Editing Azithromycin (section)

== Adverse effects ==
Most common adverse effects are diarrhea (5%), nausea (3%), abdominal pain (3%), and vomiting. Fewer than 1% of people stop taking the drug due to side effects. Nervousness, skin reactions, and [[anaphylaxis]] have been reported.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Mori F, Pecorari L, Pantano S, Rossi ME, Pucci N, De Martino M, Novembre E | title = Azithromycin anaphylaxis in children | journal = International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology | volume = 27 | issue = 1 | pages = 121–6 | date = 2014 | pmid = 24674687 | doi = 10.1177/039463201402700116 | s2cid = 45729751 | doi-access = free | title-link = doi }}</ref> [[Clostridioides difficile infection|'' Clostridioides difficile'' infection]] has been reported with use of azithromycin.<ref name=AHFS2015/> Azithromycin does not affect the efficacy of [[birth control]] unlike some other antibiotics such as rifampin. Hearing loss has been reported.<ref>{{cite book|title=Medical Toxology| vauthors = Dart RC |publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins|year=2004 |pages=23}}</ref>

Occasionally, people have developed cholestatic [[hepatitis]] or [[delirium]]. Accidental intravenous overdose in an infant caused severe [[heart block]], resulting in residual encephalopathy.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Tilelli JA, Smith KM, Pettignano R | title = Life-threatening bradyarrhythmia after massive azithromycin overdose | journal = Pharmacotherapy | volume = 26 | issue = 1 | pages = 147–50 | date = January 2006 | pmid = 16506357 | doi = 10.1592/phco.2006.26.1.147 | s2cid = 43222966 }}</ref><ref>{{ cite book | vauthors = Baselt R | title = Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man | edition = 8th | publisher = Biomedical Publications | location = Foster City, CA | year = 2008 | pages = 132–133 }}</ref>

In 2013, the US [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) issued a warning that azithromycin "can cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart that may lead to a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm." The FDA noted in the warning a 2012 study that found the drug may increase the risk of death, especially in those with heart problems, compared with those on other antibiotics such as amoxicillin or no antibiotic. The warning indicated people with preexisting conditions are at particular risk, such as those with abnormalities in the [[QT interval]], low blood levels of potassium or magnesium, a slower than normal heart rate, or those who use certain drugs to treat abnormal heart rhythms.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=Popular Antibiotic May Raise Risk of Sudden Death | vauthors = Grady D |date=16 May 2012 |access-date=18 May 2012 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/17/health/research/popular-antibiotic-may-raise-risk-of-sudden-death.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517233434/http://www.nytimes.com//2012/05/17/health/research/popular-antibiotic-may-raise-risk-of-sudden-death.html |archive-date=17 May 2012 }}</ref><ref name="pmid22591294">{{cite journal | vauthors = Ray WA, Murray KT, Hall K, Arbogast PG, Stein CM | title = Azithromycin and the risk of cardiovascular death | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 366 | issue = 20 | pages = 1881–90 | date = May 2012 | pmid = 22591294 | pmc = 3374857 | doi = 10.1056/NEJMoa1003833 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FDA Drug Safety Communication: Azithromycin (Zithromax or Zmax) and the risk of potentially fatal heart rhythms|url=https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-azithromycin-zithromax-or-zmax-and-risk-potentially-fatal-heart |publisher=U.S. [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) |date=12 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027222239/https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drugsafety/ucm341822.htm|archive-date=27 October 2016 }}</ref> The warning mentioned that azithromycin causes [[drug-induced QT prolongation|QT prolongation]] that may cause life-threatening arrhythmias such as [[torsades de pointes]].<ref name="pmid27928188"/>