Talia Smith, a 44-year-old mother from Norwood, Massachusetts, found herself in a dire situation following the administration of just three antibiotic pills intended to treat a urinary tract infection (UTI). The medication prescribed to her was ciprofloxacin, a potent antibiotic that belongs to the fluoroquinolone class. Despite fluoroquinolones being common prescriptions in the United States, their use is met with caution due to the associated risk of severe side effects. These concerns are backed by a black box warning from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), highlighting the potential for serious, sometimes permanent, harm or even death linked to these drugs.
