Zithromax SJS Side Effects & Court Precedent
By John Curran
While the U.S. Supreme Court and a number of federal judges have worked to seriously curtail the liability of certain drug makers, people who have dealt with Zithromax Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) side effects should know that in many cases, their legal complaints would not be affected.
When the Supreme Court justices ruled on Mutual Pharmaceutical Co. v. Bartlett, they decided that a generic drug maker could not be held liable as long as drug safety warnings matched those that garnered U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval by the original patent holder. While this lack of specific safety warnings can cause problems for people who opt for generic medications to save money, Zithromax SJS lawsuit attorneys note that the drug only went off patent relatively recently.
Patients who took some variant of drug with the active ingredient azithromycin likely took a course of treatment marketed by Pfizer Inc., the original patent holder. The other key issue is whether or not the company adequately informed the public about the risks. According to a district court decision in Ball v. Takeda Pharmaceuticals, if a company describes the possibility of conditions like Zithromax SJS side effects, then it is “adequate as a matter of law.”
However, FDA approval of drug safety warnings and requests for label changes seem to go against that concept for the antibiotic. The agency issued a warning to Pfizer in July 2012, alleging that the company failed to specifically note the autoimmune disorder. In addition, due to the rarity of the condition, it also wanted Pfizer to describe how the disease manifests itself as one of several Zithromax side effects. Current labeling incorporates the former, but not the latter.
For those who have not yet developed SJS or other skin reactions, Zithromax SJS lawsuit attorneys note that for many of their clients, the condition begins as a rash on the extremities and is often accompanied by fever and chills before beginning to inflame mucus membranes.
If you or someone you know developed this disorder, or any other Zithromax side effects, consider your legal options. You can get a free consultation with one of our partner Zithromax lawsuit attorneys at the Zithromax Z-Pak Azithromycin Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation. If you used any antibiotics that include azithromycin you may be able to pursue a complaint against drug maker Pfizer. Get started today and find out what remedies you may be able to obtain.
All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.
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One thought on Zithromax SJS Side Effects & Court Precedent
I didn’t develop a rash or sjs but it was a couple days before my high school graduation (June of 2008)and I was very sick. My doctor misdiagnosed me, I had a viral infection not a bacterial infection. So she prescribed me zithromax and I took the pill when I got home, but within the next day my neck swelled like a football horizontally. I struggled to breathe, I was on 1 knee begging for help. I cried, my mom asked me if I was OK and I had to write “take me to the hospital.” I was there for roughly 7 hours. I had a severe allergic reaction to zithromax. Since I’ve been at doctor visits I clarify that I am allergic to zithromax. I would like compensation for the hospital visit, doctor visit, and prescription drug coverage.