Zithromax and Zmax Carry Serious Side Effect Risk

Zithromax and Zmax Carry Serious Side Effect Risk

By Courtney Coren

There are few things more comforting when diagnosed with bronchitis, pneumonia or another serious infection than a good antibiotic that will kill the infection in a matter of days. One favorite antibiotic is Zithromax (azithromycin), also known as Z-Pak and Zmax. Patients especially love Zithromax because they only have to take it for five days to kill their infection, while most traditional antibiotics such as amoxicillin and penicillin can be prescribed for 10 or more days. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has reported that Zithromax is prescribed 50 million times every year.

The problem with Zithromax is not its effectiveness as an antibiotic, but that there are very serious and potentially deadly side effects that every patient should be aware of before they take it.

One serious side effect of Zithromax is an allergic reaction known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome, which is especially associated with Zmax. Pfizer Inc., the maker of Zithromax, Z-Pak, and Zmax, introduced Zmax as an extended release version of Zithromax.

SJS usually starts out with flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and headache. The skin rash may initially start out as hives, but blisters will begin to develop on the skin and mucous membranes, especially the mouth, nose, and eyes. It usually culminates in the shedding of the skin — which means that the top layer of the skin has died. Eating, sleeping, urinating and even breathing can all become difficult. If blisters develop on the eye, it can cause blindness.

SJS is fatal in about 5 percent of patients who contract it. Lesions can develop on internal organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, or liver, causing inflammation on those organs. It can also cause sepsis, a condition in which the bacteria from the infection enter the bloodstream. It can take months to recover from and can leave lasting damage.

On June 19, 2012, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration sent a letter to Pfizer warning them that while the brochure the company created to advertise for Zmax does mention Stevens Johnson Syndrome as a possible side effect, it does not detail the severity of the disease. It also did not explain that sometimes the allergic reactions experienced by Zmax patients continued even after discontinued use.

Are You a Zithromax SJS Victim?

If you or someone you know has developed Stevens Johnson Syndrome after taking Zithromax, Zmax, or Z-Pak, legal options are available to you. Learn more and get a free legal consultation regarding a claim’s eligibility at the Zithromax Z-Pak Azithromycin Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation . Experienced legal professionals have access to medical experts to assess whether or not this antibiotic played a role in severe skin reaction or other serious side effect, so act now.

Updated July 29th, 2013

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