A painful, life-threatening skin reaction can occur called Cipro Steven Johnson Syndrome when a patient takes the antibiotic.

Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat different kinds of bacterial infections. Bayer Healthcare manufactures Cipro, which was FDA-approved as a broad-spectrum antibiotic in 1987.

Steven Johnson Syndrome is a severe allergic reaction to medication that begins with a fever and rash, but progresses to blistering, painful skin peeling and open sores.

The reaction can get out of control quickly, becoming fatal in 5% to 15% of cases.

As Steven Johnson Syndrome develops, the skin experiences an excruciating chemical burn from the inside out. Sores can even develop in the eyes, causing severe pain and blindness.

There are reports of some Cipro Steven Johnson Syndrome sores that form inside the patient’s body on internal organs.

Cipro Steven Johnson Syndrome can quickly progress to full-blown Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), causing victims to shed large sheets of skin that come off of the body in addition to painful sores in the mouth, eyes and vagina.

These mucous membranes fill up with fluid generated by the immune system in a severe allergic reaction to the medication. When large areas of raw skin are exposed, the chances of the patient developing infection, sepsis (blood infection) and death increase.

These Cipro Steven Johnson Syndrome patients usually need to spend weeks or months in a hospital’s burn unit. Some people have scars and complications for the rest of their lives, adding to the emotional, physical, and financial tolls the condition can take.

Only 300 new cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome are diagnosed each year in the United States, but they are all linked to medications.

Some patients go on to experience recurrent allergic reactions such as Cipro Steven Johnson Syndrome even after stopping the medication.

Despite Risks of Cipro Steven Johnson Syndrome, Drug Is Widely Used

Cipro is the most widely prescribed drug in the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics, and is often used to treat bacterial infections such as urinary tract, abdominal, gastrointestinal and respiratory infections.

Cipro can be taken orally or intravenously. It is often used as an intravenous prophylactic antibiotic for people undergoing invasive surgeries.

In addition to the risk of Cipro Steven Johnson Syndrome, Cipro can cause swelling or tearing of a tendon. Disabling side effects are associated with the drug, including those involving tendons, muscles, joints, nerves and the central nervous system.

Side effects can become known within hours, or can take weeks after exposure to fluoroquinolones.

FDA Says Weight the Benefits and Risks

After reviewing the potential side effects of Cipro and other fluoroquinolones, the FDA has recommended limiting their use in patients with less severe bacterial infections.

“Fluoroquinolones have risks and benefits that should be considered very carefully,” said Edward Cox, M.D., director of the Office of Antimicrobial Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

“It’s important that both health care providers and patients are aware of both the risks and benefits of fluoroquinolones and make an informed decision about their use.”

If you or someone you love has taken Cipro and developed Cipro Steven Johnson Syndrome or other debilitating side effects, you could benefit from a class action lawsuit.