Zithromax is one of the most popularly prescribed antibiotics in the United States, and is predicted to dominate the antibiotic market for many years to come. Unfortunately, this drug has been linked to several severe side effects that have led to permanent conditions, like liver damage and kidney damage.

For the past several years, Zithromax has been linked to liver damage, elevated liver enzyme, jaundice, and has caused deaths in patients with pre-existing liver conditions. According to court documents, Zithromax liver failure lawsuits have been filed as early as 1998, but the manufacturer did not update Zithromax’s warning label to include liver failure until 2000, after being required to do so by the FDA.

More recently, kidney failure has been reportedly occurring to patients taking Zithromax, which has led some patients to undergo transplant or even death. Medical experts warn that if Zithromax patients start experiencing symptoms like changes in urination, swelling in legs and feet, or have developed a metallic taste in the mouth, they should immediately report to their physicians. Luckily, medical experts state that this Zithromax side effect is rare and needs further investigation before any decisions regarding label changes begin.

Kidney failure occurs when either an outside influence negatively affects the kidneys, or from a biological malfunction that leads to progressive or irreversible organ failure. The most common causes of kidney failure is high blood pressure and diabetes, but can also be caused by a negative reaction to a medication in some cases. Similarly, liver damage or failure also occurs when outside substances or organisms inflict harm to the organ, which would ultimately impair function. Both the liver and kidneys serve vital recycling and nutrition absorption functions for the body, so damage to either of these organs could lead to death.

Zithromax was was approved by the FDA in 1992 to treat certain respiratory and skin infections, but was later approved to treat numerous more; it is especially popular as a prescription treatment for pneumonia and ear infections. For manufacturing company Pfizer, it has been one of their most lucrative creations, grossing billions in its prime. Even with the release of generic Zithromax, sales for the drug totaled $435 million in 2012.

Overview of Zithromax Side Effects Concern

Currently, medical experts do not have an explanation for why liver damage or kidney failure may be occurring from Zithromax use. However, experts believe it may be linked to how Zithromax is broken down and processed through the body.

Zithromax belongs to the macrolides antibiotic drug family, which work by preventing bacteria from reproducing the proteins that are crucial for the bacterial infection to grow. By stopping the bacterial growth, the remaining cells will eventually die off or be destroyed by the body’s immune system. This contrasts greatly with traditional antibiotics, which work by killing bacteria.

This mechanism works because Zithromax does not breakdown in the patient’s body as quickly as most other antibiotics. Designed to float unattached in the bloodstream, it is later recruited by white blood cells to fight bacteria. The white blood cells then take Zithromax to the bacterial infection, where the drug concentrates entirely on halting the infection’s production.

This unique treatment mechanism has made Zithromax staggeringly popular in both the patient and medical community, earning billions for Pfizer despite the release of its generic variations. Additionally, experts believe Zithromax’s popularity stems from the fact that it only requires a five-day treatment regimen, instead of the standard 10 for most antibiotic treatments.

Despite being popular among all patient groups, this has not stopped concern stemming from medical experts regarding Zithromax side effects. In fact, numerous patients have filed legal action against Pfizer in product-liability charges, claiming the company failed to protect them against Zithromax side effects.