It depends on the underlying cause of your sinus infection.

A doctor may prescribe azithromycin (Zithromax), also known as Z-Pack, to help treat a sinus infection caused by one of the following bacterial infections:

  • Haemophilus influenza
  • Moraxella catarrhalis
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae

However, you should not take Z-Pack to treat a sinus infection caused by a viral infection. Azithromycin is an antibiotic, which is a class of medications only effective at treating infections caused by bacteria.

Speak with a doctor if you experience symptoms of a sinus infection, such as nasal obstruction or pressure, fever, and impaired smell, or if symptoms improve and then worsen again. They could examine your symptoms and perform tests to help diagnose the underlying cause.

If your sinus infection is due to bacteria, a doctor may prescribe 500 milligrams (mg) of Z-Pack to take once daily by mouth for 3 days.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP

Dr. Nicole Leigh Aaronson is an ABMS board certified otolaryngologist with fellowship training in pediatric otolaryngology. She currently practices in Wilmington, Delaware, and Deptford, New Jersey. She completed her residency at Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut and her fellowship at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.

Read more.