My doctor gave me antibiotics for a UTI – three pills later I’m in a wheelchair and being cared for in a hospice

A WOMAN who was fit, healthy and active, working out seven days a week, is now wheelchair-bound and having palliative care in a hospice – needing 24 hour help just to survive.

For Talia Smith, 44, her life took an unexpected and devastating turn after she went to her doctor for a urinary tract infection (UTI) and was prescribed what she believed were routine antibiotics.

“The doctor gave me Cipro,” she says. “I asked if there was anything I needed to know. They told me it was safe and effective.

“Three pills later, my life was turned upside down.”

Ciprofloxacin, commonly known as Cipro, is part of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics.

Due to the potential for serious side effects, they can now only be prescribed in the UK if no other antibiotic is appropriate.

In the US the medication comes with seven black box warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the strongest warnings issued short of a ban.

But Talia, who lives in Norwood, Massachusetts, had no idea the drugs she was taking could cause serious problems.

“I couldn’t walk, my entire body ached, my vision changed, and I had trouble swallowing,” Talia says.

Alarmed, she sought help at the emergency room.

“The doctor asked me, ‘Were you taking Cipro?’ I said yes, and that’s when he told me about the black box warning. I was shocked – had never even heard of a black box warning before.”

The FDA has issued warnings about fluoroquinolones since 2008, highlighting risks such as tendon ruptures, nerve damage, and muscle wasting.

The FDA also states that fluoroquinolone antibiotics should be used when no other treatment options are available, due to their permanent and disabling side effects.

Talia says her doctor never mentioned these dangers.

“What happened to me felt like a bomb going off in my body,” she says.

“And all from a drug I was told was perfectly safe.”

‘I was the caregiver…now I need someone to care for me’

Talia’s health deteriorated swiftly after taking the drugs in April 2021.

“I started experiencing tremors, unbearable nerve pain, and stiffness that left me unable to move. Within five months, I was in hospice care,” she says.

At her lowest point, Talia weighed just 4st 2lb pounds and needed 24/7 care.

“I couldn’t lift my arms, couldn’t feed myself, and had to blend all my meals into a puree,” she reveals.

Her condition left her unable to care for her disabled veteran husband, Tim, who also relies on a wheelchair.

“It’s devastating,” Talia says. “I was the caregiver in our relationship, and now I need someone to care for me.”

Raising awareness on TikTok

Determined to turn her ordeal into a force for good, Talia took to TikTok, where her account has garnered over 1.4 million likes.

Her raw, unfiltered posts detail her journey and warn others about the potential dangers of antibiotics.

“I want people to know the risks,” she says. “If a doctor prescribes you something, don’t just accept it blindly. Double-check, triple-check, and ask questions. Your health is too important to leave to chance.” “What happened to me could happen to anyone.”

Talia also emphasises the importance of informed consent – there is currently a petition requesting this.

‘Floxing’ now a reportable medical condition

Her advocacy extends beyond TikTok.

In a historic milestone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently recognised “fluoroquinolone adverse effects” also known as “floxing” – a condition caused by fluoroquinolone toxicity—as a reportable medical condition.

“This is like landing on the moon for us,” says Dr Stephen Pieper, a German physician who has treated over 2,000 patients who has worked closely with Talia and the project team (the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Study Foundation and patient advocate, Audrey Reynolds).

The new diagnostic codes, set to go live in October 2025, will allow doctors to officially document floxing cases, paving the way for insurance reimbursements, disability claims, and better medical understanding.

“When the news came out, people were crying, calling, and messaging me,” Talia shares.

“They said they never thought this day would come.”

While the recognition is a monumental step forward, Talia and her team will continue to push for the inclusion of long-term floxing effects in the diagnostic criteria.

Life for Talia now…

Talia’s ordeal didn’t end with floxing. She now suffers from Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), a condition triggered by fluoroquinolone toxicity.

“MCAS is a beast,” she says. “I can only tolerate six foods, and I have to microdose any new ones to avoid severe reactions. One day I can eat something, and the next, it could cause a reaction. It’s completely unpredictable.”

To manage her condition, Talia relies on Cromolyn Sodium concentrate.

“This little bottle has saved my life,” she says. “I have to take it with every meal just to function.”

Despite her struggles, Talia remains determined to make a difference.

“Living with MCAS is exhausting and isolating, but I keep going,” she says.

“Every day is a fight, but I’m not giving up.”

Her story is a sobering reminder of the dangers of over prescribed antibiotics and the importance of patient awareness.

“Make sure you truly need an antibiotic before taking one,” she warns.

“And if you are prescribed a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, ask for an alternative.”

“This journey has been the hardest of my life,” she adds. “But if my story can help even one person, it’s all been worth it.”