For years, the pharmaceutical industry has worked to develop drugs to fight specific diseases that plague the human body.

One of the most common type of drugs developed are antibiotics like Zithromax (generic: Azithromycin) which stop or prevent bacteria growth, thereby limiting infection.

Yet, antibiotics can have serious side effects, sometimes even worse than the condition the drug was prescribed for.  Some patients report side effects that include vision problems, requiring emergency or critical care after taking certain antibiotics like Zithromax.

What is Zithromax?

Zithromax belongs to a medication class called macrolide antibiotics, designed to stop bacterial growth within the body. It can be used to treat several bacterial infections, but not the flu, colds, or other viral infections.

Zithromax can be used to treat conditions such as:

• Sinus infections
• Ear infections
• Skin infections
• Gastrointestinal infections such as traveler’s diarrhea
• Throat infections such as strep throat and tonsillitis
• Lung infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis
• Sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea

A form of Zithromax was first developed in the 1980s, where it was distributed in Western Europe and the United States. Over a decade later, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a form of Zithromax used to treat eye infections. Zithromax, also known as Z-Pak is manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.

Zithromax Side Effects

Among the most common side effects of antibiotic drug include diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and nausea. Other less severe Zithromax side effects may also include loss of appetite, skin rash, stomach cramps, and head pain.

However, in recent years, there have been allegations that the drug can increase the risk of Zithromax side effects, such as heart problems, sudden death, liver damage, heart problems, and repeat eye infections, which can lead to permanent vision problems or blindness.

Vision Problems and Eye Infections

Zithromax has been linked to repeated infections by the same bacteria in some patients. In a 2006 study, Zithromax was shown to increase the chances that a patient may be re-infected with a disease not long after treatment. It was believed that this was due to the body not having the chance to build up a resistance to the disease before the Zithromax fought off the bacteria.

One particular disease studied is a bacteria that causes certain eye infections, specifically Trachoma. Trachoma is the second most common cause of blindness in the United States, affecting an estimated 80 million people with nearly 8 million suffering permanent vision loss as a result of Trachoma.

Trachoma infects the inside of the eyelid, and scaring builds up over time that makes the eyelashes turn inward, eventually leading to scratching of the eye surface and allowing bacteria to build up and cause permanent vision problems or blindness.

At least one study has shown that Zithromax may do more harm by hampering the body’s ability to fight off infections like Trachoma.

Zithromax Lawsuit Information

Have you suffered serious vision problems or even blindness after taking Zithromax? Zithromax victims may be entitled to financial compensation to cover the costs of medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering.

If you or a loved one have experienced vision problems or a blinding eye infection after taking the antibiotic Zithromax, you may want to speak with a personal injury attorney regarding a potential claim.