Quinolone antibiotics are prescribed for treating patients suffering from various ailments. Norfloxacin is a member of this drug family.

Quinolones are useful for treating unusual or severe infections like sexually transmitted diseases or infections, due to their unique treatment mechanism, of preventing the bacterial DNA from duplicating and spreading.

These antibiotics were featured in the American Thoracic Society as a recommended treatment drug for hospital-acquired pneumonia. While doctors recommend that quinolones not be used as a first choice, they are a good alternative when other medications fail.

However, these medications have been associated with long-term severe side effects since the first generation of quinolones were released in 1962, including nerve damage, liver toxicity, and Stevens Johnson Syndrome. Norfloxacin (Noroxin) has often been linked to these adverse side effects, soon after the patients started their prescriptions.

Norfloxacin is one of the older quinolones, gaining approval from the FDA in October 1986 to treat severe urinary tract infections and prostatis. Like other quinolones, Norfloxacin works by blocking certain DNA enzymes in the bacteria that is responsible for production and resilience of the bacteria.

By blocking this gyrase enzyme, the bacteria will eventually die out, preventing a worse infection. Essentially, this drug works by stopping the infection in its current state of development, and eventually causes the cells to break down.

However, Norfloxacin has been associated with a number of severe side effects like peripheral neuropathy and Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) as well. For this reason, Norfloxacin and other quinolone patients have filed a quinolone lawsuit against their respective pharmaceutical companies, for failing to warn them against these severe side effects.

Overview of Stevens Johnson Syndrome Complications

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a severe allergic skin reaction that is typically by medication. It is an extremely rare condition that doctors seldom encounter.

Due to the fact that this condition is so rare, doctors often fail to recognize the symptoms initially, resulting in the unnecessary progression of the condition.

There are approximately only 300 cases of SJS diagnosed per year in the United States, and it is found to be more common in adults than in children. Even with this small number, medical experts state that all physicians and patients need to understand the severity of this condition, regardless of how unlikely it is.

According to healthcare providers, Stevens Johnson Syndrome starts with flu-like symptoms and will occur within the first two to eight weeks of starting the medication. The odds are higher if patients have a family history of drug allergies or sensitivity, and if more than one medication is being taken at the same time.

After the initial symptoms, red or purple lesions will appear all over the patient’s skin, which will eventually detach and expose internal tissue to possible infection.

Due to the nature of SJS symptoms, patients are often treated in the burn units of hospitals because they often require skin grafts. As mentioned before, this condition can be fatal if not treated in time but even survivors are left with permanent side effects such as scarring or blindness.