Strange Side Effects of Prescription Medications

I'm sure you have a commercial or two (or several) for a prescription medication. Each commercial always look so perfect and wonderful-apparently we, the consumers, are supposed to understand that the message of the commercial is that the prescription medication being advertised will definitely and completely solve whatever problem for which it is intended to be taken. Never mind any pesky side effects-those are mentioned as a brief afterthought, almost as if to say that those are unimportant and quite uncommon.

I don't know about you, but for me those side effects aren't so unimportant. I don't treat possible side effects from medication casually. This interest of mine in prescription medications came about because of my need to take several prescriptions and because of the assistance I am giving to my senior citizen parents in managing their medications. So, I tend to look at each new prescription medication that comes out on the market with a critical eye-and I have found some surprisingly unpleasant side effects from some of the more popularly advertised medications.

Vytorin is a medicine that is commonly prescribed to help patients lower cholesterol. Literature about this medication says that it works to lower the LDL cholesterol and raises levels of the HDL cholesterol-supposedly, it lowers the total cholesterol better than Crestor and Lipitor (two other common prescription medications). If it works as it should, it sounds pretty good, doesn't it? But what doesn't sound so good are the commonly reported side effects-headache and muscle pain.

Requip is generally prescribed for people with RLS, or Restless Leg Syndrome. It is the first FDA-approved medication for RLS. For people who suffer from this syndrome, I'm sure the availability of a prescription to help with their symptoms is quite encouraging. The side effects of Requip aren't so encouraging-patients commonly reported feeling faint or dizzy, being nauseated, and drowsiness. But the rarer side effects are even more unpleasant-some patients reported urges to behave in ways that are unusual for them, such as a strong urge to gamble or unusually increased sexual urges or behaviors.

Nexium is a medication for acid reflux disease (persistent heartburn two or more days a week, according to the literature). Apparently, Nexium can help heal damage to the esophagus that is caused by acid reflux. Here's what is strange to me, though-this medication is used to treat a condition that is caused by a stomach problem...and the side effects associated with it include diarrhea and abdominal pain, which are other stomach problems. I wonder which is worse?

Lunesta is one of the more commonly prescribed sleep aids. It is non-narcotic, so it is one of the few sleep aid medications that can be taken for a longer period of time without less of a likelihood of becoming dependent upon the medicine (according to the medication's literature). But, dependency can still occur, even after as little as two weeks of using the medicine-which is not something that is focused on in the advertisements. And, with dependency comes withdrawal. Some patients may experience withdrawal symptoms after stopping Lunesta-symptoms which include abdominal and muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, and shakiness. It is also not uncommon for patients who stop taking Lunesta to experience a condition known as "rebound insomnia." This means that the patient may have more trouble sleeping for the first few nights after stopping the medication than they did before they even started the medication to begin with!

Vesicare is prescribed for patients who have trouble with frequent and sudden bladder urges and leakage. People who suffer from an overactive bladder are most likely quite happy to have a medication which can help them overcome their symptoms. But, they may not be quite so happy about one of the common side effects-constipation. It seems almost a cruel joke that a medication that helps with a bladder problem can cause a problem with the bowels, doesn't it?

These are not the only medications with unusual or unpleasant side effects-far from it, actually. In fact, if you look at the fine print for practically any prescription medication, you will find that there is at least one possible common side effect. Does this mean that you should stay away from these (or other) prescription medications? No, of course not-people rely on prescription medications to manage their health. This simply means that you should be aware of the fact that side effects exist and be careful to understand the medications that you take. The better informed you are, the better you can work with your doctor to manage your medications. Stay aware, stay informed, and stay healthy!