Zithromax (azithromycin) is a popular antibiotic manufactured by Pfizer Inc., widely prescribed to treat individuals suffering from acute bacterial infections, tonsillitis, pneumonia, and other infectious conditions.

Since Zithromax attained FDA approval in the mid-1990s, the drug has been used worldwide and made Pfizer hundreds of millions of dollars in sales annually.

However, within the last year, Pfizer has faced several civil lawsuits and class action lawsuits filed by patients and families of patients who allegedly suffered extreme side effects after taking Zithromax, including Zithromax liver and kidney complications.

Zithromax Liver Side Effects

According to certain Zithromax studies, the azithromycin drug has been linked with an increased risk of liver damage, increased liver enzymes, jaundice, and even death in some patients who had no preexisting liver problems before taking the Pfizer drug.

One 2013 Zithromax liver study published in the National Library of Health Medicine states using Zithromax increases and individual’s risk of toxic liver disease (also known as hepatotoxicity) by about 1 percent to 2 percent, a percentage which increases if a patient uses Zithromax for more than a few days.

Some symptoms of Zithromax liver damage include:

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

Many Zithromax liver lawsuits have presented evidence that claims Pfizer knew about azithromycin side effects, including Zithromax liver complications as early as 1998. However, the company waited to change the warning label until a 2001 FDA mandate forced them to include abnormal liver function, jaundice, necrosis liver failure, and even death on the Z-Pak warning label.

Zithromax Kidney Side Effects

While Zithromax kidney complications are rare, they have been known to happen in patients taking azithromycin. Some Zithromax kidney complications include kidney failure, kidney damage, and various types of kidney infections.

Symptoms to look out for in patients taking Zithromax, which may indicate that a patient is experiencing kidney failure and/or kidney disease includes:

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

Other Zithromax Complications

Drug makers like Pfizer have a legal responsibility to consumers and the medical community to disclose all possible drug risks and side effects associated with their product. If a pharmaceutical company fails to do so, it could be liable for negligent marketing, as well as selling and manufacturing a defective drug.

Some other alleged Zithromax side effects besides liver and kidney failure that Pfizer is currently facing in various Zithromax lawsuits and Zithromax class action lawsuits include:

• Heart attack
• Stevens Johnson Syndrome
• Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
• Cardiovascular problems
• Sudden death

Because of these alleged Zithromax health conditions, many consumers are filing Zithromax kidney lawsuits, Zithromax liver lawsuits,  or joining Zithromax class action lawsuits to seek compensation from Pfizer.