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FDA: 'Z-pack' antibiotics could cause deadly heart problems

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    Popular prescription treats bacterial infections

  • Duration 3:35
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I -- the FDA raising the alarm app popular antibiotic known as -- pack you've heard of it right your kids that probably seems prescribed for right.

They say that it could trigger in irregular and potentially deadly heart read them.

So this is no laughing matter.

Deepak is prescribed to treat bacterial infections like bronchitis pneumonia ear infections which kids get so often.

Is something that this may cross your path to try to remedy it was prescribed to forty million Americans in 2011.

And sales in the last year exceeded 435.

Million dollars it's a blockbuster drug.

Doctor Manny Alvarez is senior managing editor at Fox News health dot com and a member of the Fox News medical eighteen I Dr.

Manny surprising news about -- -- Well the news came out last year in 2012 and finally the FDA look very carefully at the steady.

And they concluded indeed that for certain groups of people especially people that have heart irregularities.

People that have low magnesium people that have low potassium.

There is the danger that you can get this cute he.

Prolongation of the worst and -- -- -- -- that can be quite deadly.

Is it dangerous to give it to -- -- -- not necessarily mean I don't think that this is gonna change dramatically the use of as he packed for you know us we use it nowadays for sinus infections and things like that.

But it tells doctors to really you know you know for me you know I walked always had people -- -- -- -- -- and one away or have a sinus infection.

I think doctors have to be a little bit more careful now and say well.

Are there any on the line problems do you are you taking any other any cardiac medications.

-- have you been dehydrated things of this sort.

-- and then be a little more cautious because there are significant changes that -- occur.

But I think it's gonna still be used very routinely for you know certain types of infection.

-- is so if you are prescribed -- doctor.

I -- you know what what should you be aware having herself in what should you mentioned -- doctor as a potential concern.

For you taken -- struck.

Well again I think the fundamentals are do you have any quite a history that's number one are you taking any medication for cardiac irregularities.

Number two.

Number three.

-- do you suffer from any -- not how do you have any knowledge do you have any malnutrition issues are you loan magnesium.

Have you had vomiting you know some people get a sinus infection forces for a long period of time.

They may have a lot of bombing there you -- potassium.

And therefore you start taking his Deepak you could have an impact.

Also and in your heart rhythm so you have to have a conversation is not a nineteen as the saying I'm gonna take a couple of motors because I have a headache.

It doesn't work like that and now with this latest studies and and you gonna see the warnings a little bit more more prominent in -- in this heat.

Imagine that a lot of people are just gonna say I don't give me zee -- you know I -- have been on -- is about that's -- -- -- senate and house right now I don't think so look there's been a variety of antibiotics the macro lights are you know it's this family group -- -- -- -- belongs.

Also the -- -- which is another popular antibiotic that have been you know there are many antibiotics of people don't realize.

Could have you know changes especially in the electrical heart rhythm.

Of.

-- -- could cause they could cause side -- so you have to be careful antibiotics are not routine medications and therefore patients should be a little bit more careful.

In asking for them and doctors have to -- shall not make -- so routine.

Right now about the drug company it's a lot of money I saw him there going to be very concerned about this and try to nuisance and damage control I would imagine I have but I think so you know Pfizer's stock.

They're down a little bit when the story came out but I think that I think doctors have to be aware of it is going to be okay I'm Dr.

Manny always good to get -- -- -- I think you -- --

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