Flagyl Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Lawsuit Attorney

What is Flagyl?

Flagyl is an antibiotic medication that is used to treat a wide variety of infections. The drug works by stopping the growth of certain bacteria and parasites. Flagyl is manufactured and marketed by Pfizer and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2005.

What's the Problem?

In recent years there have been growing concerns regarding the over-prescription of antibiotic drugs and the resulting increased risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). Flagyl is a widely-used treatment for elderly patients who have been prescribed other antibiotics over a long period of time, and as a result, have a reduced level of gut bacteria.

What is C. Difficile?

C. difficile is a bacterial infection of the bowel which most commonly affects people who have recently been treated with antibiotics. In healthy patients, C. difficile is rarely a problem because it co-exists with other bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Yet when doctors over-prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics such as Zithromax, it can cause C. difficile bacteria to spread.

When it does, the results can be catastrophic — 1 in 8 patients who develop an illness related to C. difficile require hospitalization, and more than 20,000 die from the disease. The problem is that when considering treatments, doctors also risk subjecting their patients to Flagyl Stevens-Johnson Syndrome side effects.

What is Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)?

Stevens-Johnson syndrome occurs when the body's mucus membranes and skin attack each other. Given the fact that patients fighting C. difficile are already suffering from reduced immune systems, this reaction can result in adverse health complications. Some doctors prescribe steroids or other drugs to combat the condition, but, unfortunately, there is currently no real cure for SJS.

Related Article: Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Lawsuit Update

SJS Following Use of Flagyl in a Dental Patient: Study

A 2014 study published in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology [1.] looked at the case of an elderly male patient who, following the use of Flagyl, developed neurological symptoms followed by pain and blisters on both soles, erythema of face and neck, scrotal itching and erosion, and hemorrhagic encrustation around the lips and oral mucous membrane.

The patient, a 50-year-old nonalcoholic man, was diagnosed with erosive lichen planus and subsequently prescribed oral vitamins, topical triamcinolone, and oral Flagyl 400 mg twice daily. He took the first dose of Flagyl at 10:30 am and developed a burning sensation and itching all over the body approximately 5 hours later.

He took a 5 mg cetirizine tablet on his own and the symptoms abated by that night. Then around 10:00 pm, he took his 2nd dose of Flagyl. Two hours later, he developed a severe burning sensation and itching all over the body followed by dizziness, confusion, convulsions, and transient loss of consciousness.

At 2:30 am, the patient complained of shivering and palpitations, and he felt pain in both feet while walking, redness over his face and neck, and itching and erosion over scrotal skin.

He then went to a doctor, who withdrew Flagyl and referred him to a dermatologist, who diagnosed him with Stevens-Johnson syndrome with involvement of approximately 3% of total body surface area. He was treated with oral olopatadine 5 mg, methylprednisolone 16 mg, famotidine 40 mg once a day, and erythromycin 500 mg 3 times daily for a week.

Methylprednisolone was tapered over the next 2 weeks. The patient recovered without any sequelae in 3 weeks.

Related Articles:

• Feldene Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Lawsuit
• Dolobid Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Litigation
• Lamictal Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Lawsuit

See all related dangerous drug lawsuits our attorneys covered so far.

Get a Free Flagyl Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Lawsuit Evaluation With Our Lawyers

The Pharmaceutical Litigation Group at Schmidt & Clark, LLP law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Flagyl Stevens-Johnson Syndrome lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently investigating potential settlements in all 50 states.

Again, if you or a loved one was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) after taking Flagyl, you should contact our law firm immediately for a free case review. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit for legal fees and our defective drug lawyers can help with a free case evaluation.