Study Shows Increased Risk of Deadly Zithromax Side Effects

Zithromax (generic: azithromycin) is popular because patients have to take it for a fewer days than traditional antibiotics, even though it is often more expensive. However, a new study has found that doctors may want to consider other options than this broad spectrum antibiotic when patients prone to heart problems have an infection that is in need of treatment. 

Researchers at Vanderbilt University examined more than half a million Tennessee Medicaid patients’ records and data relating to antibiotic prescriptions of patients from 1992 to 2006. They found that there were 29 heart-related deaths in patients during the five days that they took Zithromax. While this is a small percentage of the 540,000 patients they looked at, it was still more than double compared to patients who took the antibiotic amoxicillin, or among those who didn’t take any antibiotics. 

According to calculations, the researchers predict that among patients who are prescribed Zithromax, there would be about 85 deaths out of 1 million courses compared to 32 deaths out of 1 million courses for those who are prescribed amoxicillin, and 30 for those who took no antibiotics. However, the greatest risk of death related to Zithromax was among those who already had heart problems.

According to researchers, the patients all had comparable risks for heart problems. The researchers concluded this would mean 47 extra Zithromax-induced fatal heart problems compared to amoxicillin. 

“People need to recognize that the overall risk is low,” said Dr. Harlan Krumholz, a specialist in health outcomes from Yale University. However he did recommend that patients with heart disease “should probably be steered away” from taking Zithromax.

The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in May 2012. It was partially funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. 

Zithromax maker Pfizer Inc. said that it was examining the study closely.

“Patient safety is of the utmost importance to Pfizer and we continuously monitor the safety and efficacy of our products to ensure that the benefits and risks are accurately described,” they said in a statement. 

The patients included in the study were on average 50 years of age and not hospitalized at the time they were prescribed the strong antibiotic. Most of them were also being treated for common infections, and were comparable in health as those who were prescribed other antibiotics.

However, Wayne Ray, one of the Vanderbilt researchers and professor of medicine said that the outcome could be different among the general population, saying that most Medicaid patients have more disabilities and lower incomes than other patients.

Ray said he wanted to do the study because of evidence that had come out showing that Zithromax was linked to heart rhythm problems, and there were other antibiotics in the same class that had been linked with sudden cardiac death.

Dr. Bruce Patsy, who is a medicine professor at the University of Washington, said that in light of this study, long-term use of Zithromax also needs to be considered, which other studies show may benefit those with severe lung disease, but, Patsy said, doctors need to know if that much Zithromax could be dangerous.

Zithromax is often prescribed for five days compared to amoxicillin and others, which need to be taken for 10 or more days. Zithromax is also twice as expensive as amoxicillin. It is a top-selling antibiotic in the United States. Last year Zithromax sales totaled $464 million. 

If you or someone you know has suffered a heart attack due to an irregular heart rhythm 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.