Many individuals have developed Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) after taking quinolone antibiotics, and quinolones have been under investigation recently for SJS side effects as well as liver failure and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

Quinolone antibiotics are used to treat certain bacterial infections. Quinolone drugs such as Cipro, Levaquin, and Avelox are used to treat urinary tract infections, sinus infections, ear infections, and other bacterial diseases.

Among other side effects, quinolones have been associated with several cases of SJS, a potentially deadly disease.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome

SJS is a severe skin condition that causes the skin to burn from the inside out. It begins with flu-like symptoms which often causes doctors to misdiagnose the condition. SJS symptoms include a red or purplish rash on the skin or mucous membranes such as in the nose, eyes, or mouth and blisters.

The blisters may cover up to 30 percent of the body. SJS side effects often cause parts of the skin to peel off and may cause permanent scarring, organ failure, or blindness, if the blisters affect the eyes.

SJS is an allergic reaction to a drug and can take weeks or even months for full recovery, and hospitalization is often required.

When the disease covers more than 30 percent of the body, the diagnosis changes to Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). TEN is significantly more dangerous and painful than SJS.

TEN patients often experience significant skin loss which leaves the body especially open to secondary infections and sepsis. TEN patients are often treated in burn wards due to the fact that the wounds caused by TEN are similar to fire burns.

Between 30 percent and 40 percent of TEN patients die, while only 5 to 15 percent of SJS cases are fatal. Both SJS and TEN are rare conditions, but due to the extreme amount of pain and long-term side effects associated with the diseases, the medical community has taken a great interest in SJS cases and their potential causes.

Liver Failure

Quinolones have also been linked to liver failure for over a decade. Liver failure can cause serious side effects including death. One quinolone study found an increase in liver failure in quinolone users. From the 144 patients that were diagnosed, more than 60 percent of them died.

Quinolone antibiotics Avelox and Levaquin were suggested to have a higher risk of liver failure.

Quinolone Lawsuits

Numerous quinolone antibiotics have been suggested to have SJS side effects. As a result, many quinolone lawsuits have been filed against many drug manufacturers accusing them of failing to warn against SJS side effects.

Quinolone lawsuits may be filed by anyone who has experienced alleged liver failure, TEN, or SJS side effects as a result of taking quinolone antibiotics. Over 2,000 quinolone lawsuits have been filed thus far.