Zithromax is a widely used antibiotic used to treat a range of bacterial infections and has recently been linked to severe side effects such as liver failure, with some patients even needing a liver transplant.

Zithromax Z-Pak (azithromycin), manufactured by Pfizer, Inc., is often used to treat bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillitis, skin and/or ear infections, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Zithromax Z-Pak, sometimes marketed as Zmax, belongs to a class of drugs called macrolide antibiotics, which interfere with bacteria’s ability to create proteins.

Zithromax was first approved for market distribution in 1992 and quickly became one of the most popular antibiotics for bacterial infections. Part of the reason for this is that Zithromax Z-Pak is considerably more potent than other similar antibiotics.

This potency, however, brings along with it an increased risk of serious side effects such as liver damage or liver failure. Some Zithromax patients have needed to undergo a liver transplant due to Zithromax liver failure.

Zithromax Liver Side Effects

Zithromax is filtered through the patient’s liver as it passes through the body. Its potency leads it to accumulate here, leading to potentially severe problems for Zithromax patients.

Recently, Zithromax has had several label warnings updated regarding the severity of potential liver side effects such as liver failure. Liver damage or liver failure from antibiotics like Zithromax is an extremely serious side effect, and is irreversible.

Symptoms of Zithromax liver damage include:

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

It is important for patients using Zithromax Z-Pak to recognize symptoms of Zithromax liver damage and liver failure so they can seek medical help.

When unnoticed or left untreated for an extended period of time, Zithromax side effects can cause enough liver damage that the liver actually fails. In these cases, a patient must undergo a liver transplant.

As any patient waiting for organ donations knows, organ transplants are difficult to come by. Donations do not always come through in time for the patients that need them. Even if a patient does receive a donation, the liver transplant itself comes with serious risks.

Zithromax Z-Pak and the FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Zithromax in the FDA. Reports that Pfizer knew about Zithromax liver failure date back to as early as 1998.

However, Pfizer changed the warning label to include liver side effects only in 2001, and allegedly only at the request of the FDA. The new warning label also cautioned about hepatic liver side effects.

Zithromax Lawsuits

Many Zithromax lawsuits allege that Pfizer has been aware of Zithromax’s potential liver risks, including the potential need for a liver transplant due to liver failure for years, and yet has failed to adequately warn both the public and the medical community about these risks.

If you or someone you know has suffered from Zithromax liver damage or failure and needed a liver transplant, you may be able to file a Zithromax lawsuit against Pfizer. While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the physical effects of Zithromax side effects, financial compensation can help a patient to cover the cost of medical bills and lost wages, as well as make life easier.