Wellness

[YorkieonmyPillow]

Azithromycin, a commonly-prescribed antibiotic, may trigger a potentially deadly irregular heart rhythm for some patients, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned Tuesday.

The antibiotic that's sold as Zithromax, Zmax or sometimes referred to as a "Z-Pack" is prescribed to treat bacterial infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia, or ear infections.

The FDA is warning the public that the pills can cause abnormal changes in the heart's electrical activity that may lead to a fatal heart rhythm. Not everyone is at risk. Patients with known risk factors such as existing QT interval prolongation, low blood levels of potassium or magnesium, a slower than normal heart rate, or those who use  certain drugs to treat abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias face the greatest risk.

"Health care professionals should consider the risk of fatal heart rhythms with azithromycin when considering treatment options for patients who are already at risk for cardiovascular events," the FDA said in its March 12th update.

CBS news

[Annabellethecat66]

@YorkieonmyPillow Thanks for the info.  My daughter just started taking something like that for a cough she's had from the flu for over 1 month!

She HATES taking ANY medicine and I drove her crazy til she went to the Drs.  Now I'll never hear the end of this.

Thanks again, I just texted her the info and told her to go check it out.

[chrystaltree]

It's a prescription medication so obviously, the prescribing physician would know that.  Z Paks are new by any stretch of the imagination.  I think the real danger is that some lazy doctors over prescribe them because patients ask for Z packs whenever they get cough, cold or sore throat.  I thought that's where you were going with this.  

[gidgetgh]

Zithromax is one of the few antibiotics I can take.  I haven’t had to take it in several years, but I would if I needed to. 

[happycat]

Well, thats scary. When I have been prescribed that in the past, it just didn't seem to do much for me, and I ended up either call and/or going back to the dr for something different.

My dad has a heart condition, I dont think he needs to take any of that ever again.

[cherry]

I've only taken it once ,and I was so sick ,and so full of other meds, I felt awful

I hope I never have to take it again

[Icegoddess]

Good to know.  I took it with no problems late last year when I had a bad cold.  And I do have an abnormally low heart rate, which my Dr. knows about.  Guess I lucked out.  Or maybe I'm just charmed since I spent a week in close quarters last week with someone who, it turns out, had the flu.  

[KathyM23]

@YorkieonmyPillow  Thank you for posting this info.  I take a prescription  to keep heart in rhythm and will make sure not to take a Z-Pak.  So many medicines interactions and contra-indications, it is somestimes hard to know what to do

[angel54]

I had not heard this. This is the only one I can take. I have reactions to most antibotics. That is just great. Another one they will try to take off the market.