Zithromax Side Effects Include Sudden Cardiac Death

What is Zithromax?

Zithromax is the trade name of azithromycin. This drug also sells under the names Azithromycin, Zmax, Azin, and the Z-Pak. It can be used to treat a range of bacterial infections, including ear infections, strep throat, and bacterial pneumonia. It is also useful for treating sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia and gonorrhea. Zithromax works by selectively bonding to bacterial ribosomal subunits. Here, it blocks the translation of bacterial mRNA without affecting mammal cells like those of a human.

Azithromycin (Zithromax) was first developed by scientists in the early 1980s in Yugoslavia. The specific part of Yugoslavia in question is now part of Croatia. In the late eighties, Pfizer obtained the rights to market the drug in the United States. The drug’s ability to treat a wide range of bacteria infections led to its extreme popularity. However, Zithromax has been associated with a number of serious side effects.

Possible Side Effects of Zithromax

Zithromax is generally well tolerated, with less than one percent of patients discontinuing the drug due to side effects. However, some patients who did suffer Zithromax side effects suffered serious, life-threatening ones.

A 2012 study published in the New England Journal of Health found that patients on Zithromax were more likely to suffer from serious heart-related complications. The study compared patients on Zithromax to control patients taking other antibiotics, or taking no drugs whatsoever. Compared to the controls, it was found that patients on Zithromax were more likely to experience heart arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The increase was small, but for those affected, it was devastating.

The study found that patients were most likely to experience these cardiac side effects if they had preexisting heart problems. These included existing arrhythmias, previous heart attacks, and Q-T prolongation. The authors of the study recommended that physicians should prescribe other, unrelated antibiotics for these high-risk patients. The study was well-received by other researchers, since related antibiotics were already known to cause this type of problems, making the connection between Zithromax and heart problems “biologically plausible.”

The study prompted the FDA to release a warning in 2013. This warning stated that Zithromax “can cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart that may lead to a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm.”

If you or someone you love took Zithromax, then experienced serious side effects like heart arrhythmia or sudden cardiac death, you may be devastated, and not sure what to do next. However, you can regain control of your situation. You can take the first steps by visiting the Zithromax Class Action Lawsuit Settlement & Investigation. Here, you can submit your information for a free legal review by an expert in this type of law. If you have a case, you will receive guidance on the next steps to take.