![]() The result can range from a little dizziness and a fluttering in the chest to a seizure or sudden death if the heart is allowed to beat uncontrollably for too long. Prolonging the QT interval can make the heart beat in a chaotic fashion. The QT interval is, in simplest terms, the time your heart needs to recharge in between beats. ![]() Deepak Bhatt, a cardiologist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. This can trigger abnormal heart rhythms in the lower chambers of the heart, says Dr. What's causing the riskĪzithromycin and other antibiotics in the same chemical class have the potential to prolong the QT interval on an electrocardiogram. To put this risk in perspective, there were 85 deaths per million courses of Z-Pak compared to 31 deaths per million courses of amoxicillin. Individuals with heart failure, diabetes or a previous heart attack, as well as those who have had bypass surgery or had stents implanted, were at even higher risk. The 14-year study, published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that people taking azithromycin have a 2.5-fold increased chance of heart-related death within five days of starting a Z-Pak, compared to people taking the antibiotic amoxicillin. But a recent study suggests that the Z-Pak may do some harm even as it heals. If you've battled bronchitis or endured an ear infection, chances are good you were prescribed the antibiotic azithromycin (Zithromax), which is commonly available in a five-day dose known as the Z-Pak. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Please note the date each article was posted or last reviewed. ARCHIVED CONTENT: As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.
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