Zithromax Increases Risk of Cardiac Arrest for Some Patients

Zithromax Increases Risk of Cardiac Arrest for Some Patients

By Robert J. Boumis

In 2013, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning that the blockbuster antibiotic Zithromax was linked to an increased risk of serious heart problems. The FDA also strengthened the warnings that come with the antibiotic to alert the public to this risk. 

Zithromax (azithromycin) is a macrolide antibiotic. Because this type of drug can interfere with a wide range of bacteria, it is a popular treatment for many bacterial infections. Additionally, Zithromax has a substantially different structure and activity from penicillin, meaning that people with penicillin allergies can usually take Zithromax safely. These features have lead to a widespread deployment of Zithromax in the health care field. However, the FDA has warned the public about the risk of Zithromax heart complications.

The FDA’s warnings came in response to studies that revealed a risk of certain types of abnormal Zithromax heart rhythms. This type of heart complication was well-known with related macrolide drugs. However, it was initially believed that Zithromax’s synthetic origins made it safer. While Zithromax does have a lower risk of these complications than other macrolide antibiotics, studies have found a risk of heart complications associated with the drug. In particular, it has been linked with torsades de pointes and a prolongation of the QT interval. These are changes in the way the heart beats, and can lead to or contribute to serious heart problems like cardiac arrest. 

According to the research, these issues were most likely to manifest and cause issues in the elderly and people with preexisting heart issues like arrhythmias. At the present time, the FDA does not advise patients to stop antibiotic therapy with Zithromax since abruptly stopping antibiotic treatment can have serious health implications. Instead, the FDA advises patients and health care workers to consider the risks of Zithromax heart complications when prescribing this drug. 

Lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of Zithromax. These Zithromax lawsuits allege that the manufacturer was aware – or reasonably should have been aware, based on their own clinical trials, postmarket surveillance, and peer-reviewed journal articles – of the potential for live-threatening heart problems associated with this drug. The lawsuits further allege that the manufactures at the very did not do enough to warn the general public and may have actively concealed the risk. These lawsuits seek medical costs, final expenses, and other types of compensation for harms allegedly caused by Zithromax.

If you or someone you care about has taken Zithromax and went on to suffer from serious heart problems, you have almost certainly found yourself in a challenging situation. The types of heart complications associated with this drug are medical emergencies – and potentially life-threatening. Additionally, emergency medical care can be costly, including medical costs and lost wages. And unfortunately, abnormal Zithromax heart rhythms can lead to cardiac arrest, leaving family members to cope not just with the emotional toll of such a situation, but also the financial burdens of the situation, such as final expenses and lost income potential. While it’s normal to feel overwhelmed, is important to remember that regardless of the challenges you are facing, you still have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain a measure of control over your situation. You can start by visiting the Zithromax, Z-Pak, Azithromycin Heart Attack, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome & Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Class Action Lawsuit Settlement & Investigation. Here, you can enter information about your situation for a confidential review by a legal expert with a background in this type of litigation. The initial consultation is completely free of charge and from here, you can receive additional guidance on the best steps to take in your exact situation.