Zithromax (azithromycin) has a generally positive reputation for an antibiotic.

But growing evidence suggests that Zithromax may cause Zithromax kidney damage. A 2011 study in the medical journal Clinical Kidney Health has highlighted this potential risk.

What is Zithromax?

Zithromax is the trade name of an antibiotic called azithromycin. Zithromax / azithromycin belong to a family of antibiotics called macrolides. In nature, bacteria produce macrolides to kill competing bacteria. Researchers created and synthesized azithromycin to kill harmful bacteria.

Macrolides in general, and Zithromax in particular enjoy a reputation for safely treating infections. However, Zithromax kidney damage concerns have begun to come to light.

Study Links Zithromax To Kidney Damage

In a case study from 2011, a sixteen year old girl went in for emergency medical care due to kidney disease. She had started a brief course of Zithromax two weeks prior.

The case study details the bloodwork and microscopy techniques physicians used to understand how a young woman suddenly developed kidney damage. Doctors could quickly rule out other causes, and came to believe that her kidney damage had resulted from Zithromax.

Kidney damage can be life threatening. Like brain cells, nephrons, the cells that perform the work of the kidney, do not readily regenerate. This means that serious kidney damage or kidney disease simply does not heal. Without functioning kidneys, biological wastes build up in the blood, and damage tissues.

In this alleged case of Zithromax kidney damage, the teen had a positive outcome. A rapid response from doctors saved her. Physicians used steroids to reduce inflammation in her kidneys, which reduced the swelling and blocked off further damage.

The doctors were able to prevent permanent damage. Still, it took four weeks from the time the teen entered the hospital with alleged Zithromax kidney damage to a full recovery.

Zithromax Lawsuits

A Zithromax class action lawsuit investigation has been launched to explore the possibilities of legal action over alleged cases of Zithromax kidney damage. Such a lawsuit could allege that the makers of Zithromax were aware, or reasonably should have been aware that their drug could cause Zithromax kidney damage.

Indeed, under US law, the makers of a drug have a legal obligation to carefully and thoroughly test their wares for safety and efficacy. Beyond this, the makers of drugs like Zithromax are obligated to perform postmarket surveillance, which means they are required to monitor FDA reports and research on the effects of their drugs.

Postmarket surveillance is important, since clinical trials may only have thousands of participants and some of the more rare drug side effects may not show up in detectable levels until millions take the drug.

Such a Zithromax kidney lawsuit could seek to recoup the cost of treatment, lost wages/lost income potential, and other costs linked to alleged Zithromax kidney damage.