Certain fluoroquinolone drugs have been linked to cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS). Fluoroquinolone drugs, such as Cipro (ciprofloxacin), are heavily prescribed antibiotics used to treat a variety of infections.

These drugs are frequently being named in SJS lawsuits which accuse drug manufacturers of failing to give adequate warnings about this allegedly dangerous side effect.

SJS is a dangerous skin disorder that is typically caused by a severe drug reaction. It begins with flu-like symptoms and a red or purplish rash. The rash continues to grow into severe blisters. The blistering can become so bad that the skin will burn from the inside out. The top layer of skin will peel off. This leaves the body open to secondary infections which put the patient in greater danger. SJS is diagnosed when the infected skin covers 10 percent or less of the entire skin or mucous membranes.

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) is a more dangerous form of SJS. It is diagnosed when more than 10 percent of the skin is affected. TEN typically covers more than 30 percent of the body. TEN causes the skin to shed itself at a faster rate and in greater quantities. Like SJS, this increases the risk of secondary infections.. epsis is one of the more common negative side effects.

Immediate medical attention is needed for SJS and TEN. Recovery can take anywhere between a few weeks to a few months. Some SJS patients will have permanent scars from the blisters. SJS and TEN are extremely painful and potentially fatal (especially in TEN cases).

SJS Lawsuits

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Events Reporting System has 2,500 documented deaths that have been linked to drugs like Cipro, also including 45,000 negative side effects. However, it is believed that most negative drug reactions are not reported to the FDA. As many as 90 percent of the adverse reactions may be undocumented.

Already, hundreds of people who have experienced fluoroquinolone adverse side effects have filed SJS lawsuits against the respective drug manufacturers for failing to warn users about the possible negative side effects, such as SJS or TEN.

Cipro is used to treat different kinds of bacterial infections and also to treat anthrax patients. While Cipro SJS cases might be rare, they can be extremely dangerous, and Cipro SJS lawsuits claim that patients should have been warned about the risks of SJS that is allegedly associated with Cipro. Other fluoroquinolone drugs like Levaquin and Avelox have also been listed in SJS lawsuits.

Other negative fluoroquinolone drug side effects include liver failure and liver toxicity. These side effects can also be extremely harmful for fluoroquinolone drug users.