How Common are Lawsuits for Zithromax Sudden Cardiac Death?

Zithromax or Z-Pak is a commonly prescribed drug. In 2010, Zithromax was one of the 10 most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States, according to WebMD. That year more than 52 million prescriptions were written for the drug.

It is currently unclear whether the recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine will change the popularity of the Zithromax antibiotic. But it is clear that Zithromax lawsuits are being filed against Pfizer, Inc., the makers of brand name drug. The NEJM study found that patients who took Zithromax had an increased risk of suffering sudden cardiac death compared to patients taking other types of antibiotics or no antibiotic drugs. While the overall risk is considered to be low at 85 such deaths per million prescriptions, the number is not insignificant.

If approximately 52 million prescriptions a year are written for the drug then approximately 4,420 people could die each year according to the study results. Many more thousands of people would be left grieving. For these individuals and families the risk of Zithromax cardiac death is not small.

It remains to be seen how the study will affect future Zithromax prescriptions in the U.S. For now, it is important to speak with your doctor about the potential risks and benefits a Z-Pak prescription may have for you.