Zithromax side effects may be on a rise because patients are being overprescribed the popular Pfizer Inc. antibiotic, as many patients conditions are mild enough that the benefits of taking the azithromycin antibiotic are outweighed by the possible Zithromax risks.

According to an Oct. 2013 Zithromax side effects study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (or JAMA), the recommended method for treating a bout of group A Streptococcus (GAS) is actually penicillin because most patients react well to the drug, it is inexpensive, and it works well to fight GAS and reduce the sore throat condition.

Despite the effectiveness of penicillin, it is no longer the preferred method to treat strep. The use of penicillin as a strep treatment began to decline in 1998, around the same time use of Zithromax and other antibiotics were increasing in popularity. However, the Zithromax study suggests that this popularity may have led to the over-prescription of antibiotics, which in turn may be responsible for the rise in Zithromax side effects, like SJS, hepatotoxity, and heart problems.

While GAS is only responsible for about 10 percent of sore throats, a greater percentage of patients allegedly suffering from sore throats are prescribed and subsequently take antibiotics like Zithromax for what is most likely a cold and not a bacterial infection. Sixty percent of all patients with sore throats are generally given antibiotics, and about 15 percent are specifically given Zithromax (or azithromycin).

The over-prescription of Zithromax and other antibiotics is worrisome for the medical community in two ways. First, when patients are given antibiotics even when their condition does not necessitate taking this type of drug, it can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Secondly, the increased use of antibiotics like Zithromax may lead patients, who would otherwise be healthy, to develop serious azithromycin side effects.

Serious Zithromax Side Effects and Health Concerns

Although Zithromax is an antibiotic drug effective in combating bacterial infections like pneumonia and tonsillitis and has many potential health benefits, the drug has recently been scrutinized by medical experts and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A number of consumer reports and Zithromax lawsuits allege patients have suffered from heart attacks, liver damage, allergic skin reactions, and other serious side effects after taking the Z-Pak.

Some serious health conditions allegedly linked to Zithromax use besides heart attack include:

• Stevens Johnson Syndrome
• Liver Failure
• Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
• Cardiovascular Problems
• Sudden Death

Additional Zithromax physical side effects reported by Pfizer Inc. on the drug’s marketing and packaging include:

• Chest pain, uneven heartbeats
• Severe skin reaction
• Mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation
• Stomach pain or upset
• Dizziness, tired feeling, or headache
• Nervous feeling, sleep problems (insomnia)
• Vaginal itching or discharge
• Mild itching or skin rash
• Ringing in your ears, problems with hearing
• Decreased sense of taste or smell

Many individuals and families of individuals who have allegedly suffered from the Zithromax side effects listed above have filed Zithromax heart problem lawsuits or have joined Zithromax class action lawsuits to seek compensation from Pfizer.