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Z-Pak Side Effects

Generic name: azithromycin

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 20, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Z-Pak Side Effects associated with azithromycin. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Z-Pak.

Applies to azithromycin: oral powder for suspension, oral powder for suspension extended release, oral tablet.

Other dosage forms:

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

If you or your child's symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have a rash, itching, hives, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after you take this medicine.

Serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have black, tarry stools, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chest pain, chills, cough, diarrhea, itching, joint or muscle pain, painful or difficult urination, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, swollen glands, unusual bleeding or bruising or unusual tiredness or weakness while you are using this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Call your child's doctor right away if your child feels irritable or vomits after feeding. These may be symptoms of a condition called infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

Azithromycin may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop using this medicine. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you or your child have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine can cause changes in heart rhythms, including QT prolongation. It may change the way your heart beats and cause fainting or serious side effects in some patients. Contact your doctor right away if you or your child have any symptoms of heart rhythm problems, including fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeats.

This medicine may increase the risk of serious heart or blood vessel problems. Call your doctor right away if you have blurred vision, chest pain, confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting, fast or irregular heartbeat, trouble breathing, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of Z-Pak

Along with its needed effects, azithromycin (the active ingredient contained in Z-Pak) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking azithromycin:

More common side effects

  • diarrhea
  • loose stools

Less common side effects

  • blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin
  • cracked, dry, or scaly skin
  • fever
  • swelling

Rare side effects

  • blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
  • bloody or cloudy urine
  • bloody, black, or tarry stools
  • body aches or pain
  • burning while urinating
  • chest pain or tightness
  • chills
  • congestion
  • cough increased
  • cough producing mucus
  • dark urine
  • difficult or labored breathing
  • difficult or painful urination
  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
  • dryness or soreness of the throat
  • earache
  • fainting
  • fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
  • general feeling of discomfort or illness
  • headache
  • indigestion
  • irregular or slow heart rate
  • itching or rash
  • joint or muscle pain
  • large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
  • light-colored stools
  • loss of appetite
  • muscle aches and pains
  • nausea or vomiting
  • noisy breathing
  • passing of gas
  • red skin lesions, often with a purple center
  • red, irritated eyes
  • redness or swelling in the ear
  • runny nose
  • shivering
  • sneezing
  • sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
  • stomach pain, continuing
  • stomach pain, fullness, or discomfort
  • stuffy nose
  • sweating
  • swelling of the face, ankles, hands, feet, or lower legs
  • tender, swollen glands in the neck
  • trouble with sleeping
  • trouble with swallowing
  • unpleasant breath odor
  • unusual bleeding or bruising
  • unusual tiredness or weakness
  • upper right abdominal or stomach pain
  • voice changes
  • vomiting of blood
  • yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

  • bleeding gums
  • bloating
  • blood in the urine or stools
  • blurred vision
  • change in hearing
  • clay-colored stools
  • coma
  • confusion
  • constipation
  • continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
  • decreased urine output
  • depression
  • diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
  • dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
  • fainting
  • greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine
  • hives
  • hostility
  • increased thirst
  • irritability
  • lethargy
  • loss of hearing
  • lower back or side pain
  • muscle twitching
  • no blood pressure or pulse
  • pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
  • pale skin
  • pinpoint red spots on the skin
  • puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  • rapid weight gain
  • seizures
  • stomach cramps or tenderness
  • stopping of heart
  • stupor
  • unconsciousness
  • unusual weight loss

Other side effects of Z-Pak

Some side effects of azithromycin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Rare side effects

  • acid or sour stomach
  • aggressive or angry
  • bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
  • belching
  • burning feeling in the chest or stomach
  • burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
  • change in taste
  • changes in the color of the tongue
  • crying
  • depersonalization
  • dry mouth
  • dysphoria
  • euphoria
  • excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
  • feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
  • full feeling
  • heartburn
  • hyperventilation
  • increase in body movements
  • itching of the vagina or genital area
  • lack or loss of strength
  • mental depression
  • nervousness
  • pain during sexual intercourse
  • paranoia
  • quick to react or overreact emotionally
  • rapidly changing moods
  • rash with flat lesions or small raised lesions on the skin
  • redness of the skin
  • restlessness
  • sensation of spinning
  • shaking
  • sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
  • stomach upset
  • thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor
  • white patches in the mouth, tongue, or throat

Incidence not known

  • difficulty with moving
  • increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
  • muscle pain or stiffness
  • pain in the joints
  • redness or other discoloration of the skin
  • severe sunburn
  • trouble sitting still

For healthcare professionals

Applies to azithromycin: intravenous powder for injection, oral capsule, oral powder for reconstitution, oral powder for reconstitution extended release, oral tablet.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported side effects were diarrhea/loose stools, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting.[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Dermatologic

Gastrointestinal

Genitourinary

Hematologic

Hepatic

Hepatic failure has rarely resulted in death.

Hypersensitivity

Severe (rarely fatal) anaphylactic reaction has been reported.

Local

Metabolic

Musculoskeletal

Nervous system

Ocular

Other

Psychiatric

Renal

Respiratory

See also:

References

1. (2022) "Product Information. Zithromax IV (azithromycin)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group, LAB-0024-23.0

2. (2021) "Product Information. Zithromax (azithromycin)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group, LAB-0372-7.0

3. (2022) "Product Information. Zithromax (aziTHROMYCIN)." Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd, pfpzithb10122

4. (2019) "Product Information. Zithromax IV (aziTHROMYCIN)." Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd, pfpzithv10619

5. (2022) "Product Information. aziTHROMYCIN (Mylan) (aziTHROMYCIN)." Alphapharm Pty Ltd

6. (2022) "Product Information. Zedbac (azithromycin)." Aspire Pharma Ltd

7. (2022) "Product Information. Zithromax (azithromycin)." Pfizer Ltd

8. (2022) "Product Information. Azithromycin (azithromycin)." Sandoz Ltd

9. (2022) "Product Information. Azithromycin (azithromycin)." Accord-UK Ltd

Frequently asked questions

Further information

Z-Pak side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.