Z-Packs Linked to Heart Disease Death Risk
"Z-Pack" as it's commonly known is a popular antibiotic..... real name is Azithromycin.
"Z-Pack" as it's commonly known is a popular antibiotic..... real name is Azithromycin.
The increased odds of death are small, but significant enough that
the authors of the study say doctors should consider prescribing a
different drug, like amoxicillin, for high-risk patients who need
antibiotics.
What is the threshold for safety when using antibiotics? This article seems to imply that 64.6 deaths per million courses is worrisome but 21.8 per million is good enough. It doesn't look like an important difference.
What is the threshold for safety when using antibiotics? This article seems to imply that 64.6 deaths per million courses is worrisome but 21.8 per million is good enough. It doesn't look like an important difference.
Zinc saves lives & Common cold
Zinc supplements and certain antibiotics, specifically tetracyclines and quinolones, may decrease absorption of the antibiotic and potentially reduce its efficacy. Taking zinc supplements and these antibiotics at least two hours apart should prevent this interaction.
the therapeutic use of metal chelating agents like penicillamine and diethylenetriamine pentaacetate or DTPA (used to treat iron overload) has resulted in severe zinc deficiency.
Anticonvulsant drugs, especially sodium valproate, may also precipitate zinc deficiency.
Prolonged use of diuretics may increase urinary zinc excretion, resulting in increased loss of zinc.
Further, the tuberculosis medication, ethambutol, has metal chelating properties and has been shown to increase zinc loss in rats.
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc/index.html
Zinc supplements and certain antibiotics, specifically tetracyclines and quinolones, may decrease absorption of the antibiotic and potentially reduce its efficacy. Taking zinc supplements and these antibiotics at least two hours apart should prevent this interaction.
the therapeutic use of metal chelating agents like penicillamine and diethylenetriamine pentaacetate or DTPA (used to treat iron overload) has resulted in severe zinc deficiency.
Anticonvulsant drugs, especially sodium valproate, may also precipitate zinc deficiency.
Prolonged use of diuretics may increase urinary zinc excretion, resulting in increased loss of zinc.
Further, the tuberculosis medication, ethambutol, has metal chelating properties and has been shown to increase zinc loss in rats.
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc/index.html
Consuming probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, soy yogurt and kefir may
boost immune health and reduce the risk of the common cold and other
upper respiratory tract infections (URTI),
http://www.foodproductdesign.com/news/2011/09/probiotics-reduce-upper-respiratory-infection-ris.aspx
http://www.foodproductdesign.com/news/2011/09/probiotics-reduce-upper-respiratory-infection-ris.aspx
Zinc.
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Echinacea
http://www.nutritionmd.org/consumers/infectious_diseases/uri_nutrition.html
Vitamins & Supplements Search
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/condition-1907-Upper+respiratory+tract+infection.aspx
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Echinacea
http://www.nutritionmd.org/consumers/infectious_diseases/uri_nutrition.html
Vitamins & Supplements Search
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/condition-1907-Upper+respiratory+tract+infection.aspx
there are other medications such as levofloxin that have similar
risks as zithromax and then lower but significant risks of death
associated with other common antibiotics such as amoxicillin. Let’s
face it, no one is guaranteed safety in taking prescribed antibiotics.
95% of respiratory infections (“colds”) are viral. So often, I encourage patients to wait out their cold symptoms unless they have alarm symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, severe sinus pressure, etc.
Only after 7-10 days of (mild) cold symptoms, an antibiotic should be considered to help the body fight the infection. Our infectious disease specialists will be satisfied that we are not jumping to antibiotics too quickly in the course of the illness. Too much antibiotic use has resulted in increased risk for MRSA, which are antibiotic -resistant infections (we had three this past week). These bugs are very difficult to treat and responsible for thousands of deaths annually. Years of doctors over-prescribing with antibiotics are the cause.
http://healthblog.dallasnews.com/2012/05/the-common-cold-may-not-kill-y.html/
95% of respiratory infections (“colds”) are viral. So often, I encourage patients to wait out their cold symptoms unless they have alarm symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, severe sinus pressure, etc.
