FDA Issues Warning On Commonly Prescribed Antibiotic

Posted: Mar 12, 2013 5:09 PM EDT
By Nick Perreault WLNS.com

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) - A new warning has been issued from the government about a commonly used prescription antibiotic, called azithromycin, or Zithromax or Zmax. It's a drug commonly used to treat those with tonsillitis, skin infections and pneumonia, but the FDA issued a safety announcement warning of the side effects.

The FDA sites a 2012 study that compared the use of zithromax to amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin or no drug over a five day period. What they found was those who used zithromax, noticed the following side effects:



Slower than normal heart rate
Lower levels of potassium or magnesium
Abnormal heart rhythms that sometimes lead to death


The FDA is not advising physicians to stop prescribing the drugs or health agencies to pull them from the shelves, but to consider the patient's medical history and symptoms before prescribing them.

FDA announcement

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