The FDA released a new warning about the antibiotic zithromax (aka azithromycin or Z-pak).
FDA: Popular antibiotic can cause fatal heart rhythms - CNN.com
Some highlights from the article:
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A popular antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections can cause abnormal -- and possibly fatal -- heart rhythms in some patients
- 2.5 times higher risk of death from heart disease in the first five days of using a Z-Pak when compared to another common antibiotic or no antibiotics at all
- may cause changes in the electrical activity of the heart
- People with underlying heart problems seem to be especially vulnerable to developing this condition.
- Patients who have low blood levels of potassium or magnesium are at a higher risk. Patients who have a slower than normal heart rate or are already taking drugs to treat arrhythmias should also be cautious.
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