The antibiotic, Cipro, may come with more risks than benefits. The fluoroquinolone drug has been linked with serious Cipro side effects, including the life-threatening Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Fluoroquinolone drugs, which include Cipro, are some of the most popular antibiotic medications available in the U.S. Indeed, Cipro and other drugs like it are used each year by millions of Americans in order to treat a variety of bacterial infections.

However, a rising number of adverse event reports are surfacing that link Cipro with Cipro side effects that may be too dangerous to justify taking this medication over another, safer alternative.

Cipro Side Effects: Stevens Johnson Syndrome

A Cipro side effects rash is quite common, and in most cases will go away on its own without treatment and with no lasting complications.

However, a rash can in rare cases develop into a life-threatening condition known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS).

Stevens Johnson Syndrome can start off as mild rash, but quickly develops into the serious and painful skin condition that requires immediate medical attention.

The top layer of skin develops rashes that blister and peel. SJS is often treated in a hospital’s burn unit due to its severity. In some cases, SJS patients are untreatable and end up dying from these serious complications.

Even when these rashes can be treated, they can also lead to a number of serious complications, including pain, eye problems, secondary skin infection and internal organ damage. Most SJS patients are left with permanent and often serious scarring where there rashes used to be.

A more advanced version of SJS is called TEN, or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis. When SJS rashes progress to cover more than 30 percent of a patient’s body, it becomes known as TEN. Unfortunately, TEN patients have a higher fatality rate.

A recent study in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that SJS may be one of the possible Cipro side effects. The study reports that between 1988 and 2000, a total of eight SJS cases were reported after using Cipro.

Their study also included two more SJS cases after Cipro treatment, indicating that Cipro may in rare cases cause Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

The FDA recommended in a recent drug safety warning that fluoroquinolones like Cipro not be used when there are safer alternatives available.

Cipro Side Effects Lawsuits

A growing number of injured patients are filing lawsuits over Cipro side effects. These lawsuits allege that Cipro, as well as similar fluoroquinolone drugs, can cause serious injuries, including SJS, and that drug manufacturers failed to adequately warn about these risks.

Though filing a Cipro lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering from Cipro side effects, or bring a loved one back to life, it can help to at least compensate for financial expenses that may have been incurred through medical bills and lost wages.

If you or someone you love has suffered from SJS or another serious side effect after taking Cipro, you may be able to file a lawsuit.