Over-Prescribing of Zithromax a Growing Concern in 2014

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

Medical experts and advocacy groups alike are concerned over the dependence American physicians seem to have on the popular antibiotic Zithromax, referred to by many as “Z-Pak.” Overprescription has led to ill-sighted decisions in prescribing the medication to patients who don’t need it, which has caused unnecessary heart complications and other deadly side effects in some users.

Independent advocacy medicine awareness groups have put in their own efforts to consolidate different sources of data to collect accurate statistics on adverse Zithromax side effects, and medical experts provide their assessments over recent drug concerns. The mass concern has risen from the numerous injury reports that have been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), reporting that Zithromax has caused arrhythmia and sudden death in patients.

On March 3, 2013, the amount of such reports eventually reached a point that caused the FDA to make a public announcement regarding the heart risks associated with Zithromax. The announcement stated that according to recent studies and medical assessment, Zithromax can cause behavioral changes in the electrical activity in the heart, which may lead to irregular heart rhythm. Patients who are at the highest risk of suffering these Zithromax side effects include those with pre-existing heart conditions, those who have low levels of potassium and magnesium in the blood, or are already using certain drugs to treat their pre-existing heart conditions.

Pfizer Warned by FDA

Previously in 2012, the FDA sent a strongly-worded warning letter to Pfizer over the language used in its Zithromax Zmax brochure, describing it as “false” and “misleading.” The FDA’s letter stated that their brochure had misleading language that omitted important facts about Zmax and Zithromax side effects, and minimized the information about the risks and side effects associated with the medication. The FDA also criticized the company for exaggerating the drug’s efficiency.

While it is no question that Zithromax is popular, medical experts and advocacy groups agree that it is important to include information regarding the side effects of the medication, so that patients may be fully aware of the risks they are taking. The warning label on Zithromax specifically omitted the possibility of QT prolongation, and the cardiac complication known as torsades de pointes. These Zithromax side effects have led to the sudden death of some patients.

By failing to mention these serious risks, the company puts patients in unnecessary risks by not informing them of these possibilities. This has led to hundreds of Zithromax lawsuits filed from people who have been injured by the medication, or sued the company on behalf of a loved one. The charges often include negligence, false advertising, concealing information, and misrepresenting a product.

Many medical experts have concluded that many of these injuries have been the result of the over-prescription of Zithromax.

Overview of Zithromax Heart Conditions

Zithromax (Azithromycin) is an extremely popular drug, the most popular antibiotic in America in fact. Legal and medical experts state that the main attribute of the drug’s success is its short prescription requirement time, at only five days whereas most other antibiotics require ten days. It is often prescribed to treat different bacterial infections including: ear infections, strep throat, pneumonia, typhoid, bronchitis and sinusitis.

Despite the many uses of the drug, medical experts agree that Z-Pak should not be the default solution to treat bacterial infections, especially after recent medical reports.

According to the warning the FDA sent out in 2013, Zithromax can cause a variety of cardiac complications. These conditions include but are not limited to:

• QT interval prolongation
• Low levels of potassium or magnesium in blood
• Slow heart rate
• Use of certain drugs used to treat abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias

Help for Victims of Zithromax Side Effects

If you believe that you or a loved one have been the victim of a Zithromax cardiac complication, you have legal options. Please visit the Zithromax, Z-Pak, & Azithromycin Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned Zithromax lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The Zithromax attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.