Medication side effects
A caveat to remember when it comes to medications: There is no drug in the entire medical formulary that has no side effects. All drugs, including a most common household pill, aspirin, have side effects, some mild and not obvious, others clinically apparent. Here are a few samples of valuable, effective and safe medications and their potential side effects.
Cholesterol lowering drugs and muscle pains
Some of the cholesterol lowering drugs called statins can cause myopathy (muscle aches and pains), especially in the lower extremities. Some of them more than others. This is due to rhabdomyolysis (a type of muscle damage), which is an adverse reaction to the enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor in the medication. Some people on the statins may experience myopathy earlier than others. When this happens, it is best to consult with your physician, who might discontinue the medication for a while or shift to another anti-cholesterol drug.
Blood pressure medications affect erection
Medications for hypertension (high blood pressure), especially the ones classified as beta blockers, are notorious for their side effect of causing poor erection in men. Fortunately, pills for male erectile dysfunction (ED) are now available, like Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. Other possible side effects among some people are bronchoconstrictive (asthma-like) effect, exacerbation of heart failure, or pains in the leg when walking. However, these are not very common adverse effects.
Pills for ED + nitrates could lead to shock
The three pills listed above for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction are some of today's wonder drugs. However, heart patients on vasodilator medications called nitrates (Nitroglycerine, Imdur, Isordil, Nitro-Dur, etc.) must never take Viagra, Levitra or Cialis, because any of these three taken with a nitrate can cause severe drop in blood pressure. The reason is the ED pill and nitrates are both vasodilators and their additive effect of opening all the blood vessels in the body can cause massive fall in the blood pressure and shock. When taken properly as directed by the prescribing physician, the ED pills are effective and safe.
Aspirin, Plavix and bleeding
Aspirin and Plavix (Clopidogrel) are two of the most valuable medications in cardiology today. They are anti-platelets and thin the blood to prevent blood clots, and minimize the risk of heart attack and/or stroke. However, some persons' coagulation system might be more sensitive than others, leading to gastrointestinal bleeding from either or both medications, or from anti-arthritis non-steroidal pills. This is a common side effect to watch for among these patients.
Antidepressants and suicide
Some antidepressant medications have been linked to an increased incidence of suicidal tendencies. Although effective for their proper indication in the medical regimen as a treatment for depression, these drugs appear to increase the suicide rate among some patients taking this type of medication.
Birth control pills and phlebitis
Birth control pills containing estrogen have been known to cause thickening of blood, and inflammation and blood clot formation in the leg veins (phlebitis). Untreated, these blood clots could travel to the lungs and cause serious consequences. These substances have also been suspected to increase the risk of breast cancer in women.
Vioxx, heart attack and stroke
One time a popular and effective arthritis medication produced by Merck, Vioxx, classified as Cox-2 inhibitor, has been taken off the market because it has been shown to increase the risk of heart attack and strokes among patients who took the pill. Bextra, another Cox-2 inhibitor was likewise withdrawn from the market for similar reason.
Corticosteroids, wound healing and fracture
Anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, or steroids for short, are one of the wonder drugs medical science has today, but its use could have the side-effects of osteoporosis, bone fractures and impaired wound healing. Its constant use may also lead to glandular deficiency.
Antihistamines reduces alertness
Commonly used anti-allergic medications under the classification of antihistamines may cause drowsiness and diminished mental function and reflexes. This is why individuals taking an antihistamine should not drive.
Diuretics and dizziness
Diuretics (water pills) are used in the treatment of high blood pressure and heart failure because they eliminate excess body water and sodium (salt). With reduction in the fluid volume in the system, which will help lower the blood pressure, patients may sometimes feel dizzy.
Is there such a thing as good side effects?
Yes, as exemplified by the "anti-impotence" pills. The original studies on this particular substance were focused on its vasodilator (opening up) effect on the coronary arteries, to prevent heart attack. But the male laboratory mice given the substance developed erection. Since the coronary vasodilator effect was not as great as the "side-effect" of erection, this drug has been officially approved by the US-FDA in April of 1998 as treatment for male erectile dysfunction. And with great efficacy and success too. And then, there is aspirin, originally used for fever, aches and pains. Today, cardiologists around the globe prescribe low-dose (81 mg) aspirin as mild blood thinner (a beneficial side effect) for heart patients.
Since all medications, without exception, could have potential side effects, it is very important for patients to discuss in detail with their attending physician everything they should know about the medication(s) prescribed for them. |
