Zithromax is a controversial drug in the American medical community because of its overprescription and the potential for dangerous side effects. According to some reports, the overuse of Zithromax in the patient population has led to resistant bacteria strains and numerous adverse effect reports, including instances of Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Zithromax (azithromycin) is one of the most popular antibiotics in the United States, capable of treating a variety of conditions. It can treat a wide range of bacterial infections including ear infections, respiratory infections, and even certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Zithromax was originally approved as an antibiotic treatment by the FDA in 1992 and is manufactured by Pfizer Inc. Although this Pfizer drug was originally only approved to treat skin and respiratory infections, over the years it has gained approval from the federal agency to treat more bacterial infections. Over the years, Zithromax has garnered billions for Pfizer, only dropping down to the hundred millions in sales after the recent release of generic versions of Zithromax.

Zithromax belongs to a class of antibiotics called macrolides. This class of antibiotics work by stopping the reproduction of bacteria cells and attack the specific proteins responsible for growth and reproduction of the bacteria. The macrolides mechanism ultimately stops the infection from spreading and eventually causes the bacteria die out. More traditional antibiotics work by attacking and killing the actual bacteria, though this treatment mechanism usually results in a longer treatment process. Medical experts explain that not only is Zithromax’s treatment mechanism more effective and only requires a 3 to 5 day prescription, but is allegedly also longer-lasting.

Because Zithromax requires a shorter treatment plan of five days, compared to the standard 10-day plan of antibiotics, it has become extremely popular among adult and pediatric patients alike. However, this overwhelming popularity has brought several complications to Pfizer. As mentioned before, some groups are worried that Zithromax is being overprescribed, and since this trend does not seem to be decreasing, it could lead to bacterial strains resistant to antibiotics.

Over the years, reports have found that Zithromax is being prescribed for viral conditions or for other medical conditions that do not require an antibiotic medication. This may have led to several resistant bacteria strains that are immune to Zithromax and other macrolides, and numerous avoidable Zithromax adverse effect reports. One of the most infamous Zithromax side effects is Stevens Johnson Syndrome, an extreme allergic skin reaction that can be fatal in some instances.

Overview of Stevens Johnson Syndrome Complications

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is an extreme allergic skin reaction that is specifically set off by certain types of medication. It is infamously characterized by the red and purple skin lesions that appear on the patient’s body, which later detach and expose layers of sensitive tissue. This can lead to a variety of complications including infection, blindness, organ damage, and skin scarring. These skin lesions can take up to 30 percent of skin surface area, differing from its more extreme variant Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) that can take up to 90 percent of the skin’s surface area. Due to the nature of SJS symptoms, patients who are unfortunate enough to experience this reaction are treated in the burn units of hospital, as it is likely they will need skin grafts and other treatments used on burn victims.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a very rare reaction, with only 300 cases diagnosed per year in the United States. It is reportedly more common in adults than children, and is more likely to occur if more than one medication is taken or if the patient has a family history of drug sensitivity. Stevens Johnson Syndrome tends to develop within the first 2 to 8 weeks of starting a medication, and usually presents first with flu-like symptoms. This information is vital to the medical community, as many physicians have not encountered Stevens Johnson Syndrome before, and may fail to properly diagnose it in its early stages.

This is a highly aggressive skin condition that can lead to death quite quickly if immediate intervention is not taken. Patients who survive Stevens Johnson Syndrome are often on alert for the possibility of recurrence, and often consider suing drug companies for product liability charges. The conditions’ rarity leaves pharmaceutical companies reluctant to include it on their drugs’ labels, leaving many patients, including Zithromax users, unaware of the danger.