Azithromycin in the Press

May 17th, 2012

Azithromycin is a commonly used antibiotic for treating atypical pneumonia, traveler’s diarrhea, sinusitis, and chlamydia.  It is also sold under the ubiquitous “Z-pak”.  In today’s New York Times, an article cited a study that showed a significant increase in deaths particularly among those with history of cardiac disease.   There are two points we can learn from the article.  Firstly, antibiotics are not medications to be taken lightly.  They all have their risks and should only be used when the benefits outweigh the risks.  Many doctors are often confronted by patients who demand antibiotics for the common cold.  The colds and flus are caused by viruses and antibiotics have no role in their treatment.  Most common colds will resolve in a few days and symptoms can be managed with a good regimen of over-the-counter medications.  Secondly, if you do have a history of heart disease be sure to ask your doctor for an alternative to azithromycin.  There are still many antibiotics that can be used.