It in the early 1990s when one of America’s most popular antibiotics was approved, but Zithromax is not without its side effects.

Among the most devastating complications associated with this medication is liver damage or complete liver failure.

Zithromax belongs to the macrolide antibiotic family, which treats infections by preventing bacteria from spreading and producing the proteins necessary for their reproduction. Eventually, the remaining bacterial cells will die out and the infection site will heal up.

Zithromax Liver Damage

The concern of Zithromax liver damage stems almost two decade when in 1996, the drug’s manufacturing company had begun receiving injury reports indicating this complication. These Zithromax injury reports indicated that not only was liver damage a possible side effects, but it could be very severe or deadly.

This was alarming to the medical community, as this drug had been approved to treat children the year previously.

Despite the severity of the risk, Pfizer did not take the possibility seriously until 2000 when the company finally released this information to the public. However, it is important to note that the FDA had to force Pfizer to update Zithromax’s warning label.

The company made the decision to add abnormal liver function, jaundice, hepatic failure, and death as possible Zithromax complications, after patients submitted injury reports.

In 2001, Zithromax’s warning label was officially updated to include warnings of potential liver damage.

How Does Zithromax Cause Liver Damage?

Zithromax does not immediately break down in the body, as quickly as other antibiotics and float freely in the blood until it is picked up by white blood cells. These white blood cells then takes the medicine to the bacterial sight to destroy the bacterial cells, by concentrating on the tissues of the surrounding infection.

Due to this biological process, Zithromax is prescribed in a shorter prescription time compared to most antibiotics, at five days; this makes it vastly popular among adults and children.

In fact, it was not long after its release that Zithromax climbed to the top of the antibiotic market. Even with the release of generic Zithromax, the drug continues to earn Pfizer millions on an annual basis.

Experts explain that the risk surrounding Zithromax liver damage stems from its treatment mechanism, and how it is processed through the patient’s liver.  The possibility of liver damage from Zithromax arises because Zithromax, like the other antibiotics in the macrolide class of drugs, is primarily eliminated from the body through the liver.

It is important to note that powerful antibiotics are often associated with liver damage, as antibiotics are infamously associated with severe side effects.

Zithromax Lawsuits

Zithromax liver damage is a potentially fatal condition that can only be treated or manageable, if patients are diagnosed soon enough.

In more extreme cases, patients may be forced to undergo a liver transplant in the case of total organ damage. Patients who start experiencing unexplained symptoms such as: yellowing skin or eyes, abdominal pain, dark urine, and elevated liver enzyme levels are encouraged to report these complications to their physicians as soon as possible.

Pfizer has faced many legal problems due to its manufacturing and marketing of Zithromax. Someone who has been injured by this drug may have a valid Zithromax lawsuit.

Drug manufacturers have a duty to design a reasonably safe medicine as well as provide adequate warnings. If you or a loved one has liver damage or liver failure, then you may not have been adequately warned about Zithromax complications.