Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a serious, potentially life-threatening skin disease. The most common cause of SJS and its more severe variant Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) are allergic antibiotic reactions after exposure to medications such as Cipro.

Cipro is the brand name for the drug ciprofloxacin. Made and sold by German pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG, this prescription medication is used to treat several life-threatening bacterial infections, though infrequently as a first-line treatment.

With Cipro Stevens Johnson Syndrome, the sufferer can first experience non-specific symptoms, such as headaches, aching body, fever, and a bad cough. Then a rash may develop over the face and trunk of the body, which then spreads to other parts of the body.

The rash is patchy and can spread to various areas of the body. Blistering can then appear, usually in places such as the eyes, mouth, nose and genital area, and the mucous membrane becomes inflamed.

With TEN, another variation of the disease, the skin also begins to flake away from the body in large amounts. This leaves the sufferer looking as though he or she has burns. The places where the skin has come away can seep fluids, and there is also a big risk of infection.

Antibiotic Reactions & SJS

Antibiotics are widely prescribed in the United States, with the most commonly requested medication being Cipro (Ciprofloxacin). Despite it’s popularity, medications like Cipro have been linked to serious and life-threatening allergic antibiotic reactions.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is characterized by the red or purplish blisters that appear on the patient’s skin, which causes the infected areas to detach and make the appearance of sloughing off the body. TEN is characterized by covering up to 90 percent of the body in skin lesions, while SJS affects between 10 to 30 percent of the body.

SJS and TEN are specifically caused by an extreme allergic reaction to medication, and symptoms normally appear within two weeks after starting a drug regimen.

A significant number of patients who report suffering Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) often require hospitalization to prevent the conditions from worsening. If not treated promptly, the patient could suffer permanent organ damage, blindness, skin scarring, and possibly death.

Still, doctors are unsure as to what causes certain patients to suffer SJS or TEN, but theorize it has to do with the patient’s immune system or metabolic process and how these react to antibiotics such as Cipro (ciprofloxacin).

Additionally, the mortality rate for persons suffering with Stevens Johnson Syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis is between 25 percent to 80 percent. Some of the factors that determine a person’s likelihood of survival includes the severity of the disorder and the amount of skin that the victim loses. If a person with SJS has lesions that are exposed and become infected, they have a much higher chance of death.

To save the life of a person with SJS or TEN, treatments usually include intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), pain medication, and in the most severe cases, skin grafts. Because SJS and TEN are so dangerous, Cipro patients and their caregivers must be aware of the Cipro side effects so that medical attention can be given.

Filing a SJS Cipro Antibiotic Lawsuit

Pharmaceutical manufacturers are aware of the risks associated with their antibiotic drugs, yet proper warnings are for the most part inadequate. Many medications have been taken off the market because of unjustifiable risks of adverse effects, while many antibiotics, such as Cipro, have been linked to SJS.

Without adequate warnings, patients who develop SJS may continue to take the SJS-causing antibiotics, which could worsen and lead to TEN.

On average, there are approximately 300 new cases of SJS reported a year, which means it is a very rare occurrence among the billions of American patients. Because this condition is so rare, and the likelihood of developing it so low, drug companies that manufacture quinolone antibiotics neglect to mention it on their product’s labels.

If you or a loved one suffered a SJS reaction to Cipro, you may be eligible to file an antibiotic lawsuit against the manufacturer of the medication that caused your pain and suffering. An experienced SJS attorney can explain more about filing a SJS Cipro antibiotic lawsuit and the legal options available to you.