Zithromax Lawsuit Says Antibiotic Caused Stevens Johnson Syndrome

A lawsuit filed in New York alleges that Zithromax, one of the most widely-used antibiotics, caused a young girl to develop a life-threatening reaction called Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or SJS, is an autoimmune reaction, a situation wherein the body mistakes itself for an invading germ, like a bacteria or a virus. This causes the immune system to attack the body. In the case of SJS, the body attacks the skin, causing a painful skin rash. This typically escalates to sores blisters, and ulcers.

The damage from Stevens Johnson Syndrome can be life-threatening, and may leave permanent damage including impaired organ function and blindness. The most serious cases can escalate to a related disease called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis or TEN, in which patches of damaged skin die and slough off, leaving burn-like wounds. Alexander suffered through months of rehabilitation after her bout of SJS.

Many questions remain about the specifics of SJS. However, scientists do know that the vast majority of cases are triggered by medication. Curiously, it can be a medication that someone has taken before without incident, or the very first time someone takes a new drug. In the case of Aleigh Alexander, whose family filed the Zithromax SJS lawsuit, it appears that her SJS was triggered by an antibiotic called Zithromax.

Zithromax (the trade name of azithromycin) is a commonly used antibiotic. It is used because it is effective against a wide variety of bacteria. Also, the antibiotic is well-marketed, and comes in an easy-to-use package called the Z-Pak, contributing further to its popularity.

The Zithromax lawsuit alleges that the manufacturers of Zithromax failed to adequately test the drug to determine the risk of less-common side effects including SJS and TEN. The Zithromax lawsuit contends that the drug’s manufacturers bury references to SJS in the fine print of the required drug information, preventing patients and their health care providers from having all of the information they need to make informed medical decisions.

The Alexanders allege in the Zithromax lawsuit that had they been aware of this risk, they might not have used Zithromax, sparing their daughter. In the exact words of the SJS lawsuit: “defendants, respectively and collectively, failed to properly test defendants’ product, Azithromycin, prior to its sale, and as a result, subjected users to an unreasonable risk of injury when that product was used as directed and recommended.”

The case is formally titled Aleigh Alexander et al. v. Pfizer Incorporated et al, Case No. 155812, Filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York.

If you or a loved one suffered from SJS or TEN after using Zithromax, you’ve almost certainly been through a trying ordeal. But you need to remember that you still have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain a measure of control over your situation. You can start by visiting the Zithromax, Z-Pak, Azithromycin Heart Attack, Stevens Johnson Syndrome & Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Class Action Lawsuit Settlement & Investigation. The initial consultation is completely free of charge, and from it, you can receive additional guidance on the best steps to take in your exact situation.