It has been recently reported that a popular antibiotic, used commonly throughout the United States, is dangerous to public health. Zithromax, otherwise known as Z-Pak, is now a target for litigation from those who have had to deal with its hazardous side effects, particularly for its danger to the cardio vascular system.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and in the rest of the world. Johns Hopkins University estimates that a full one third of all middle-aged women in the United States will develop some form of CAD. The primary symptom of angina, commonly known as chest pain, occurs when the artery is almost completely blocked.
On May 17, 2012, The New England Journal of Medicine published a study that found people using Zithromax faced an increased risk of sudden cardiac death, compared to patients not treated with an antibiotic, or even those taking different types of antibiotics.
Zithromax is an antibiotic used to treat a host of bacterial infections, including respiratory infections, skin infections, ear infections and sexually transmitted diseases. While other antibiotics must be taken for at least 10 days, Z-Pak has been known as a convenient option with only a 5-day course of treatment. The shorter treatment time has consequently made Zithromax one of the more popular antibiotics on the market.
The New England Journal of Medicine study analyzed the health profiles and data on millions of prescriptions for several antibiotics given to more than 500,000 Medicaid patients between the years 1992 to 2006. The risk of death reported in individuals taking Zithromax came out to be more than double that of patients on amoxicillin. As expected, the highest risks were seen in Z-Pak users with pre-existing heart issues.
The majority of the Zithromax lawsuits that will likely be filed will be in the form of wrongful death lawsuits. Wrongful death lawsuits tend to receive large judgment and settlement amounts when compared to many other types of lawsuits. Factors that will come into consideration in the judgment or settlement amount of a Zithromax lawsuit may include the age of the person that died, how many dependents the person was taking care of, the earning potential of the affected individual, and other similar factors.
Although there is no quantity of money received from a Zithromax lawsuit that can replace a lost loved one, by filing a Zithromax lawsuit the family can recover financial damages caused by this terrible circumstance, along with any other damages that involve pain and suffering.
Pharmaceutical companies must be held responsible for their actions. They are mass-producing supposedly effective medicinal treatments, when they are in fact a danger to our public health. Short-term profits and investor relations should not be more important than the long-term health of individuals who use their products. Now is the time to fight for compensation to make up for your losses and push back against an industry that has been allowed to cut corners for too long. If you or a family member has been affected by Zithromax, working with a qualified Florida pharmaceutical litigation attorney will allow you to approach this legal situation in the most effective manner possible, giving you the opportunity to effectively fight for what you deserve.
