A Florida resident has filed a product liability lawsuit against Pfizer and it’s subsidiary, Greenstone, alleging that ingesting its popular antibiotic drug Zithromax caused her child to suffer a severe life-threatening type of allergic reaction know as Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

The minor plaintiff was prescribed Zithromax in August 2009 and developed Stevens Johnson Syndrome approximately 2 weeks after first ingesting the antibiotic, the Zithromax lawsuit claims. The minor plaintiff’s mother, Mary A., claims that her child developed lesions of the skin and mucous membranes which turned into painful blisters similar to burns, which put the minor plaintiff at risk for death.

The Zithromax lawsuit accuses Pfizer of failing to warn the medical community and consumers about Zithromax side effects and the increased risk associated of Stevens Johnson Syndrome. Mary claims that if she and her child’s physicians had known the truth about the risk of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, neither her nor the minor plaintiff’s physicians would have consented to the use of Zithromax.

The Zithromax lawsuit further alleges that Pfizer failed to conduct sufficient testing on Zithromax and placed an unsafe product on the market, thus engaging in deceptive and unfair advertising practices.

What is Zithromax?

Zithromax, widely known as a Z-Pak, is a powerful antibiotic manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. The active ingredient in Zithromax is azithromycin.

First approved by the FDA in 1992, Zithromax is used to treat bacterial infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and infections of the ears, lungs and other organs.  Its use has since expanded to include a sexually transmitted diseases and middle-ear infections in children.

As an antibiotic, Zithromax is not effective in treating viral infections such as a cold or the flu.

What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a potentially fatal allergic skin reaction to some medications, which includes Zithromax. Stevens Johnson Syndrome symptoms often start with skin lesions, fever, headache, sore throat, and blisters.

The condition can affect the skin so much that the skin can literally slough off, and the patient’s eyesight can potentially be damaged. Patients who are lucky enough to survive their ordeal are potentially stuck with permanent injury including: scarring, sensitivity to light, and respiratory problems.

Zithromax and Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Zithromax side effects reportedly include an increased risk of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.

Multiple reports have linked the side effects of Zithromax and the development of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, including a study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information in 2006.

In that study, two cases of Zithromax Stevens Johnson Syndrome were discussed, including a 62-year-old woman who took Zithromax for an upper respiratory infection had developed SJS after. The woman developed a rash on her hands, fever, chills, and discoloration around her eyes. Luckily, after treatment with corticosteroids, the woman made a full recovery. The other patient who developed SJS after using Zithromax in this study was a child.

Zithromax SJS Lawsuits

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is rare condition and is seldom reported. People who have suffered from Stevens Johnson Syndrome after taking medications like Zithromax have filed SJS lawsuits against the drug manufacturers, alleging that the drugs were not labeled adequately to warn about the occurrence of Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

While drug labels typically do warn of severe allergic reactions, they typically do not warn of Steven Johnson Syndrome itself. They do not list it, how serious it is, how often it occurs, or what the symptoms are.