Popular due to their effectiveness in fighting various bacterial infections, fluoroquinolone antibiotics carry risks that can be worse than the illness.

In 2011, Lesley Yates, a vibrant mother and teacher’s aide, suffered a medical crisis after receiving a routine antibiotics prescription for a suspected urinary tract infection. The aftermath left her with severe tendon injuries, culminating in a premature transition to permanent disability at the age of 54.

Several doctors and experts dismissed her symptoms, Ms. Yates told The Epoch Times. Her story highlights the critical but underreported adverse effects associated with fluoroquinolone antibiotics—and the medical problems that arise in the absence of clear warnings of their risks.

“I feel like a 90-year-old in a 50-year-old body,” Ms. Yates told The Epoch Times.