8 Pharmaceuticals With Worse Side Effects Than the Ailments They Treat

Posted by D

There comes a time in everyone's life when they're prescribed a drug, but unless you have no choice in the decision, you might want to consider whether or not the medicine's benefits outweigh the potential side effects. Here are eight examples of prescription drugs* that might not be worth the hassle, based on their warning labels.

AmbienAmbien
Purpose: To aid in sleeping.
Side Effects: Sleepdriving and amnesia:
"Sleepwalking, and eating or driving while not fully awake, with amnesia for the event, have been reported. If you experience any of these behaviors contact your provider immediately."

Enbrel Enbrel
Purpose: To control arthritis and clear up psoriasis.
Side Effects: Tuberculosis and multiple sclerosis:
"Serious infections have happened in patients taking ENBREL. These infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body...Serious nervous system disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, seizures, or inflammation of the nerves of the eyes have been reported. There have been rare reports of serious blood disorders (some fatal)."

ChantixChantix
Purpose: To help you quit smoking.
Side Effects: Suicide:
"Some patients have reported changes in behavior, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions when attempting to quit smoking while taking CHANTIX or after stopping CHANTIX."

AvandiaAvandia
Purpose: To control blood sugar in diabetics.
Side Effects: Bone fractures, heart failure and pregnancy:
"AVANDIA can cause or worsen heart failure...Women taking AVANDIA should know that AVANDIA may increase the risk of pregnancy. More fractures have been observed in women taking AVANDIA. Other possible side effects of AVANDIA include anemia and hypoglycemia."

Mirapex
Purpose: To help treat restless leg syndrome.
Side Effects: Narcolepsy and hallucinations:
"MIRAPEX may cause you to fall asleep without any warning, even while doing normal daily activities, such as driving. When taking MIRAPEX, hallucinations may occur and sometimes you may feel dizzy, sweaty or nauseated upon standing up." Also linked to amnesia and gambling addiction.

AccutaneAccutane
Purpose: To treat severe acne.
Side Effects: Birth defects and suicide:
"There is an extremely high risk that severe birth defects will result if pregnancy occurs while taking ACCUTANE in any amount, even for short periods of time...There is an increased risk of spontaneous abortion, and premature births have been reported...The patient will be counseled to avoid pregnancy by using two forms of contraception simultaneously and continuously one month before, during, and one month after isotretinoin therapy, unless the patient commits to continuous abstinence...ACCUTANE may cause depression, psychosis and, rarely, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, suicide, and aggressive and/or violent behaviors."

CelebrexCelebrex
Purpose: To treat arthritis.
Side Effects: Death:
"CELEBREX may increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke that can lead to death...Serious skin reactions or stomach and intestine problems, such as bleeding and ulcers, can occur without warning and my cause death."

RaptivaRaptiva
Purpose: To treat psoriasis.
Side Effects: Decreased immune system, arthritis and WORSE psoriasis:
"RAPTIVA can decrease the activity of your immune system to fight infections. People using RAPTIVA may have an increased chance of getting serious infections. Some infections in people using RAPTIVA have become serious and in rare cases these have led to hospitalization or death. RAPTIVA likely increases the risk of getting Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare brain disease caused by a virus which usually results in death or severe disability...Other serious side effects experienced by patients treated with RAPTIVA included low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia), low blood counts (anemia), new or worsening psoriasis, new or worsening arthritis, and nervous system disorders."

*Non-Prescription Bonus:

allialli
Purpose: To aid in weight loss.
Side Effects: Loss of bowel control:
"Treatment effects are bowel changes that are most commonly caused by eating meals with too much fat while using alli capsules. Such effects may include oily spotting, loose stools, and more frequent stools that may be hard to control."

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Comments

  1. Posted by Katrina Kaif on 24/2/09

    The resource you provided here is awesome.

  2. Posted by Donna Mc on 25/2/09

    You are right on about the Mirapex and Ambien.
    I own and modrate 2 support groups online for RLS, Insomnia, and other sleep diorders.
    I can’t tell how many people have had to give up both of these meds in desperation for some self preservation.After Mirapex was approved for use in Restless legs Syndrome a few yrs ago, we were all ecstatic. Now, just a few yrs later there are more people off of it, than on it. I was one who tried Mirapex, and it was so nasty. I could not drive, eat, or sleep.The RLS is awful, and Mirapex is not the answer at all; just for a small amount of RLS sufferers is it a good thing.

  3. Posted by Jack on 27/2/09

    Chantix was marketed as Champix in Canada and has been blamed for at least one death.

  4. Posted by Jean Sulla on 1/3/09

    I took Levaquin for 2 weeks and now I am wearing a cast for tendonitis and have colitus which began 2 weeks after I stopped Levaquin. This drug should be banned.

  5. Posted by jEAN SULLE on 1/3/09

    i TOOK LEVAQAUIN FOR 2 WEEKS, NOW I HAVE TENDONITIS AND COLITIS AND PAIN IN MY TENDONS. THIS MEDICINE SHOULD BE BANNED.

