The Problem with Z-Pak Side Effects

Typically, Zithromax is prescribed to treat things like ear infections, sinus infections, or throat infections.  However, it is also used to treat a variety of STD’s (sexually transmitted diseases). Some of these include gonorrhea and chancroid. It has also been known to be prescribed off-label in order to treat acne, cat scratch disease, and whooping cough.

Pfizer initially received its approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Zithromax in 1991. Over the years the antibiotic has continued to grow in popularity. It has been reported that doctors wrote 55.3 million Zithromax prescriptions in 2011 alone – and that’s just in the United States alone.  These Zithromax prescription sales ended up generating $464.6 million for Pfizer in sales.

The formulas for Z-Pak and azithromycin received their FDA approval in 2005. This new formula meant that the patient did not have to take as many doses of the antibiotic as what they normally would with another antibiotic. This instantly caused Zithromax and Z-Pak to jump in popularity, especially among children.

Despite the fact that Zithromax is higher priced that other antibiotics, the general public didn’t seem to care as long as they had the benefits of taking fewer doses. The doctors were also pleased because it has been a long issue of patients not taking their full prescription of antibiotics. Instead, they stop when they are feeling better which presents issues of the bacteria becoming more and more resistant to that particular treatment option.

However, despite all of the benefits that are touted by both the manufacturer and the medical community when it comes to Zithromax and the Z-Pak, there are some major issues they would prefer to stay unknown and in the closet. One particular study that was completed over a 14-year period included the evaluation of millions of Zithromax prescriptions given to over 500,000 Zithromax users. These Zithromax users were participants of the Medicaid program in Tennessee from the year 1992 until 2006.

From this data they were able to determine that patients that took Zithromax or Z-Pak for more than 5 days had twice the risk of having a death due to a heart-related side effect of some kind opposed to those who took another type of antibiotic, like amoxicillin.  The New England Journal of Medicine published this study in May 2012.

After this the study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine a professor from Vanderbilt University gave an interview to NBC Nightly News. Dr. Wayne Ray is a preventative medicine professor and also the lead author of the study. In the interview he confirmed that there is evidence that Zithromax and Z-Pak are linked to causing heart issues.

There are some very serious side effects linked to Zithromax and Z-Pak. Some of these include the following:

• Abdominal pain
• Blindness
• Diarrhea/loose stools
• Dyspepsia
• Eye Infection
• Heart Attack
• Liver Failure
• Nausea
• Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS)
• Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)
• Trachoma
• Vaginitis
• Vomiting

If you or someone you love has taken has used Zithromax, Z-Pak, or azithromycin and developed severe side effects like heart attack, liver failure, or Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), it is time to know your legal options. Visit the Zithromax Z-Pak Azithromycin Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation page for a free consultation with a Zithromax lawsuit lawyer.