One of America’s most popular antibiotics, Zithromax, has been associated with a long list of side effects, including liver damage and kidney failure.

Zithromax (azithromycin) is prescribed to millions of patients every year, with numerous injury reports indicating severe complications that result in long-term health conditions or death.

Approved in 1992, Zithromax has been approved to treat a variety of bacterial infections including bronchitis, pneumonia, and certain sexually transmitted diseases.

Ever since its approval, Zithromax has earned billions for its manufacturing company Pfizer, with sales in America totaling $435 million in 2012.

Zithromax belongs to class of medications called macrolides, which work by preventing bacteria from multiplying and spreading beyond the infectious area. The drug attacks the protein essential for reproducing, and leaves the remaining bacterial cells to die out.

This contrasts greatly from traditional antibiotics, which work to kill bacterial cells directly. The treatment mechanism is believed to be one of the main contributing factors to the drug’s popularity, along with its short prescription regime.

Compared to typical antibiotic prescriptions, which need to be taken for 10 days, Zithromax only needs to be taken for five days. This is one of the reasons why Zithromax is so popular.

Overview of Zithromax Side Effects

Unfortunately, Zithromax has also been linked to serious adverse side effects. One of the complications reported by patients is kidney failure, which is currently being investigated by experts.

According to a recent survey conducted on the medical site eHealthMe, over 10,000 Zithromax patients reported side effects. The patients who participated in the survey had been prescribed Zithromax for a short time and had also been taking aspirin. The study examined 10,965 patients, and found 267 (2.44%) cases of kidney failure.

Kidney failure occurs when the organ becomes unable to filter waste from the blood, which causes waste to accumulate and cause various problems for the body. This is a deadly condition, with patients needing intensive care or organ transplant depending on the condition’s severity.

With minor cases of kidney failure, the damage can be reversed with hospital treatment but serious cases may require organ transplant. There are a variety of causes for kidney failure, with adverse drug side effects being one of them.

If Zithromax patients start experiencing decreased urination, swelling in legs, seizures, or chest pain, they should notify their doctor immediately. It is important to note that patients should never discontinue a medication before consulting their physician.

Patients should be diagnosed as soon as possible, as permanent kidney damage would require patients to be on permanent dialysis or the damage may be fatal. Despite the severity of this condition, Pfizer has not included kidney failure on Zithromax’s warning label.

A number of former Zithromax patients have filed Zithromax lawsuits against Pfizer, claiming that the company failed to warn them against the drug’s complications.