Zithromax (azithromycin) is one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics on the U.S. market.

Popular for its short prescription length, Zithromax (also sold as Z-pak or Zmax) is used to treat various bacterial infections including tonsillitis and ear infections in just three days.

However, the fast-acting medication has been linked to multiple serious side effects including the allergic skin condition Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS).

What is Zithromax SJS?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is an autoimmune condition that is considered a medical emergency. Zithromax SJS initially appears with flu-like symptoms, as patients report experiencing chills, body aches and even fevers.

However, symptoms quickly change into a fast spreading red or purple rash that creates lesions on the skin and mucous membranes. The rash is followed by blisters which then cause the top layer of the skin to die and shed.

The allergic reaction to medication requires lengthy hospital stays while patients are treated in a similar fashion to burn victims. Physicians spend their time determining which drug is causing SJS and if Zithromax is suspected they will urge patients to permanently avoid that medication.

When the rash covers up to 30 percent of the body it is referred to as Stevens Johnson Syndrome but if it spreads beyond that, the condition is then known as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). About 300 new cases of SJS are reported in the U.S. each year.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is fatal in 15 percent of cases while TEN has a mortality rate of about 40 percent.

Zithromax Side Effects

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Zithromax in 1996. At the time, the warning label did not caution consumers about the risk of SJS.

By 2012, the FDA issued a warning to Zithromax manufacturer Pfizer to include Stevens Johnson Syndrome on their warning label but patients claim the wording does not say enough about the potentially life-threatening skin condition.

The Zithromax warning label indicates that an allergic reaction is rare but may include a “severe skin rash or blisters.” Manufacturer Pfizer has been accused of downplaying the seriousness of SJS while over-marketing the antibiotic to the medical community.

In addition to Zithromax SJS, other reported Zithromax side effects include:

• Liver damage
• Kidney failure
• Kidney disease
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Heart attacks
• Birth defects
• Sudden death

Zithromax SJS Lawsuits

Zithromax lawsuits claim the antibiotic lacked sufficient warnings about life-threatening side effects. Plaintiffs who have filed a Zithromax SJS lawsuit claim Pfizer failed to fully disclose the health risks while misleading consumers into believing the medication was safe and superior to other antibiotics.

Some plaintiffs choose to join a Zithromax class action lawsuit, while others file a Zithromax lawsuit as an individual. Often, filing a lawsuit is the only way Zithromax consumers can be compensated for the high medical expenses of treating SJS and other Zithromax complications. 

Contact a Zithromax attorney to find out if you have legal claim.