http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/zithromax Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:00:34 -0800 pixel-app en http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13657 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13657 zithromax and amoxicillin don’t work on sinus infection, and steroids aren’t much help either.   In fact, some over-the-counter drugs and old home remedies might be far better than the antibiotic – steroid combo many doctors prescribe for sinus infections.

Sinus infections are horrible.  First there is the throbbing headache, then the fever, the thick mucus, dizziness and—for some—pain in the teeth and face.  And we are in the height of sinus infection season. For years, doctors have prescribed what seemed like simple cures:  A prescription for an antibiotic like amoxicillin, along with a steroid nasal spray.  While these may be the standard medication protocols, they may not be the most effective line of attack based on several studies that have examined their effects and found that these methods are no better at shortening a sinus infection than no medication at all.  

The latest study, published in December in The Journal of the American Medical Association, reviewed 240 cases.  The subjects involved in the study were assigned to four groups for different treatments:  One group received a full amoxicillin course for a week along with 400 units of steroid spray for 10 days; another group received just the spray;  another group received just the amoxicillin; and another group received a placebo.  None of the patients receiving medicinal treatments fared better than those receiving placebo treatment, a finding also shown in studies of children.  While the reason is not entirely clear, researchers suspect antibiotics may not be very good at reaching the sinuses.  Experts recommend other approaches like taking ibuprofen, inhaling steam, or using salt water to flush the nasal cavity.

Recently, another study found that antibacterial products are NOT the best line of attack against germs.  While they can help in a pinch, overuse is linked to antibiotic-resistant superbugs, which is why the American Medical Association doesn't support their everyday use.

In the past, when someone was infected with staph, the cure was simple:  A few doses of penicillin.  This is no longer the case and fears of mutation and an antibiotic resistant superbug are now a reality.  A mutated form of staph called MRSA has emerged and, when not treated early, is resistant to all but the one antibiotic of last resort.  Formerly used in the most potent cases, this drug is being used more and more and, as a result, MRSA is developing resistance to this last successful medication.  Bacteria become resistant because of antibiotic overuse and abuse and learn to adapt and mutate, changing just enough to ensure antibiotics have no effect on them and giving them room to spread with increasing virulence.  Hand sanitizers are great when a sink is not available, but soap and water remains the best and safest method for killing bacteria.

If someone is sick at home, wipe down surfaces like doorknobs, drawer pulls, light switches, and faucet handles on sinks, faucets, and the refrigerator with a wipe or spray that kills bacteria and viruses.  During winter, this reduces rotovirus and cold transmission; however, do not become obsessive as it’s better to wash hands before meals, before and after using the toilet, after using public transportation, and when returning home from work or school.  A recent study found those who washed their hands at least seven times a day had 75 percent fewer colds.

]]> http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13235 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13235 Zithromax liver failure problems as early as 1996, it waited more than 4 years to warn the public of this dangerous side effect.

Since it was first approved in 1992, Zithromax has become a popular antibiotic, especially for treating ailments like ear infections in children.  That is because Zithromax can deliver continual levels of the antibiotic to infected areas.   This means patients can take just one pill a day for as few as 3 days, rather than the 10 day, 3-pill-a-day regimen common with most other oral antibiotics.  But because Zithromax is so potent, and because it is eliminated from the body mostly through the liver, it has the potential to cause serious liver damage.

Physicians first started reporting incidents of Zithromax liver failure in 1996, one year after it was approved for use in children.  These problems were often very serious and sometimes fatal, and occurred after just one 3-day course of Zithromax treatment.  But despite the severity of this side effect, Pfizer took no action to warn either the public or health care providers about the Zithromax liver failure connection.  It wasn’t until Pfizer was pushed by the FDA in 2000 that the company acknowledged that Zithromax had been tied to liver damage.  Finally, in 2001, the Zithromax label was modified to include warnings about abnormal liver function, jaundice, necrosis, hepatic failure and death associated with its use.

But despite its dangerous side-effects, Zithromax is still a popular antibiotic.   According to Pfizer, Zithromax is the top-selling antibiotic in its class, and the second most popular antibiotic in the world.   Unfortunately, Zithromax liver failure is very serious.  It cannot be cured, although the symptoms can be managed if patients stop taking Zithromax soon enough.  In extreme cases, patients often require a liver transplant.

