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FDA issues warning about Zithromax and heart risks

The FDA is warning that a widely used antibiotic from Pfizer can cause rare but deadly heart rhythms in some patients. The agency is adding new warnings to the label of Zithromax, which is used to treat bronchitis, pneumonia and other infections.

Published: March 13, 2013 at 12:05 a.m. PDT
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The FDA is warning that a widely used antibiotic from Pfizer can cause rare but deadly heart rhythms in some patients. The agency is adding new warnings to the label of Zithromax, which is used to treat bronchitis, pneumonia and other infections.

Doctors should consider prescribing other antibiotics to patients at risk of heart problems, including those with irregular heartbeats or low levels of potassium or magnesium in their blood. Zithromax is popular because it often can be taken for fewer days than other antibiotics. The warning may prompt doctors to choose other options, though the new label notes that other antibiotics have similar effects on the heart.

News Tribune news services

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