According to recent research and customer reviews, the fluoroquinolone drug Levaquin has been known to allegedly cause a painful and serious allergic skin reaction known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome (or SJS).

Levaquin is part of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic drug family and is widely prescribed by doctors to treat sinusitis and urinary tract infections.

In a study published on eHealthMe.com in late October, data was collected from FDA reports and other sources and found that over 27,800 patients experienced Levaquin side effects. Of these patients, 331 allegedly contracted SJS after taking the quinolone drug.

Based on these reports, over 95 percent of consumers who contracted SJS after taking quinolone developed SJS symptoms just one month after beginning a round of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Of the 331 patients who allegedly developed SJS, over 40 percent were 60 years of age or older.

Additionally, the majority of patients who developed Levaquin SJS were women, meaning that those most at risk of developing Stevens Johnson Syndrome while taking Levaquin are women over the age of 60 who have been taking the drug for under a month.

In all the 331 Levaquin SJS cases recorded in this study, all of these cases the patients developed to the most severe form of SJS called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

What are Quinolone Antibiotics?

Quinolones (also known as fluoroquinolones) are a group of antibiotic drugs that are sold under a whole host of brand names including Cipro, Levaquin, and Avelox, as well as various generic drug names.

While there are many benefits linked with taking quinolone antibiotics, there also serious and sometime life-threatening side effects. Aside from the risk of developing the painful skin condition SJS, other quinolone side effects may include liver toxicity and liver failure.

As a result, quinolone users have filed uinolone liver damage lawsuits and/or Quinolone SJS class action lawsuits.

What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) are painful, and on occasion fatal, skin conditions. An individual may develop SJS or TEN as an allergic reaction to various prescription and over-the-counter medications.

However, quinolone antibiotic drugs such as Cipro, Levaquin, and Avelox have been found to have a high number of reported cases of serious SJS and/or TEN quinolone reactions.

When a patient develops SJS or TEN after taking a medication, the individual’s topmost skin cells die leaving the deeper layers exposed and unprotected. The sensitive mucous membrane also becomes exposed and may be prone to infection and blistering.

Due to the sensitive dermis exposure to the elements and the subsequent pain experienced by SJS victims, they need to be hospitalized for weeks to months at a time for monitoring and treatment. In some extreme cases, a SJS patient may die.

Some SJS side effects may include:

• Painful blistering of the skin and mucous membrane involvement.
• In many cases preceded with flu like symptoms and high fever.
• As it evolves the skin literally sloughs off.
• Ocular involvement includes severe conjunctivis, iritis, palpebral edema, conjunctival and corneal blisters and erosions, and corneal perforation.

As a result of the pain and suffering experienced by quinolone SJS victims, many quinolone users or their family members have filed quinolone SJS lawsuits or have joined quinolone SJS class action lawsuits.