Zithromax Can Be Deadly for Patients with Heart Conditions

Because it can be taken over a shorter period of time than most other antibiotics, Zithromax sales quickly soared, surpassing $1 billion annually. Each year, more than 40 million patients receive a prescription for Zithromax. The drug’s popularity was also due in part to Pfizer’s successful marketing. Pfizer embarked on an aggressive direct-to-consumer campaign that encouraged parents to ask their doctors to prescribe Zithromax to treat their children’s ear infections. The company claimed that Zithromax was ideal for children because it can be taken over a period of just five days. Pfizer has since come under fire for using misleading marketing tactics that downplay potential Zithromax health risks.

2012 Study Shows Increased Risk of Zithromax Cardiac Death

Despite the drug’s popularity, Zithromax has been linked to some serious health risks, including heart attack, liver failure, cardiovascular problems and eye infections. In severe cases, some patients experience a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

In a study published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers compared the risks of cardiovascular death in patients who were treated with different types of antibiotics and patients who were not treated with antibiotics. They found that there was an increased risk of death in patients who received a five day course of Zithromax when compared to patients who received other antibiotics or none at all.

Zithromax Alters Heart’s Electrical Activity, Causes Potentially Fatal Heart Rhythm

In March, the FDA warned that Zithromax could cause a potentially fatal heart rhythm in patients with existing heart conditions. Use of the drug can alter the heart’s electrical activity. Patients with known risk factors such as QT interval prolongation, low levels of magnesium or potassium in their blood or a slow heart rate are at heightened risk of developing a fatal Zithromax heart condition.

Patients who are currently taking medications to treat a heart condition are also at risk of developing the fatal heart rhythm. The FDA warned doctors to use caution when prescribing Zithromax to patients with pre-existing heart conditions and other risk factors.

Find Out More about Your Legal Options

If you or someone you love has suffered from severe Zithromax side effects, you could be able to recover compensation for your injuries. If a loved one has died after experiencing a Zithromax heart condition, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

To learn more about your legal rights, visit our Zithromax, Z-Pak, Azithromycin Heart Attack, Stevens Johnson Syndrome & Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Class Action Lawsuit Settlement & Investigation. When you submit information about your injuries, a lawyer will review your claim to determine whether you qualify to file a Zithromax lawsuit. If your lawsuit is successful, you could receive compensation for your injuries and other losses.