A MUM was left in excruciating pain and unable to walk after taking three antibiotic pills.
Talia Smith, 44, is now in a wheelchair and requires round the clock care after being prescribed the drug to treat a urinary tract infection (UTI).
When lab results confirmed her diagnosis, the mum from Norwood, Massachusetts, was prescribed ciprofloxacin – a commonly used antibiotic in the US rarely prescribed in the UK.
Ciprofloxacin, or Cipro, is part of a class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones which can have “irreversible” side effects, including potentially permanent damage to the tendons, muscles, joints, and nerves.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) puts a ‘black box’ warning on fluoroquinolones to show they could result in serious adverse reactions that may lead to serious injury or death.
In the UK, new restrictions brought in last month mean patients can only be prescribed fluoroquinolones once all alternative antibiotics are ruled out.
Read more on drug warnings
Knowing Cipro was pretty strong but unaware of the ‘black box’ warning, Talia told 25 Investigates that she questioned her doctor at the time.
She also asked if there was anything she needed to know about taking the medicine.
“They actually told me, ‘No, there’s nothing you need to be aware of. This is a very safe and effective antibiotic for UTIs’,” she recalled.
But three days later, after taking three of her prescribed pills, Talia ended up in hospital.
It was only then that doctors shared the warnings about fluoroquinolones.
“I had already taken those three pills, it was too late,” she told News Nation.
The mum was left in excruciating pain, so strong she couldn’t eat or walk.
“It was like a bomb went off in my body,” Talia said, likening the pain to an electric shock.
She added: “The third day I had stabbing pains, like in my heels, up my legs, like shooting pains, like I was getting electrocuted. And I was like: ‘What the heck is this?’
“The next [week], I was sitting in a chair showering myself. Then I couldn’t get my hands above my head.”
It was like a bomb had gone off inside my body
Talia Smith
The busy working mum, who exercised daily, continued to deteriorate.
In the next five months after first taking the pills in April 2021, Talia ended up in hospice care – only weighing 65lbs.
Nearly three years on, Talia relies on a wheelchair and requires round-the-clock care.
“This level of chronic illness, it’s not living at all,” Talia told 25 Investigates. “You’re just surviving day to day.”
She was also no longer able to take care of her husband, a disabled veteran who uses a wheelchair.
Before taking Cipro, Talia was his primary carer.
“Both of our lives were stolen from this, not just mine, his, my children, my stepchildren,” the mum said.
“I’m sitting right next to him in a wheelchair because of three pills.
“I can’t take care of him. I can’t take care of myself. We both require 24/7 care now.”
Talia has taken to TikTok to document her daily life and raise awareness about the drugs, with videos garnering thousands of views.
She’s angry she wasn’t warned about the antibiotics’ side effects before taking them.
Fluoroquinolone warnings
Fluoroquinolones are a group of antibiotics that include ciprofloxacin, delafloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and ofloxacin.
According to 25 Investigates, the drug is recommended for anthrax, gonorrhoea, typhoid fever and complicated bacterial infections.
In the UK, restrictions on their use were first introduced in 2019.
But the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) brought forward new restrictions on the drug in January this year.
It ruled that fluoroquinolones “should only be prescribed when other recommended antibiotics have failed, will not work due to resistance, or are unsafe to use in an individual patient”.
In September 2023, health chiefs also warned that people who took the drugs were at increased risk of mental health issues.
The warning came after a recently retired GP, with no history of depression, took his own life after being treated with ciprofloxacin.
“Fluoroquinolones can cause long-lasting, disabling, and potentially irreversible side effects, sometimes affecting multiple systems, organ classes, and senses,” the MHRA warned.
Adverse reactions to fluoroquinolone antibiotics to watch out for
If you’ve been prescribed a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, you should stop taking it immediately and contact your doctor if you have the following symptoms:
- Tendon pain or swelling – if this happens, rest the painful area until you can see your doctor
- Pain in your joints or swelling in your shoulders, arms, or legs
- Abnormal pain
- Sensations such as persistent pins and needles, tingling, tickling, numbness, or burning
- Weakness in your body, especially in the legs or arms, or difficulty walking
- Severe tiredness, depressed mood, anxiety, or problems with your memory or severe problems sleeping
- Changes in your vision, taste, smell, or hearing
If you have any of the above effects while taking fluoroquinolone, you should let your GP know, as it means you should avoid them in the future.
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
