I think I’ll keep sneezing. Thanks anyway, though.

If you watch television at all, then you have seen a prescription drug commercial.  If you listen to the narrator (who talks in a rapid pace so it’s difficult to follow the horror of her words), you’ll notice that her cheerful lilt is attempting to mask a description of awful (and potentially fatal) side effects.  I’m certainly not here to criticize people who use antidepressants, painkillers, anti-anxiety medications, allergy meds, Viagra (ha), etc.  I just think that many ailments are not worth the risk of prescription drugs.  Let’s ignore the fact that you could become addicted to these drugs.  That is bad enough.  Instead, I’d like to focus on the side effects, bearing in mind that these are only the ones that I’ve heard mentioned commercials.  If you conduct further research (or use your common sense), you’ll realize that there are a multitude of other side effects that, for whatever reason, did not make the cut during final editing.  Here are some of the side effects I’ve heard for different drugs:

·         Nausea

·         Stroke

·         Heart Attack

·          Blood Clots

·          Difficulty breathing

·         Increased thoughts of suicide (ironically, this was for an antidepressant medication)

·         “Sexual side effects” (a vague term that could mean anything from a night of flaccidness to a radioactive, neon orange discharge)

·          Muscle pain/loss of muscle control and coordination

·         Immune system disorders (I'm misquoting here but they made some reference to a compromised immune system)

·         Diarrhea

·         Death

It’s sad how dependent we have become on these drugs, some of which essentially make us more ill than we were in the first place.  Gone are the days when we solved our problems the natural way.  Again, this post isn’t to criticize or judge anyone who pops a few pills.  There’s nothing wrong with it.  I considered taking antidepressants a few years back.  I’m just saying, I wouldn’t take a prescription allergy medication to cure a few coughs, sneezes, and runny noses if it meant that I would then suffer from cholera.  And scurvy.  Simultaneously. (ok, I’m exaggerating.  But you get the point.)

Here’s some effects for the weight-loss medication Orlistat that I found:

What side effects can this medication cause?

Orlistat may cause side effects. The most common side effect of orlistat is changes in bowel movement (BM) habits. This generally occurs during the first weeks of treatment; however, it may continue throughout your use of orlistat. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

·         oily spotting on underwear or on clothing

·         gas with oily spotting

·         urgent need to have a bowel movement

·         loose stools

·         oily or fatty stools

·         increased number of bowel movements

·         difficulty controlling bowel movements

·         pain or discomfort in the rectum (bottom)

·         stomach pain

·         irregular menstrual periods

·         headache

·         anxiety

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

·         hives

·         rash

·         itching

·         difficulty breathing or swallowing

·         severe or continuous stomach pain

·         excessive tiredness or weakness

·         nausea

·         vomiting

·         loss of appetite

·         pain in the upper right part of the stomach

·         yellowing of the skin or eyes

·         dark-colored urine

·         light-colored stools

So…. would I rather be a little chubby, or have difficulty controlling my bowels?  I think the former is a better option.  I’d rather not be incontinent at the young age of 22. 

Anyway, do your homework.  Find out what the risks are, and weigh those potential risks against the potential benefits.  Do you really want to take Ambien for your insomnia if it will give you night terrors?  Do you really want to lower your cholesterol with Lipitor if it can cause significant memory loss?  Maybe.  It might be worth it.  And even over the counter meds carry their own risks.  But it just seems like a lot of these pills just aren’t worth the hassle.