Only after 7-10 days of (mild) cold symptoms, an antibiotic should be considered to help the body fight the infection. Our infectious disease specialists will be satisfied that we are not jumping to antibiotics too quickly in the course of the illness. Too much antibiotic use has resulted in increased risk for MRSA, which are antibiotic -resistant infections (we had three this past week). These bugs are very difficult to treat and responsible for thousands of deaths annually. Years of doctors over-prescribing with antibiotics are the cause.
http://healthblog.dallasnews.com/2012/05/the-common-cold-may-not-kill-y.html/
From the web
Zithromax, or azithromycin, is more expensive than other antibiotics,
but it's popular because it often can be taken for fewer days. But the
results suggest doctors should prescribe other options for people
already prone to heart problems, the researchers and other experts said.
Zithromax belongs to the family of medicines known as macrolides.
You should not use Zithromax if you have ever had jaundice or liver problems caused by taking azithromycin. You should not use Zithromax if you are allergic to azithromycin it or to similar drugs such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin, or troleandomycin.
Do not take antacids that contain aluminum or magnesium within 2 hours before or after you take Zithromax. These antacids can make Zithromax less effective when taken at the same time.
To make sure you can safely take Zithromax, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
liver disease;
kidney disease;
myasthenia gravis;
a heart rhythm disorder; or
a history of Long QT syndrome.
FDA pregnancy category B. Zithromax is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby.
Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Zithromax can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.
Stop using Zithromax a if you have a serious side effect such as:
diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
chest pain, uneven heartbeats;
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
severe skin reaction:- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
What other drugs will affect Zithromax?
Many drugs can interact with Zithromax.
digoxin
carbamazepine
cyclosporine
phenytoin
pimozide
theophylline
triazolam
warfarin
another antibiotic, especially clarithromycin or erythromycin
a calcium channel blocker such as diltiazem, felodipine, nifedipine, verapamil, and others;
cholesterol-lowering medicines such as lovastatin, atorvastatin, or simvastatin
ergot medicine such as methysergide, ergotamine, dihydroergotamine mesylate
HIV medicines such as nelfinavir, ritonavir or saquinavir
alprazolam, diazepam, midazolam, or triazolam
http://www.tabletsmanual.com/online/zithromax
http://www.drugs.com/zithromax.html
You should not use Zithromax if you have ever had jaundice or liver problems caused by taking azithromycin. You should not use Zithromax if you are allergic to azithromycin it or to similar drugs such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin, or troleandomycin.
Do not take antacids that contain aluminum or magnesium within 2 hours before or after you take Zithromax. These antacids can make Zithromax less effective when taken at the same time.
To make sure you can safely take Zithromax, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
liver disease;
kidney disease;
myasthenia gravis;
a heart rhythm disorder; or
a history of Long QT syndrome.
FDA pregnancy category B. Zithromax is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby.
Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Zithromax can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.
Stop using Zithromax a if you have a serious side effect such as:
diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
chest pain, uneven heartbeats;
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
severe skin reaction:- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
What other drugs will affect Zithromax?
Many drugs can interact with Zithromax.
digoxin
carbamazepine
cyclosporine
phenytoin
pimozide
theophylline
triazolam
warfarin
another antibiotic, especially clarithromycin or erythromycin
a calcium channel blocker such as diltiazem, felodipine, nifedipine, verapamil, and others;
cholesterol-lowering medicines such as lovastatin, atorvastatin, or simvastatin
ergot medicine such as methysergide, ergotamine, dihydroergotamine mesylate
HIV medicines such as nelfinavir, ritonavir or saquinavir
alprazolam, diazepam, midazolam, or triazolam
http://www.tabletsmanual.com/online/zithromax
http://www.drugs.com/zithromax.html
The threat was related to the use of the first of the non-drowsy
antihistamines – Seldane – in combination with macrolide antibiotics
such as erythromycin causing a potentially fatal heart arrhythmia. It
turns out that they also indicted levofloxacin, another commonly used
antibiotic, as being roughly as risky as Zithromax.
Azithromycin belongs to a class of antibacterial drugs called
macrolides, which have been associated with cardiovascular effects;
specifically, prolongation of the QT interval.
http://www.drugs.com/fda/zithromax-azithromycin-fda-statement-risk-cardiovascular-death-13123.html
http://www.drugs.com/fda/zithromax-azithromycin-fda-statement-risk-cardiovascular-death-13123.html
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