UAE Ministry of Health: Antibiotic drug can cause abnormal heart rhythms

Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Health has issued a circular about the potential risks of azithromycin, an antibiotic drug used to treat certain types of bacterial infections. The drug may lead to abnormal heart rhythms which could be fatal, said the circular.

The warning has been issued by the ministry to all health care establishments in the government and private sectors in response to a safety announcement from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The announcement warns the public that azithromycin (Zithromax, Zmax, Azi-Once, Azomax, Azomycin, Zetron, Zithrolag) can cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart that may lead to a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm.

The drug can be fatal for those with low blood levels of potassium or magnesium, a slower than normal heart rate, or those using certain drugs to treat abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias.

Health care professionals have been urged to consider the risk of fatal heart rhythms with azithromycin when considering treatment options for patients suffering from cardiovascular disease.