Potential Lawsuit: Clarithromycin Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Problems or Death in Patients with Heart Disease

Washington, DC: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advisory for health care professionals concerning the use of antibiotic clarithromycin (Biaxin) in patients with heart disease. The issue is a potential increased risk of heart problems or death that can occur years later. The recommendation is based on a review of the results of a 10-year follow-up study of patients with coronary heart disease from a large clinical trial that first observed this safety issue.