-mono and N-di-demethyl roxithromycin . Roxithromycin then penetrates the bacterial cell wall and act synergistically to inhibit protein synthesis. This compound acts on the 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome inhibiting the translocation of the aminoacyl transfer-RNA, preventing the addition of the next amino acid to the growing polypeptide chain. As a result, protein synthesis is inhibited, preventing bacterial growth and this may even kill the bacteria. Some adverse side effects of Roxithromycin is gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting. In some rare instances one can also experience headaches, rashes, alteration of taste and smell as well as some abnormalities with liver function.

Roxithromycin References