Because it is so serious, anyone taking Zithromax needs to be aware of the symptoms of liver failure.   These include jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, severe fatigue, dark urine and elevated liver enzyme levels.  Anyone prescribed Zithromax who experiences any of these symptoms should stop using it and call their doctor immediately.

Zithromax liver failure is only one of the serious side effects tied to this defective drug. In September 2006, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that Zithromax might quadruple the risk of being re-infected with a potentially blinding eye infection called trachoma that the drug is intended to treat.  An earlier 2005 study also found that when Zithromax was used to treat the sexually transmitted disease Chlamydia, patients later had high susceptibility to re-infection.  Zithromax has also been linked to serious skin diseases, a violent and often fatal allergic reaction called anaphylaxis and angioedema, a swelling of the face and neck that can impair breathing.

]]> http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/zithromax Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/zithromax Zithromax Liver Damage, Liver Failure and
Eye Infection Lawsuit Attorneys
Zithromax Liver Failure
In 2001, the Zithromax label was updated to include warnings about its potential to cause liver damage.   Zithromax is one of a class of antibiotics called macrolides.  An antibiotic of this class is eliminated from the body through the liver.  This, coupled with the fact that Zithromax is a very strong antibiotic, make the potential for liver damage and liver failure very high.

Knowledge of Zithromax Liver Failure Held From Public
Pfizer, the manufacturer of Zithromax, first began receiving reports of liver damage associated with it as early as 1996, just a year after it was approved for use in children.  Many of these reports said that the liver damage linked to Zithromax was very severe, and at times fatal.  Yet it wasn’t until 2000 that Pfizer warned the public about this serious side effect, after the Food & Drug Administration forced it to do so.  In 2001, the label warnings on Zithromax were updated to say that abnormal liver function, jaundice, necrosis, hepatic failure and death had been reported in patients taking the drug.

Zithromax Liver Failure Can be Fatal
The liver damage and associated with Zithromax is very serious.  It cannot be cured, although the symptoms can be managed if patients stop taking Zithromax soon enough.  In extreme cases, however, the damage done by Zithromax to the liver can cause it to fail, and the only recourse when this occurs is for the patient to undergo a liver transplant.  Because Zithromax liver damage and the resulting possibility of liver failure serious, anyone taking Zithromax needs to be aware of the symptoms of liver damage and failure.   They are:

• Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin);
• Abdominal pain;
• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Fever;
• Severe fatigue;
• Dark urine;
• Elevated liver enzyme levels.

Anyone taking Zithromax who experiences even one of these symptoms should stop using the drug and seek medical attention immediately and contact one of our Zithromax liver failure lawsuit attorneys.

Zithromax Eye Infections
On September 28, 2006, researchers announced that Zithromax (generic: azithromycin) manufactured by Pfizer Inc. might quadruple the risk of being re-infected with a potentially blinding eye infection that the drug is intended to treat. Zithromax is a widely popular prescribed antibiotic. Zithromax at first combated the original outbreak of the infection, called trachoma. Individuals taking Zithromax were more likely to be re-infected than those treated with surgery alone, said a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

According to the study, Zithromax appeared to blunt the immune system's capability to develop natural resistance by decreasing exposure to the bacteria. "This is like the law of unintended consequences," said Deborah Dean, co-author of the paper and a researcher at Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute who is working on a vaccine for Trachoma. Zithromax, also available in generic forms, "wipes out the infection and your immune system has barely had time to get going."

An estimated 80 million people, and nearly 8 million have been blinded or lost some vision, according to the International Trachoma Initiative. Trachoma is the second-most common cause of blindness. At least one other study has shown that Zithromax may do more harm than good by hampering the body's ability to fight off future infections, Dean said. Trachoma infects the inside of the eyelid, and scaring builds up over time that makes the eyelashes turn inward. Eventually the eyelashes start scratching the surface of the eye, allowing bacteria to get into the eye and leading to blindness.

2005 Study
A study back in 2005, uncovered that sexually transmitted Chlamydia infections initially dropped after patients used Zithromax, then increased because of susceptibility to re-infection. Pfizer infectious disease researcher Charles Knirsch skeptical of the paper’s conclusion related to immunity because the researchers didn't provide evidence to support that finding.

Zithromax Liver Failure and Eye Infection Lawsuit Lawyers
If you or a loved one developed the eye infection; Trachoma as a result of using the antibiotic Zithromax, contact Parker & Waichman, LLP for a free case evaluation. Call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) or fill out the short form to the right.]]>