Beware Of This Well-known Antibiotic

Cipro is a commonly prescribed antibiotic belonging to the fluoroquinolone class. It’s used to treat conditions ranging from bacterial infections to anthrax exposure and certain types of plague. In 2022, an estimated 2.6 million prescriptions for Cipro were written.

The Drugs.com website states, “Fluoroquinolone antibiotics can cause serious or disabling side effects that may not be reversible.” For Talia Smith, a wife and stepmother of two, this warning came too late, and she’s suffered devastating and life-altering effects from Cipro.

Seeking treatment for a UTI, she was prescribed the antibiotic and felt confident when her longtime doctor told her there was nothing she needed to know about Cipro before taking it. After two days, however, Talia began to experience pain throughout her body, which quickly became debilitating.

Unknown to Smith, fluoroquinolones received an enhanced warning from the FDA due to their “disabling and potentially permanent side effects of the tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, and central nervous system that can occur together in the same patient.”

In addition to living with crippling pain, Talia developed an immune disorder, leaving her bedridden, struggling to eat, and in need of round-the-clock care. 

This story is tragic and illustrates how doctors, while mostly well-meaning, aren’t all-knowing or perfect. When medications are recommended, a patient’s own research and due diligence can reduce the risk of harm.

Read more about Talia’s experience in this article from People:

https://people.com/wife-left-bedridden-taking-common-antibiotic-exclusiv...