Over-Prescription of Z-Pak May Lead to Major Health Consequences

As the potential side effects of Zithromax continue to be exposed, more and more Z-Pak lawsuits are being filed. This popular antibiotic has been linked to several side effects, including:

* Stevens Johnson Syndrome
* Trachoma/blindness/eye infections
* Irregular heart beat
* Heart attacks
* Liver failure
* Cardiovascular problems

There have been both individual Zithromax lawsuits as well as Z-Pak class action lawsuits filed across the United States.

Study Shows Harmful Consequences to Overprescribing Antibiotics, Such as Zithromax (Z-Pak)

Studies have been completed on the over-prescribing of antibiotics like Zithromax. With prescriptions for medications like a Z-Pak at an all-time high, it is no wonder that the Zithromax side effects are at an all-time high as well.

The Archives of Internal Medicine’s publication addressed two studies regarding prescriptions of antibiotics, like Zithromax.  One study focused on seniors who were prescribed antibiotics, based on evaluations in geographic variations. The other focused on adults suffering from sinusitis being subscribed antibiotics. Researchers with affiliation to Pittsburg University’s Public Health School conducted the geographic study. In their notes, they detailed the substantial side effects of the over-prescribing of antibiotics, such as the Z-Pak, in seniors.

Medicare Data was accessed from the 1st of January 2007 through the 31st of December 2009 by the researchers. They performed an examination in variations of geography, studying senior antibiotic use in hospital referral regions of 306 Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care, the fifty states, and Washington D.C. They also included the South, West, Midwest, and Northeast, which are the four regions of the nation. Quarterly changes in regard to antibiotic usage, like Zithromax, in the four regions were also studied. Adjustments were made in the regions in regard to differences in demographics, clinical attributes, and status of insurance.

Following adjustments made for characteristics of the population, significant quarterly and geographic variation was discovered in the investigation by the researchers. This variation remained unexplainable by differences in the prevalence of conditions which were underlying. Annual diabolic spending was very similar across both region and state, with there being a .01 differential (1.31 across states and 1.32 across regions). This is taken from a 75th percentile to the 25th percentile of ratios. The south had the most antibiotic use, with 21.4% patients using an antibiotic per quarter. The least use of antibiotics, such as Zithromax, use occurred in the West. Patients prescribed antibiotics, like a Z-Pak, reached 17.4% per quarter. Notwithstanding the region, the first quarter had the highest rate of antibiotic usage at 20.9%, from January all the way to March. The third quarter contained the lowest rate of antibiotic use, which was 16.9% from July all the way to September.
    
With the numbers reflecting so many prescriptions of Zithromax/Z-Pak, it is no wonder that the severe side effect that Zithromax has been associated with have become so prevalent across the nation. As the number of reported Zithromax side effects rise, so do the number of Z-Pak lawsuits as victims seek compensation for the medical expenses and pain and suffering they have had to endure.