An Avelox rash may not just be a passing side effect – it could be one of the first signs of Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Avelox is an antibiotic medication approved by the FDA to treat many kinds of respiratory, skin and intra-abdominal infections. It’s also known by its generic name moxifloxacin.

Avelox is a fourth-generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Drugs in this class are the most frequently prescribed type of antibiotic in the U.S., with over 26 million prescriptions being written every year.

Within this popular class, Avelox itself is the third most frequently prescribed antibiotic, accounting for about 9 percent of prescriptions for fluoroquinolones.

Avelox side effects include some fairly serious complications that have known connections to fluoroquinolones as a class.

A recent FDA Drug Safety Communication warned that the risks of side effects associated with fluoroquinolones may outweigh the benefits for certain patients.

The communication specifically addressed risks of tendinitis and tendon rupture associated with these drugs, as well as the risk of damage to the nerves and parts of the central nervous system.

Two other known side effects of fluoroquinolones are Stevens Johnson Syndrome and its related condition toxic epidermal necrolysis. As the warning label for Avelox states, both these conditions are listed among “Severe and Sometimes Fatal” Avelox side effects.

From Avelox Rash to Stevens Johnson Syndrome

In patients taking Avelox, Stevens Johnson Syndrome may begin with an Avelox rash that comes on in conjunction with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, body aches, or an inflammation of the eyes known as keratoconjunctivitis.

As the condition progresses, the Avelox rash spreads over the body and forms blisters within the affected areas.

These blisters progress into the characteristic symptom of Stevens Johnson Syndrome: large areas of skin that come loose and peel away, exposing the sensitive lower layers of skin.

The skin eventually grows back, but it may have permanent discoloration or abnormal texture.

With the outer layer of skin gone, patients are at risk for developing an infection serious enough to be deadly. They may develop secondary skin infections, or cellulitis, which can themselves lead to sepsis, shock, organ failure, and sometimes death.

Infections are in fact the most common cause of death in Stevens Johnson Syndrome patients.

In cases where 30 percent or more of the body surface area peels away, the condition may be referred to as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

This condition is now considered to be a more severe manifestation of Stevens Johnson Syndrome. It’s also more deadly, with a death rate of up to 25 percent in adults, compared to 1 to 5 percent for Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Similar lesions can also affect the mucous membranes, the soft tissue that lines the inside of the eyelids, digestive system, and respiratory system. Damage inside the mouth or throat may make speaking or swallowing painful and difficult.

Lesions farther along the digestive or respiratory tract may foster pneumonia or lead to diarrhea, cough, or difficulty breathing. The eyes may become so purulent that they swell and seal shut. Scarring of the cornea may leave the patient blind.