Is Zithromax Safe Antibiotic To Use If Liver Function Is Bad?

Posted on Mon, 25 Feb 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 Answered on

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : 14 yr. old boy, presently total bilirubin 6.0, unconjugated 5.7 He is post-chemo 2 yrs for ALL, still in remission. Problem is probable: hemolysis or delayed drug-toxicity causing liver problems, have appt. with GI dr in March to furthur investigate. Now he's been diagnosed with a sinus infection - allergy to amoxicillin. He was prescribed zithromax, but is that the safest antibiotic to use re: liver function??? Very worried about furthur toxicity and need a second opinion. worried mother - XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (10 minutes later)

Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Zithromax should not be used if the liver function is very bad. In mild liver function deficiency it can be used and should not cause any problems. However for sinus infection the safest antibiotic(and seems more effective) is Clindamicine. It is secreted with a bile so if your son does not have white stools (the color is regular) this medicine should be metabolized without any problems.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar