Recent studies indicate that there may be a link between the commonly prescribed antibiotic Zithromax (azithromycin) and several life-threatening side effects, including liver damage and kidney failure.

Zithromax is one of the best selling antibiotics in the U.S., likely due to the fact that it can treat a variety of bacterial infections in a 3-day, 5 dose prescription.

The short prescription length has kept Zithromax, commonly known as Zmax or Z-Pak, as one of the most popular treatments for medical ailments including skin infections, tonsillitis, ear infections and pneumonia.

However, a growing number of Zithromax lawsuits allege that the drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer, over-marketed the antibiotic and minimized the serious health risks that the medication could cause.

Zithromax Liver Disease

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration required Pfizer to include the risk of liver damage on the Zithromax warning label in 2001. Plaintiffs who have filed Zithromax lawsuits claim that the manufacturer knew of the risk of liver disease as early as 1998 but concealed the information from consumers as well as physicians.

Zithromax liver disease symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain
• Clay-colored stools
• Skin discoloration
• Dark urine
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting

In a Zithromax study published by the National Library of Health Medicine in 2013, researchers concluded that Zithromax users had a 1-2 percent increased risk of developing toxic liver disease as compared to non-users.

Zithromax Kidney Failure

According to Zithromax consumers, Zithromax may also cause rare but life-threatening kidney infections, kidney disease and kidney failure. Zithromax users who notice any signs of possible kidney failure should contact their physician immediately.

Zithromax kidney failure symptoms include:

• Metallic taste in the mouth/ammonia breath
• Swelling in the legs, ankles, feet, face and/or hands
• Nausea and vomiting
• Changes in urination
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Skin rash/itching
• Leg pain
• Dizziness
• Feeling cold

Zithromax Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Zithromax consumers have also reported the antibiotic can cause an allergic skin rash known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS). Early Zithromax SJS symptoms are similar to the flu, and some patients experiencing chills, body aches, and fever initially ignore their symptoms.

However, SJS quickly progresses and soon patients experience a red or purple rash on the skin and mucous membranes. The rash causes blisters, which in turn cause the top layer of skin to die and shed. 

When the allergic rash covers up to 30 percent of the body it is considered SJS; beyond that point it is known as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

Both of these medical conditions require hospitalization and a lengthy recovery process as patients are treated in a similar manner as burn victims. Stevens Johnson Syndrome is fatal 15 percent of the time, while TEN carries up to a 40 percent mortality rate.

Other reported Zithromax complications include cardiac arrhythmia, heart attacks, birth defects and even sudden death.

Zithromax Lawsuits

The number of plaintiffs filing Zithromax lawsuits continues to grow. In general, plaintiffs claim that the drug’s manufacturer did not fully warn consumers of the potential side effects linked to the drug.

Those who have suffered life-threatening Zithromax side effects may file lawsuits as a way to recover financially from the high costs of treating their conditions, as well as for the pain and suffering they have endured.

If you have been harmed by Zithromax, contact a Zithromax attorney today to find out if it would be better to file a Zithromax lawsuit as an individual or to join a Zithromax class action lawsuit.