Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is one of several Zithromax side effects that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims Pfizer, the manufacturer of Zithromax/Zmax/Z-Pak, has attempted to minimize. Many individuals have filed Zithromax lawsuits because of the lack of SJS warnings on the warning label.

Zithromax/Zmax/Z-Pak is a commonly used antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections that was approved for use in 1996. Since then, hundreds of individuals have allegedly suffered from Zithromax side effects, such as Zithromax SJS.

By 2012, many individuals had experienced negative Zithromax side effects. The FDA issued a warning to Pfizer, telling them that their warnings concerning Zithromax SJS and other side effects was not strong enough. The FDA stated that Pfizer over-promoted Zithromax and minimized potential Zithromax side effects.

Zithromax lawsuits have alleged that Pfizer misrepresented the safety of Zithromax/Zmax/Z-Pak and omitted important information that could have reduced the number of Zithromax lawsuits filed against the drug maker. 

While the FDA recommended that patients carefully read the drug information, Pfizer was still left with the responsibility of improving Zithromax SJS and other side effects warnings.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Zithromax SJS is a severe, potentially deadly, skin disorder. It is an autoimmune reaction that attacks the body and skin instead of the infection. It begins with flu-like symptoms, which can lead to a misdiagnosis.

SJS develops into severe blisters on the skin or mucous membranes, such as the eyes, nose, or vaginal area. The blistering often becomes so severe that the skin will die and peel off, leaving open sores that may leave permanent scars.

SJS can affect between 10 percent and 30 percent of the skin. It requires immediate hospitalization and can take weeks to months to recover from. Roughly one in 20 SJS patients die from the condition.

When the blistering affects more than 30 percent of the body, the condition is called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). TEN can cause the epidermal layer of skin to become filled with fluids, often resulting in large amounts of skin shedding in large sheets.

TEN and SJS is dangerous because it leaves the body open to severe side effects such as sepsis, secondary infection, and death. Many SJS and TEN patients are treated in a hospital’s burn ward because the wounds are similar to burns from a fire. The fatality rate of TEN is 40 percent, significantly higher than SJS.

Both SJS and TEN are often severe reactions to drugs, such as Zithromax, Zmax and Z-Pak. Patients are often left with scars and sometimes experience limited movement, organ failure, or blindness.

Zithromax SJS has been the subject of many Zithromax lawsuits, but Pfizer is far from the only drug manufacturer facing SJS lawsuits.

Other Zithromax side effects include heart attack, liver failure, and cardiovascular side effects.