Prescription Drug Side Effects: Risks of Common Drugs

by | Apr 20, 2016 | Prescription Drugs | 0 comments

Do you ever notice how the prescription drug ads you see on TV are always accompanied by a long list of possible side effects? The FDA requires drug companies to notify you of the risks of taking medication, but some increasingly common prescription drugs have dangerous side effects. Here are the prescription drug side effects that you should watch out for and ask your doctor about.

Prescription Drugs Are More Popular Than Ever

The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say almost half of Americans have taken at least one prescription drug in the past 30 days. In fact, over 62% of visits to doctors’ offices result in prescription drug therapy.

Here are some of the most dangerous prescription drug side effects:

  • Statins (like Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor) – One of the most commonly prescribed drugs, statins are prescribed to reduce bad cholesterol levels. However, beware of the drug side effects you see when combining a statin with antibiotics, antifungals, and even other heart medicines like Cordarone and Niaspan. Mixing Lipitor and Niaspan, for example, can cause rhabdomyolysis, a condition that breaks down skeletal muscle tissue and can cause kidney damage or death. Prolonged statin use can also cause liver toxicity, cataracts, and muscle inflammation.
  • Anticoagulants (like Warfarin, Xarelto) – Prescribed for preventing heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots. These drugs impact the blood’s natural ability to clot, meaning you could be at risk for severe bleeding. This drug side effect is worse when you combine anticoagulants with omega-3 fish oil supplements. It should be noted that there’s currently no clinical evidence of omega-3’s cardiovascular benefits.
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors (like Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid) – PPIs are used to treat acidic digestive problems like acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and ulcers. However, they can put you at risk for developing Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD), which is a type of diarrhea that can be deadly and can be resistant to some antibiotics.
  • Antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs like Cymbalta, Effexor, Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro) – In children up to age 18, these drugs have been shown to double the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. (Increased suicide risk for adults has not been proven, but neither has it been ruled out.)

The bottom line is: be careful when taking drug advice from television commercials or other prescription drug ads. Often, the list of side effects seen in drug ads isn’t complete and there are more drug side effects that you should be aware of. It’s best to talk to your doctor in depth about any prescription treatment and be sure to read all the literature included with your prescription.