Chlamydia Treatment

Chlamydia treatment typically involves antibiotics, which generally cure the infection. Treatment for the disease is simple, but it is vital that a person seeks testing and treatment as soon as possible. It's also important to avoid sexual activity during this time, and also to inform your sex partners that you have chlamydia so that they can begin chlamydia treatment as well.

 

Chlamydia Treatment: An Overview

Chlamydia treatment involves antibiotics, either a single dose of azithromycin (Zithromax®) or a week of doxycycline (twice daily). Or, you might get a prescription for another antibiotic, such as erythromycin or ofloxacin.
 
Chlamydia treatment with antibiotics generally cures the chlamydial infection. HIV-positive people with chlamydia should receive the same chlamydia treatment as those who are HIV-negative.
 
Healthcare providers may treat pregnant women with azithromycin or erythromycin or, sometimes, with amoxicillin. Penicillin, which healthcare providers often use to treat other sexually transmitted disease (STDs), won't cure chlamydial infections.
 
If you have chlamydia, you should:
 
  • Take all your medicine for the amount of time prescribed, even if chlamydia symptoms have disappeared
  • Go to your healthcare provider again if your symptoms do not disappear within 1 to 2 weeks after finishing the medicine
  • Tell your sex partners that you have chlamydia so that they can be tested and treated, if necessary
  • You also should not have sexual intercourse until your treatment is completed and successful.
     
(Chlamydia Treatment Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD