Zithromax Z-Pak Wrongful Death Lawsuit: Heart Side Effects Linked to Increase Risk of Death
According to the findings of a study published this week, side effects of Zithromax may increase the risk of cardiovascular death. The FDA has issued a statement indicating that they are reviewing the data from this study, and our product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are evaluating whether families may be entitled to financial compensation through a Zithromax Z-Pak lawsuit for the death of family members taking this medication.
▸ UPDATE 3/12/2013: FDA Warning Zithromax Heart Problems
In the current issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers evaluated the heart side effects of Zithromax. Although the popular antibiotic, which is commonly known as a Z-Pak, is widely thought to have minimal risk on the heart, several reports involving heart arrhythmias on Zithromax raised concerns that there may be an increased risk of heart-related death associated with the medication.
Researchers evaluated data on more than 3.5 million patients who took Zithromax, amoxicillin, Cipro, Levaquin or no antibiotic at all. During the five day treatment with Z-Pak, researchers found that there was an increased risk of cardiovascular death and death from any cause, excluding patients with serious noncardiovascular illness.
In response to the study, the FDA issued a statement on the risk of heart death from Zithromax this week, indicating that the agency is reviewing the results of this study and will communicate any new information about the risk of death from Zithromax (azithromycin).
In March 2012, the warning label for Zmax (which contains azithromycin in an extended release oral suspension) was updated to include new information on the risk of QT interval prolongation, which can lead to heart arrythmias and other potentially life-threatening heart problems.
ZITHROMAX Z-PAK LAWYERS
While the FDA investigation is on-going, the lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are evaluating the potential for Zithromax wrongful death lawsuits on behalf of family members of individuals who died after receiving a Z-Pak as a result of:
- Heart Attack
- Heart Arrythmias
- Other Cardiovascular Event
To review a potential claim, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.
13 Comments • Add Your Comments
Mark says:
My son Daniel has been on coumadin or warfarin for 17 years since
the installation of his artificial mitral and aortic valves. Daniel was recently diagnosed with pneumonia. His “PT” at the time was 2.2 on warfarin. The 5 day Z-Pak dosage was prescribed. Daniel’s PT was at 8 on May 16th. His doctor advised him to cease the warfarin for a few days. At 1:19 AM on May 17th, Daniel fell over dead at his computer. He was 32 years old on May 6th. I learned about the Z-Pak issue this evening (May 19th). Legal action won’t bring him back.
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 1:37 am
Susan says:
Mark,
Legal action may help to save other Daniel’s. This company knew about this for a longtime. We have to fight. Money is the only thing these companies understand. I think it’s horrible what happened to your son and it grieves me.
Posted on March 12, 2013 at 3:01 pm
bill says:
Would like to know if the spam problem is somerhing to be concerned about even after you stop using it.I have been on it a number if times over the years and I do have ongoing problems with arrythmias even though I have not used this product in quite sometime
Posted on March 12, 2013 at 7:39 pm
Anne says:
Mark I’m so sorry about your son Daniel. When I was about Daniels age I got sick with pnemonia I was in the hospital for about 2 weeks & on z pak (I don’t know how much) and the day after I was released I fell out of my car & collapsed ended up in the ICU for the next month was told I almost died had a 2nd attack in ICU they put a temporary heart shocking device (not sure of the name) they also gave me a beta blocker metroplol which I’ve been on since then. I have no insurance so I finally quit taking it since I couldn’t get in to see a dr in time and its been a few weeks since I stopped taking it.
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 11:20 am
Shanoa says:
I have taken Z-pac many times over the years and I am 38 years old now. I just recently found out about a month ago that I have Branch Bunch Block (BBB) and I have been healthy all my life. I just found out about the Z-pac issue a week ago. I’m trying to see if the two are related because no one in my family has ever heard about this BBB before. The last medication my doctor put me on about a month ago was Z-pac and I am very worried.
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 1:26 pm
Shanoa says:
I apologize, it’s a Bundle Branch Block instead of Branch Bunch Block.
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 1:33 pm
Bob says:
Ive had heart failure,afib,2 ablasions,4 cardioverts and a defibulator since 2004 im 54 was perfectly healthy then it hit ….do you think it couldve been from zpack????ive been off work 6 monyhs hospitalize 3-4 times
Posted on March 26, 2013 at 5:13 am
Mary E. says:
My husband ,45, started taking it on October 5, 2012 and passed away on October 8,2012. This company has to be stopped. Then the ER tried to give it to my 18 year old daughter a month ago.
Posted on June 18, 2013 at 3:13 pm
Paul S. says:
I took Zithromax in March of 2009, immediately my right ear started to ring. Now I have tinnitus real bad. This is certainly not as big of a tragedy as a wrongful death but I want to comment and let people know that this is a dangerous drug. I would give a lot to relive March of ’09. My sympathies to the family of the one who died.
Posted on July 31, 2013 at 11:04 am
Beth says:
My husband age 60 took 2 z pak pills at 2pm feb 7 and passed away in his sleep approx 6 – 8 hours later. I am devastated
Posted on August 13, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Carol says:
In 2007 my daughter developed a cardiomyopathy with life threatening arrythmia diagnozed 2 mo after her 4th pregnancy. She had been on medication to strengthen her heart output and control her arrythmia. In January of 2009 she was improved enough to come off those drugs. 2 weeks later she was treated with a Z-Pack for bronchitis and ear infection.
She flew to Baltimore for a meeting on 5th day of Z-pack and suffered a cardiac arrest the next morning.
When I saw the FDA report I went “A hah” Finally can put a finger on the cause. Hope we can help prevent others from losing their lives from taking a Z-pack. If the drug company knew this then physicians should have had warnings about it.
Thanks from: A Mom that lost a beautiful 39 yr old daughter and mother of 4.
Posted on July 8, 2014 at 5:43 pm
Robert says:
I was diagnosed with an ear infection on the 9h of July and started taking a z-pack. On july 11th I had a heart attack and had to be life flighted to the hospital. I am lucky to be alive.
Posted on August 6, 2014 at 6:35 pm
Patricia says:
Stopping the coumadin most likely caused a clot that killed him, not the z-pack. Your litigation should be against the MD that stopped his coumadin. Protocol is to decrease the coumadin and perform daily INR checks to make sure it stays between 2,0 and 3.0. Not rocket science.
Posted on February 14, 2015 at 2:42 pm