Recently, the popularly prescribed antibiotic Zithromax and SJS, a rare and potentially fatal medical disorder involving the skin and mucous membranes, have been linked.

Technically, SJS (Stevens Johnson Syndrome) is an immune-complex-mediated hypersensitivity condition, which basically means it occurs due to an allergic antibiotic rash.

While SJS is usually caused by an allergic reaction to drugs, such as Zithromax, it can also be caused by a reaction to an infection or illness.

About Zithromax

Zithromax (also marketed as Zmax and known as azithromycin) has become a popular antibiotic medication because it is faster than most antibiotics and requires a shorter prescription period.

The drug is often prescribed for acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, urethritis, cervicitis, pneumonia, strep throat, tonsillitis, gonorrhea and other sexually-transmitted diseases, ear infections, staph infections and other skin infections.

Manufactured by Pfizer, the drug has been prescribed to over 40 million patients.

After the New England Journal of Medicine published a study in 2012 that linked Zithromax to cardiovascular issues such as fatal irregular heart rhythms due to how it changes electrical activity in the heart, the FDA announced that Pfizer was required to include a label on all Zithromax prescriptions that warned of the increased risk.

The link between patients and cardiovascular conditions is especially high for Zithromax users who have a history of heart problems, especially those with existing QT interval prolongation, arrhythmia or low levels of potassium or magnesium.

Other side effects include diarrhea, blisters, cracked skin and fever.

Zithromax and SJS

Additionally, research suggests that Zithromax and SJS are also linked.

Two case reports published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information cited use of Zithromax and SJS: one child and one 62 year old female.

Researchers studied the link between Zithromax and SJS. Stevens Johnson syndrome, also called toxic epidermal necrolysis in more severe cases, causes patients to develop allergies to medications.

The report investigates the link between Zithromax and SJS development in two azithromycin patients. One patient was a 62-year-old female and the other was a child.

This potential link is especially bothersome because SJS results in death about 30% of the time, and it can develop at any time.

SJS typically causes blisters all over the body, skin loss and damage to mucous membranes. SJS sufferers can also lose their nails, hair and eyesight.

Zithromax SJS Lawsuit Information

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) often develops after use of certain pharmaceutical drugs like Zithromax. Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) is a more severe form of SJS.

Oftentimes, the drug companies play down the risks or fail to warn of the potential antibiotic rash risks in order to continue reaping large profits from sales.

If you or a loved experienced Zithromax side effects like SJS or TEN, you may be entitled to substantial compensation.

An experienced Zithromax attorney can help if you or someone you care about was harmed by Zithromax and SJS. Lawsuits have been filed against the drug maker by both patients and their families seeking compensation for injuries caused by this allegedly dangerous drug.