It’s hard to know someone who hasn’t been prescribed a Z-Pack when they’re feeling under the weather. So, heads were turned when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced a warning about the antibiotic otherwise known as azithromycin, indicating an increased risk of fatal heart rhythms.
In a statement, the FDA says:
“…that azithromycin (Zithromax or Zmax) can cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart that may lead to a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm. Patients at particular risk for developing this condition include those with known risk factors such as existing QT interval prolongation, low blood levels of potassium or magnesium, a slower than normal heart rate, or use of certain drugs used to treat abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias.”
SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital specialist Richard Lee, MD, a SLUCare cardiac surgeon and co-director of the Center for Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care (C4) at SLU Hospital says some patients should be concerned, but it’s a small patient population.
“Patients who have heart issues — or are at risk for heart issues — should talk with their physician,” says Dr. Lee.
The FDA does say this in their warning, telling physicians:
“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.”
For more, watch this interview with Dr. Lee and KSDK’s Kay Quinn.
