Does Azithromycin Contain Red Dye?
No, azithromycin tablets do not contain red dye. According to the FDA drug label, azithromycin tablets contain only white and off-white inactive ingredients, with no red dyes listed in the formulation 1.
Inactive Ingredients in Azithromycin Tablets
The FDA-approved formulation of azithromycin tablets contains the following inactive ingredients 1:
- Dibasic calcium phosphate dihydrate
- Hydroxypropyl cellulose
- Croscarmellose sodium
- Magnesium stearate
- Opadry II white (the film coating)
Film Coating Components
The white film coating (Opadry II white) specifically contains 1:
- Hypromellose
- Lactose monohydrate
- Titanium dioxide (white pigment)
- Triacetin
None of these ingredients are red dyes. Titanium dioxide is a white pigment used to give the tablets their characteristic white appearance 1.
Physical Appearance
Azithromycin tablets are described as "white oval shaped biconvex tablets" in both the 250 mg and 500 mg strengths 1. This white appearance is consistent across standard formulations and confirms the absence of red coloring agents.
Important Caveat
While standard azithromycin tablets do not contain red dye, liquid suspension formulations may vary and could potentially contain different coloring agents depending on the manufacturer. If you are specifically concerned about red dye allergies (such as Red Dye #40/Allura Red), always verify the specific formulation with your pharmacist, as suspension formulations are not detailed in the tablet drug label provided 1.