The popular antibiotic azithromycin that is commonly used to treat bronchitis, sinus infections and pneumonia may increase the risk of sudden death in adults, especially those who have heart problems, reports the New England Joural of Medicine.
In patients with heart failure, diabetes or a previous heart attack, and those who have undergone bypass surgery or have had stents implanted, the drug may cause abnormal heart rhythms that can be fatal. Two other related antibiotics, erythromycin and clarithromycin, are already known to raise the risk of sudden death. But azithromycin was considered to be safe.
The researchers analysed data on millions of prescriptions for many antibiotics given to about 540,000 patients from 1992 to 2006. Patients on azithromycin had more than double the risk of death compared to patients on another antibiotic or those who did not take any antibiotic. No such risk was seen in children. Doctors should consider prescribing different antibiotics for high-risk patients.
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