FDA Warns Zithromax Users of Fatal Heart Risks
By Courtney Coren
A warning was issued earlier this month by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that the widely used antibiotic azithromycin — commonly known as Zithromax, Zmax and Z-pak — has been found to lead to a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm in some users.
The FDA explained in the warning that the electrical activity of the heart can be altered by Zithromax, which can lead to a prolonged QT interval. This means it takes longer than normal for the heart muscle to recharge between beats, which can be fatal.
The FDA came to this conclusion after reviewing studies that were done to determine if Zithromax was a possible cause of abnormal changes to the electrical activity of the heart.
The New England Journal of Medicine published a study last May that compared cardiovascular risks in patients taking Zithromax to other antibiotics. Zithromax was shown to have a higher number of deaths due to irregular heart rhythms. One in 4,000 patients is at risk of death due to heart arrhythmia as a result of the drug.
The group most at risk for Zithromax cardiac problems is those patients who already have heart rhythm problems, low levels of potassium or magnesium, a slower than normal heart rate or patients that are on certain medications to treat abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias. According to the FDA, Zithromax may also lead to problems in patients with torsade de pointes, which is associated with a prolonged QT interval and may degenerate into ventricular fibrillation, an arrhythmia that is usually fatal unless treated promptly.
The FDA warned doctors that they need to be aware of similar risks in other antibiotics in the same macrolide class as Zithromax, as well as some in non-macrolide antibiotics, and they need to take potential risks into account when prescribing these drugs.
Zithromax’s labels have been updated to reflect the FDA’s warning.
Zithromax is a popular antibiotic because treatment only lasts five days while the benefits have been shown to continue several days after use. But, because of its popularity, it is also overused.
Pfizer Inc., the maker of Zithromax, also emphasized in an emailed statement that other antibiotics come with similar risks and that most patients will not be affected by this warning and the label change.
“Patients who are currently prescribed Zithromax should talk to their doctors or healthcare providers if they have questions regarding their treatment,” Pfizer said.
If you or someone you know has suffered heart problems after taking Zithromax, legal options are available to you. Learn more and get a free legal consultation regarding a claim’s eligibility at the Zithromax Z-Pak Azithromycin Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation. Experienced legal professionals have access to medical experts to assess whether or not this antibiotic played a role in your irregular heart rhythm or other serious side effect, so act now.
Updated April 1st, 2013
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