Knowing or being aware of the specific side effects of antibiotic medications can be life-saving.

Specifically, if you or a family member are taking the antibiotic azithromycin and develop an rash, knowing if this is a common side effect or if it is a more serious side effect known as a Stevens Johnson rash could be the difference between life and death.

What is Azithromycin?

Azithromycin
is a popular prescription antibiotic used to treat a number of infections, including urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, skin infections, ear infections, sexually transmitted infections and more.

Azithromycin is the generic name for Zithromax, which is also known as Zmax or a Z-Pak, depending on how the drug is dispensed.

Zithromax is a macrolide antibiotic. Rather than targeting the bacteria by killing it, the medication halts the reproduction of the bacteria so the infection stops spreading.

Once the bacteria responsible for causing the infection are no longer reproducing, the body’s immune system can begin to handle the infection and takes over destroying the remaining bacteria itself.

Azithromycin Side Effects

As with any medication, azithromycin has side effects associated with its use. Commonly reported side effects include nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, abdominal pain, vomiting, dizziness, headache, mild rash or itchiness, insomnia, fatigue and ringing in the ears.

A mild allergic rash is common. The rash is likely confined to one area of the body, has red bumps, and is more or less a run-of-the-mill rash that will likely subside as the body gets used to the medication.

If the allergic reaction rash is more than that and goes beyond “mild” in appearance, it could be an indication of a more serious condition, Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Azithromycin and Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is an allergic reaction caused by the ingestion of a drug. The reaction is much more intense than a common side effect rash, but in the early stages, it appears fairly benign.

The initial stage of Stevens Johnson Syndrome does not usually start with a rash at all.

Early SJS symptoms start off similar to the flu, with general feelings of fatigue, malaise, sore throat, fever, aching and chills. These symptoms may not be much different from those for which treatment was sought.

Following the initial flu-like symptoms, the characteristic Stevens Johnson rash appears.

The Stevens Johnson rash consists of purple or red blisters that quickly begin to spread. Often, these are first found in the mucous membranes (nose, eyes, mouth, etc) before the rash appears on the skin.

Where the rash has affected the skin, the cells of the skin begin to die, causing the skin to slough off in sheets. This leaves the lower levels of skin exposed, similar to burn victims.

The SJS rash can cover up to 30 percent of the body. If it covers more than that, the more severe condition is referred to as TEN, or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a medical emergency that requires hospitalization. There is no cure for SJS, but doctors will take the patient off the drug causing the reaction and focus on stabilizing the patient until the reaction subsides.

It may take days to months for the rash and other symptoms to go away.

Sometimes SJS victims are left with permanent skin and organ damage, including blindness. The mortality rate for SJS is between 5-10 percent, while the mortality rate for TEN is about 25-35 percent.

There is no way to predict if or when someone will be affected by SJS. It can happen after a patient has successfully taken a drug on several prior occasions with no ill effects, or it can happen with the first dose.

If you have a rash when taking azithromycin, it is best to consult a doctor immediately to see if you should continue taking the drug.

Filing an Azithromycin SJS Lawsuit

According to azithromycin lawsuits, some patients who have taken azithromycin and then developed SJS reportedly felt that the drug’s manufacturer did not provide ample warning against the potentially deadly side effect.

Some of these patients have filed lawsuits against the manufacturer to help recover damages and to send a message to the company that the potential drug side effects must be more clearly stated.

If you developed SJS after taking azithromycin, you can contact an attorney for a free case review to determine if you are eligible to file a lawsuit.