Defective Drug Zithromax Attorneys in New York City

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    What is Zithromax?

    Zithromax (an antibiotic also known as Azithromycin) is manufactured by the drug company Pfizer, and has been one of the world’s best-selling antibiotics since its patent in 1981, subsequent license in 1986, and manufacture under the name Zithromax by Pfizer in 1991. Zithromax is used for the treatment of bacterial infections and prevention of further infections, and is prescribed in tablet or liquid form generally taken for three to five days depending on whether the dosage is 250 mg or 500 mg. Zithromax is issued over 60 million times a year, and is sold by other generic manufacturers who may market it as Azithromycin, Z-Pak (six-day dosage), Tri-Pack (three-day dosage), Z-max or Azin. Zithromax is so popular that many patients ask for it by name at the onset of any type of bacterial infection due to its ability to quickly eliminate the infection.

    Zithromax Linked to Irregular Fatal Heartbeat

    Reports as recent as March 12, 2013 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reveal findings that Zithromax has been shown in some patients to cause potentially fatal irregular heart rhythms (including prolonged QT intervals in the beating of the heart). Irregular heart rhythms refer to any abnormal change in the electrical activity of the heart, and the QT interval represents the time it takes for the heart ventricles to contract and relax. Excessively long or alarmingly short intervals can signal problems.

    In addition, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine in May of 2012, Zithromax was linked to a slight increase in the number of deaths compared to those who used other forms of antibiotics to treat similar infections. Those particularly at risk are patients who have rare heart arrhythmias, those who are already at risk for cardiovascular ailments, and those who have low blood levels of potassium and magnesium.

    What Infections are Treated by a Prescription of Zithromax?

    If you or someone you know received a prescription for Zithromax, you may find that it was used to treat some of these various ailments:

    • ear infections
    • lung infections
    • sinus infections
    • skin and throat infections
    • traveler’s diarrhea
    • respiratory tract infections
    • pelvic inflammatory disease
    • some forms of meningitis
    • some forms of sexually transmitted infections
    • some localized dental infections

    If you have had any of the above bacterial infections and were prescribed Zithromax (or Zithromax by any other name) to treat those infections, you may want to seek the advice of a law firm like Finz & Finz, P.C., who can help you determine whether you have a case for a defective drug. Finz & Finz, P.C., law firm is renowned for representing claimants in such cases, and we would be happy to talk to you about your situation. You can contact Finz & Finz, P.C., toll free at (855) TOP-FIRM or simply fill out the free Zithromax Case Evaluation form.

    Side Effects of Zithromax

    As with any medication that causes an allergic reaction, you should seek medical treatment. Allergic reactions such as swelling of face or lips, or difficulty breathing, should be reported immediately, and you should stop taking the drug until further evaluated or prescribed by your physician after experiencing these symptoms. Although very few who have taken Zithromax and experienced certain side effects actually quit taking the drug, the recent warning by the FDA may be the information needed to bring the problem into the forefront about the risks of taking Zithromax and any type of drug that may have potential side effects.

    The more common side effects of Zithromax include (but are not limited to) the following, and you may find that you experienced some of these symptoms:

    • severe headache accompanied by chest pain or dizziness
    • fainting
    • fast, frequent, and exceedingly pounding heartbeats
    • skin reactions (severe swelling, burning, or skin pain) particularly if the skin becomes discolored or begins to peel
    • anxiety or sleep problems
    • discolored or watery diarrhea

    Your family physician should be aware of any symptoms and use caution when prescribing this drug to treat infections requiring antibiotics. In addition, a good family physician will advise and warn you of further possible side effects of Zithromax or its interaction with other drugs. The list of drugs that cause negative interactions with Zithromax is many, and some of them include anti-malaria medications, certain heart and blood pressure medications, migraine headache medications, cholesterol-lowering medications (such as statins), and others. For a full list of medications that should be considered before taking Zithromax, see your local pharmacist or refer to sources such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for more information and updates.

    Instead of taking on the legal issues by yourself when dealing with physicians who may have prescribed Zithromax (or Zithromax by any other name), your best course of action is to contact a law firm that specializes in defective drug cases. The Finz & Finz, P.C. team consists of New York City defective drug attorneys renowned for achieving desirable results in defective drug lawsuits. The lawyers and paralegals at the firm are standing by to answer your questions about Zithromax and other faulty drugs. Without any obligation, we invite you to fill out and submit our Free Zithromax Case Evaluation form, or you can contact us toll-free at (855) TOP-FIRM to further discuss your case.