Some antibiotics, like Cipro, have been linked to the condition Stevens Johnson Syndrome or SJS. Cipro SJS Syndrome can be fatal if not treated properly.

Cipro is part of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic drug family that includes Zithromax and Lamictal.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug with the brand name Cipro, manufactured by Bayer HealthCare in 1987.

Cipro SJS Syndrome is a serious health concern for patients and their doctors as there is no available diagnostic method to determine if a patient may be hyper-sensitive to SJS.

Additionally, scientists are not sure why only certain medications seem to cause SJS and what causes only certain patients to develop an SJS reaction.

What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a rare condition which causes red or purple skin lesions that may cover up to 30 percent of the body.

The most common cause of SJS and are allergic antibiotic reactions after exposure to medications such as Cipro.

A similar, more severe, condition is Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). This condition is more aggressive and may cover up to 90 percent of the body in lesions which can cause areas of the skin to peel off exposing new skin, muscle, and tissue, to potential infection.

With Cipro SJS Syndrome the sufferer can first experience non-specific symptoms, such as headaches, aching body, fever, and a bad cough. Then a rash may develop over the face and trunk of the body, which then spreads to other parts of the body.

The rash is patchy and can spread to various areas of the body. In addition to the rash, SJS attacks the mucous membranes, where the eyes, nose, and throat may swell up, causing difficulty in breathing and swallowing.

With TEN, another variation of the disease, the skin also begins to come away in large amounts. This leaves the sufferer looking as though he or she has burns. The places where the skin has come away can seep fluids, and there is also a big risk of infection.

Patients suffering from Cipro SJS Syndrome often have to be treated in hospital burn units. There is no way to replenish lost skin, but a sterile environment is needed to allow skin to heal.

In addition to the skin lesions, SJS attacks the mucous membranes, where the eyes, nose, and throat may swell up, causing difficulty in breathing and swallowing.

If patients are fortunate enough to survive Cipro SJS Syndrome, there may be some degree of blindness or permanent skin damage.

Filing a Cipro SJS Syndrome Lawsuit

Pharmaceutical manufacturers are aware of the risks associated with their antibiotic drugs, yet proper warnings are for the most part inadequate.

Many medications have been taken off the market because of unjustifiable risks of adverse effects, while many antibiotics, such as Cipro, have been linked to SJS.

Without adequate warnings, patients who develop Cipro SJS Syndrome may continue to take the SJS-causing antibiotic, which could worsen and lead to TEN.

On average, there are approximately 300 new cases of SJS reported a year, which means it is a very rare occurrence among the billions of American patients.

Because Cipro SJS Syndrome is so rare, and the likelihood of developing it so low, the drug manufacturer neglects to mention it on the product’s label.

If you or a loved one suffered Cipro SJS Syndrome, you may be able to file an antibiotic lawsuit against the manufacturer.

An experienced attorney can explain more about filing a Cipro SJS Syndrome lawsuit and the legal options available to you.