Zithromax (azithromycin) by Pfizer is a popular antibiotic because it treats a variety of infections and is typically limited to a five-day dose, unlike most other antibiotics that are usually taken for 10 to 14 days.

Commonly used to treat bacterial sinus infections in adults and ear infections in children, Zithromax has been prescribed since its FDA approval in 1992.

Zithromax Side Effects

The most common side effects are diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain or vomiting.

In some cases, the diarrhea can be clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, commonly called CDAD.

Such diarrhea occurs because antibiotics not only eliminate bacteria, but also affect the normal flora of the colon, leading to an overgrowth of C. difficile. Sometimes this side effect occurs more than two months after the antibiotic has been taken.

Other serious adverse Zithromax side effects include liver problems or liver damage. When Zithromax liver damage, a variety of serious side effects may occur, including:

• Acute hepatic injury, which is inflammation of the liver. Symptoms can include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, fever, vomiting and abdominal pain.
• Liver necrosis, which is indicated by high serum levels but little or no jaundice
• Liver failure

Acute hepatic injury with jaundice can be prolonged, resulting in damaged bile ducts.

Zithromax is a macrolide antibiotic, and those in this class are primarily flushed from the body through the liver. This is why liver problems can be a particularly dangerous side effect from taking Zithromax.

If severe enough in nature, liver damage can deteriorate to liver failure, resulting in the need for a liver transplant, or even in death.

Liver Problems and Zithromax

In 1997, a 69-year-old man took 500 mg of Zithromax for three days to treat pneumonia. Three days after stopping the medication, he produced dark urine and showed jaundiced eyes and skin, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Lab tests proved he had increased bilirubin levels, but he was negative for hepatitis A, B and C viruses. His liver ultrasound showed nothing unusual.

He was given a different antibiotic to treat his pneumonia, and he recovered within a few weeks.

This was an early onset of liver problems that showed up three days after he stopped the medication. He recovered reasonably quickly, but doctors say he was probably lucky that he took Zithromax for only three days.

Medical staff advised the gentleman not take Zithromax in the future, but are unsure of his risks of liver damage if he should take a different macrolide antibiotic such as erythromycin.

Zithromax Lawsuits

If you or someone you know has taken Zithromax and developed liver damage as a result, you could benefit from a class action lawsuit to assist you with unexpected expenses such as time missed from work, hospitalization fees and more.