Avelox (moxifloxacin) is a popular antibiotic medication part of the fluoroquinolone drug family and has been linked to severe reactions like Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS).

Part of the prescription information warns patients against potential Avelox rash, stating the drug has been indicated to cause Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

Manufactured by Merck & Co., Avelox is prescribed to millions of patients across the United States for various bacterial infections. Avelox is the third most popular drug in this drug family, which is the most widely used antibiotic drug class in the country.

Fluoroquinolones are especially popular in treating middle ear infection, respiratory infections and skin infections.

However these popular medications have been linked to serious allergic reaction, with Avelox’s warning label stating that Avelox rash can develop into “severe dermatologic reactions.”

Even though Avelox has been available to patients since 1999, the medical community has become increasingly concerned over fluoroquinolone drugs’ alleged correlation with Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is an extremely rare allergic skin reaction, often characterized by red or purple skin lesions.

While SJS skin lesions typically can cover up to 30% of skin surface area, its more extreme counterpart, TEN, can take up as much as 90% of the body’s surface area and progress much faster.

These skin lesions cause the upper layer of the skin to detach and melt off, exposing tissue and muscle to potential infection.

These rashes can also appear on the body’s mucus membranes like mouth or eyes, causing breathing difficulty and vision damage.

Overview of Avelox SJS Correlation

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a very rare allergic reaction that is specifically caused by an adverse reaction to one or more medications. While there have not been many cases documented in correlation with Avelox rash, the fact that there are reported occurrences is concerning.

According to a 2004 case study published in the Archives of Dermatology, a 23-year-old woman allegedly developed TEN soon after taking Avelox.

She had been prescribed the medication to treat her respiratory infection, and had started developing Avelox rash just three days after starting the prescription.

The case study indicated that 40% of her body was covered in skin lesions, and that she had suffered abdominal pain and liver failure. The patient later died soon after undergoing a liver transplant.

In 2009, an SJS case study was noted in the Korean Journal of Medicine detailing a 62-year-old male patient. He had been prescribed Avelox, and had developed skin lesions throughout his body just two weeks after starting the drug.

While the drug’s warning label warns patients to be wary against Avelox rash or other unusual skin reactions, the earliest symptoms are not dermatologic.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome typically begins with flu-like symptoms, which occur during the first few weeks of starting the medication.

It is important to note that this condition is potentially fatal, so any initial symptoms like Avelox rash or fever should quickly be reported.