A simple and short course of Zithromax has been reported in rare cases to leave patients stricken for weeks with a crippling antibiotic reaction.

Zithromax is manufacturer Pfizer’s brand name for the drug azithromycin.

It’s been approved by the FDA to treat a broad spectrum of bacterial infections, like respiratory infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and infections of the skin.

As a macrolide antibiotic, Zithromax works by inhibiting bacteria’s ability to grow. In one form or another, Zithromax was prescribed to over 40 million people in 2011.

Part of Zithromax’s popularity can be attributed to its shorter courses. Patients may only have to take Zithromax from one to five days, compared to the ten-day course that’s common with other antibiotics.

For some of the shorter courses, azithromycin may be packaged in a three- or five-day supply under the brand name Z-Pak. It’s also available in a large one-time dose branded Zmax.

Zithromax Medication Side Effects

Despite its popularity, Zithromax is not without its medication side effects. A warning issued by the FDA in May 2013 alerted the public that Zithromax could be linked to cardiac arrhythmias.

And as the current FDA-approved warning label states, rare cases of Stevens Johnson syndrome and the related condition toxic epidermal necrolysis have been reported as an antibiotic reaction associated with Zithromax.

Doctors today consider these conditions to be two different extremes of the same condition.

The trademark symptoms associated with SJS and TEN are areas of skin that break out in rash and form blisters in the center. These blisters come loose from the underlying lower layer of skin and peel off.

In TEN, the area of skin affected by this peeling is much greater, covering at least 30 percent of the body surface area. Generally the condition will be referred to as SJS if the peeling skin is limited to less than 10 percent of the whole body. Any amount of peeling between those two is considered overlap.

The loss of skin can put the whole body at risk for destructive and potentially deadly complications. Patients are particularly susceptible to skin infections and blood poisoning.

Systemic infections can lead to shock and multiple organ failure. Patients also lose substantial amounts of fluids and electrolytes from the exposed lower layer of skin, putting them at risk for dehydration and malnutrition.

Complications during the acute phase of both conditions can be fatal, with TEN leading to a significantly higher mortality rate than SJS.

In addition to skin symptoms, these conditions can cause similar lesions in the mucous membranes. Particularly vulnerable are the mucous membranes lining the inside of the eyelid.

The eyes may become red, irritated, and so sticky with pus that they seal shut. Irritation of the membrane around the eyes may develop into conjunctivitis. Corneal ulcers, opacities and scarring can put the patient at risk for blindness.

Other mucous membranes can also be affected throughout the digestive and respiratory system. Lesions inside the mouth or throat may make speaking or eating painful.

Diarrhea can result from SJS symptoms in the lower digestive tract. Additionally, SJS respiratory effects can include cough, difficulty breathing, and pneumonia.