  6. Posted by JEAN SULLE on 1/3/09

    TOOK LEVAQUIN FOR 2 WEEKS. TWO WEEKS AFTER TAKILNG IT I HAVE COLITIS AND TENDITIS IN MY HEEL, BALL OF FOOT HURTS AND CALF MUSCLE. THIS DRUG SHOULD BE BANNED.

  7. Posted by Adam on 9/3/09

    Accutane is a godsend

  8. Posted by Etna on 12/6/09

    I was prescribed Accutane and I was suicidal before going on it. It seriously worked miracles for me and I honestly believe it saved my life.

  9. Posted by David on 3/7/09

    Same feelings here for accutane. NOTHING else cleared up my cystic acne like the Accutane. Of course, while I was on it, I had conjunctivitis in both eyes, lips were so chapped they would split open, all my skin was extremely dry. It cleared up my acne though, and you only have to take it for like 9 months.

  10. Posted by Maria on 10/7/09

    Accutane can be very dangerous for girls. It can cause psychosis and, while I was on it, it cause an undocumented side effect: lactation. To be an 18 year old girl and be lactating while facing psychosis is the scariest side effect I have ever experienced.

  11. Posted by Richard Hemby on 12/10/09

    Hello! I just put together a list of iphone/itouch apps for Pharmacists and thought it would be helpful. If you wouldn’t mind, could you share my post with your readers? If there’s an app you use often in the field that isn’t on my list, let me know in the comments (or email me) and I can add it. Did you know apps can be written off on taxes?:) Might even be able to write off a iphone too if you can show that you only use it for work (for the apps!).

    Here’s the post:

    http://blog.onlinecollegeguru.com/health-care/best-iphone-apps-for-pharmacists/

    Thanks much,

    Rich

  12. Posted by John on 4/11/09

    I took Accutane about 20 years ago and there was no reports about suicide at the time. While the side effects were extreme drying in eyes, nose, lips, it completely cleared by cystic acne where nothing else, including injections right into the breakout could. For me it was a miracle and now more than 20 years later, the acne has never returned. This, for me, was truly a miracle drug.

  13. Posted by Debbi on 5/11/09

    I have diabetes type II and my doctor prescribed Metformin. It caused me a great deal of pain. My muscles became weak and I couldn’t walk without a cane. I finally went off the Metformin and 3 days later, my urine color was clear (was tan while taking Metformin). 12 days after quitting Metformin, I could raise both arms above my head; I hadn’t been able to do that for 3 months. Metformin’s side effects may be rare, but they are horrible. Do research before getting any prescriptin from your doctor.

  14. Posted by Houston SEO Services on 27/11/09

    The scary part is that this are not some exotic pharmaceuticals – these are some of the most commonly used ones. Take i.e. alli – you can get it in your grocery store…

  15. Posted by pharmacist on 23/1/10

    Very interesting posts and well written.

  16. Posted by Professor on 31/1/10

    Interesting site. No doubt that each of the drugs list have been ASSOCIATED with the effect listed. Very little evidence of CAUSATION in most of the cases. Some are idiosyncratic, e.g. Ambien. If it causes YOU to have the ADR then don’t continue to use it, but don’t prevent others who do not have the ADR from having the benefits. One comment on Levaquin mentioned tendinitis (repeated). I am curious, did it cure the infection? which would you rather have the infection or tendonitis?

    EVERY drug has a risk-benefit ratio that must be evaluated by the patient and the prescriber. Please discuss these things with your prescriber, don’t just take your prescription to the pharmacy and expect magic!

  17. Posted by AT on 31/3/10

    I tried so many creams, gels, washes, pills, herbs, even went as far as washing my pillow cases once a week, wouldn’t let anyone ever touch my face & wouldn’t let my blankets touch my face, EVEN used a different wash cloth every night/day on my face as well as new towel each time to dry my face. ALSO researched for years the ingredients/chemicals in what I’d use on my face/to wash my bed sheets/pillow cases, ETC.
    Yes, I did LOTS of research, studying and tried many various RX + OTC items to treat the acne I had. While, no it was not severe by appearance, it was severe to my self-esteem & personality. It’d take me far too long to explain the effect it had on me as a teenager.
    ACCUTANE (well, Sotret), after years of doing my own research on it, I luckily got a psychologist to write a note to my PCP to prescribe it to me. I swear by this drug! Only side effects – dry skin, dry scalp, thinner hair (which is FINE with me b/c my skin is clear!). I cannot stress how this changed my life, my outlook on life & happiness. I was even diagnosed with clinical depression since my early teen years (in mid 20’s now). Give accutane a fair chance, it changed my life. I am no longer suffering from social anxiety, OCD (making sure nothing “unclean” touched my face = made me ocd!), panic attacks. I love the medical field & have worked in it for several years. Thank you accutane for giving me life!!