Allergic Reaction?

Question

I am SEVERELY allergic to Erythromycin. I went to the Emergency Room with Pneumonia. I told the ER doctor I was allergic to Erythromycin. He wrote it on my chart.

Then he goes and prescribes me Zithromax. They FORCE me to take one before I leave the hospital. I start having simular reactions, but worse, like the one I have when I took Erythromycin.

I look it up on the internet, to find under Zithromax: "If you are allergic to Erythromycin, DO NOT take this product".

Zithromax is in the same family as Erythromycin. So why would the doctor prescribe it to me know I'm allergic to it?

I have had SEVERE reactions that continue almost 2 months after taking the Zithromax.

The hospital is calling me 2-3 times a day anting me to pay the $2,000 bill. I told them I REFUSE to pay it after what this pill did to me, and I threated them with a lawyer. They said I can't do a thing about it, because Zithromax and Erythromycin are 2 different drugs. I am confused....Can I pursue this legally?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Azithromycin is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic chemically related to erythromycin and clarithromycin . Azithromycin has been rarely associated with allergic reactions, including angioedema, anaphylaxis, and dermatologic reactions, but it doesn't mean that in your case it didn't.
Two things are important here.
1. Do they have it in writing that you clearly stated being sensitive to Erythromicin?
2. Did they treat you for the allergic reaction?
If so, I'd go talk to the hospital's superintendent first and see if you can settle it without resorting to lawyers.

Answer 2

Don't just threaten with a lawyer, find one through an attorney's referral service, which will give you 30 minutes with an attorney to ask questions and find out if you've got a case, for free. Or you could call one of those lawyers that advertise on tv, which state they won't take any $ unless they win your case. Then, if they win, they take a nice chunk of it.