Zagam (or Sparfloxacin) is a popular fluoroquinolone medication effective in treating several types of bacterial infections, including acute sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, and community-acquired pneumonia. However, despite this quinolone antibiotic’s usefulness, it has been linked with severe quinolone side effects like Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a painful and sometimes fatal skin condition. Because of this and other Zagam quinolone antibiotic side effects, this drug is no longer available within the United States.

Zagam and Quinolone SJS

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a painful, and sometimes fatal, skin condition. An individual may develop SJS as an allergic reaction to various prescription and over-the-counter medications, including quinolone antibiotic drugs like Zagam.

According to a research survey conducted by eHealthMe.com, 175 consumers have reported experiencing some kind of quinolone side effect. Two of these patients contracted Stevens Johnson Syndrome, one in 1999 and another in 2001. These statistics are just two Zagam SJS cases reported to various sources within the United States that eHealthMe could access; there may be more people who contracted Zagam SJS before it became no longer available in the country.

When a patient using  Zagam develops SJS or TEN after taking the fluoroquinolone antibiotic treatment, the individual’s topmost skin cells die and fall off. This leaves the deeper layers exposed and unprotected, making it likely for a patient to experience infection and scarring. The sensitive mucous membrane also becomes exposed when the upper layer of skin sloughs off, and may be prone to blistering.

Because of the subsequent pain experienced by SJS victims, they may need to be hospitalized for weeks to months at a time for round the clock monitoring and treatment.

In some extreme cases, a SJS patient may die, as patients experience skin burning both internally and externally.

Some Zagam quinolone SJS side effects may include:

• Flu-like symptoms and high fever
• Painful blistering of the skin and mucous membrane
• Sloughing of the skin
• Severe conjunctivis, iritis, palpebral edema, conjunctival and corneal blisters and erosions, and corneal perforation

As a result of the pain, suffering, and even death some patients have experienced because of Zagam quinolone SJS, many quinolone users or their family members have filed quinolone SJS lawsuits.

Quinolone Side Effects and Litigation

Fluoroquinolones (also known as quinolones) are a group of antibiotic drugs that are sold under a whole host of brand names including Zagam, Cipro, Levaquin, and Avelox.

While there are many benefits from taking quinolone antibiotics like Zagam, there also serious and sometime life-threatening quinolone side effects. Aside from the risk of developing the painful skin condition SJS, other quinolone side effects may include liver toxicity, liver failure, and a skin disease related to Stevens Johnson Syndrome called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

As a result, users of Zagam and other brand name quinolone antibiotic drugs have filed quinolone liver damage lawsuits and/or quinolone SJS class action lawsuits.