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CNN) - The Food and Drug Administration is warning patients about the use of a popular antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.
The drug Azithromycin is commonly sold under the name Zithromax in what's called a Z-Pak.
The agency said it can cause abnormal and possibly fatal heart rhythms in some patients.
FDA officials say the warning was issued after they reviewed two studies on the drug.
A Vanderbilt University study found an increased risk of death from heart disease in the first five days of using a Z-Pak when compared to other common antibiotics or no antibiotics.
The FDA said 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 who are taking drugs to treat irregular heartbeats should also be cautious.
Pfizer, which produces the drug, said the majority of patients using the antibiotic are not affected.
The drug Azithromycin is commonly sold under the name Zithromax in what's called a Z-Pak.
The agency said it can cause abnormal and possibly fatal heart rhythms in some patients.
FDA officials say the warning was issued after they reviewed two studies on the drug.
A Vanderbilt University study found an increased risk of death from heart disease in the first five days of using a Z-Pak when compared to other common antibiotics or no antibiotics.
The FDA said 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 who are taking drugs to treat irregular heartbeats should also be cautious.
Pfizer, which produces the drug, said the majority of patients using the antibiotic are not affected.
Thanks for this information. I hate z-packs, mainly because they never seem to help and I'm always swiched to a stronger ntibioti.
I don't have arrhythmias, but I do have hypertension. I'm definitely going to stay away from this drug.
I remember my pediatrician ordering a z-pak to be filled if Conor hadn't shown improvement in his symptoms of his cold. We threw it out. I don't believe in giving kids antibiotics for run of the mill infections and he's only been on antibiotics twice in his life. We are creating superbugs by overusing antibiotics and the z=pack is one of the biggest culprits.
Sandy