Zithromax (azithromycin)

Zithromax, known generically as azithromycin, is an antibiotic sold by Pfizer and used for mild to moderate infections. Zithromax side effects reportedly include an increased risk of liver failure, sudden death due to heart problems and Stevens Johnson syndrome. The FDA has issued warnings and updated the label to reflect the risk of Zithromax liver damage. The agency is currently reviewing data concerning sudden death associated with the antibiotic.


Zithromax, also known as Z-pack, has been linked to an increased risk of liver damage, elevated liver enzymes, jaundice and death. In January 2011, the FDA updated Zithromax's warning label to include the risk of liver failure, which has resulted in the death of some patients. Patients who show signs of abnormal liver function while taking Zithromax are urged to discontinue use.

Common symptoms of liver damage are:

- Yellow eyes
- Jaundice
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Clay-colored stool
- Dark urine
- Elevated or abnormal liver enzymes

According to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, some patients who take azithromycin could be at increased risk for sudden death. Although the odds are relatively small, the increased risk is considered significant. Azithromycin has been linked to abnormal heart rhythms when patients with heart disease took the medication over a five-day course. Researchers reportedly examined the records of around 540,000 Medicaid patients and found that azithromycin was associated with 64.6 deaths per million courses of treatment, compared with 21.8 deaths per million with amoxicillin and 24 deaths per million with no treatment.

As a result of the New England Journal of Medicine study, the FDA announced it was reviewing evidence concerning the risk of cardiovascular death in patients who use Zithromax.

Zithromax has been linked to an increased risk of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a rare and potentially fatal allergic reaction to medication. A 2006 report at the National Center for Biotechnology Information suggests that Zithromax was linked to the development of Stevens Johnson Syndrome in a 62-year-old patient and in a child.

Patients with Stevens Johnson Syndrome and its more severe form, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, suffer skin lesions and blisters over their body, which result in skin sloughing off. They may suffer internal burning, damage to their internal organs and mucous membranes, permanent vision damage, loss of hair and nails, permanent scarring and respiratory problems.

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Last updated on Jul-10-12