New Study Raises Concerns that Doctors Overprescribe Zithromax Z-Pak

A new study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy indicates that American physicians prescribe the most powerful antibiotics more than 60 percent of the time. More than 25 percent of broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed to treat viral infections, even though antibiotics are completely ineffective at treating these diseases. 

In the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 238,000 ambulatory visits of adult patients to doctors, emergency rooms and outpatient clinics between 2007 and 2009. They learned that the broad-spectrum drugs like the Zithromax Z-Pak accounted for 61 percent of antibiotic prescriptions, while narrow-spectrum antibiotics made up the remaining 39 percent of prescriptions.

Dr. Adam Hersh, an infectious disease expert and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine, claims that this prescription pattern is similar for children as well. 

“Many antibiotics prescribed for children are unnecessary, particularly for conditions caused by viruses, where antibiotics don’t help at all,” he said. “Even when an antibiotic is indicated, such as for strep throat or some ear infection, physicians prescribe an antibiotic such as a Z-Pak, which can be less effective than amoxicillin.”

Doctors are facing a growing concern that overuse of antibiotics is leading to antibiotic resistance, which causes antibiotics to become ineffective at killing harmful bacteria. As the antibiotic study shows, many antibiotic medications are prescribed inappropriately. In these cases, antibiotics are not needed and the risks tend to outweigh the benefits. While the Zithromax Z-Pak is popular because patients only need to take it once a day for five days, it is often more powerful than necessary to treat certain bacterial infections. 

Zithromax Side Effects Include Heart Attack, Cardiac Death

Zithromax (azithromycin) is a “broad-spectrum” antibiotic that is effective at treating a wide variety of bacterial infections. The Zithromax Z-Pak is one of the world’s best-selling antibiotics. While the drug is highly effective at treating a broad variety of bacterial infections, Zithromax has also been linked to severe side effects. A 2012 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated that the drug may increase the risk of death, especially in individuals with existing heart conditions, when compared with patients who took amoxicillin or no drug at all.

In 2013, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warned that the Zithromax Z-Pak could cause changes in the heart’s electrical activity that could lead to a potentially fatal heart rhythm. Those with preexisting heart conditions such as QT interval prolongation, low levels of magnesium or potassium in the blood or a slower than normal heart rate may be at increased risk of death. Patients who are already taking medications to treat arrhythmias are also in danger of experiencing a potential fatal Zithromax heart rhythm.

Learn about Your Legal Options

If you or someone you love has experienced a heart attack or other major side effect after taking the Zithromax Z-Pak, you have legal options. To find out if you qualify to join a Zithromax lawsuit, visit the Zithromax, Z-Pak, Azithromycin Heart Attack, Stevens Johnson Syndrome & Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Class Action Lawsuit Settlement & Investigation. When you submit information about your situation, a Zithromax lawyer will conduct a free case review to determine if you qualify to file a Zithromax lawsuit.