Drug Side Effects
Learn what others have experienced when taking medications. Which side effects should you be alert for? Share your own experience so others can learn.
Heartburn Medicines Boost Risk of Heart Attacks …
Here we go again...another serious complication linked to acid-suppressing drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). This time the adverse reaction appears to be an increased risk of heart attacks…
Aroma of Testosterone Gel Smelled Up the House
It isn't often that the fragrance of a medication causes a reaction. But added scents can sometimes be irritating, and one reader found that the aroma of testosterone gel was unbearable. Q. My husband…
Does Hair Dye Cause Cancer?
Q. I had bladder cancer, which was treated successfully with surgery. When I asked my doctor why people get this kind of cancer, he talked about smoking and exposure to dyes in manufacturing. I quit s…
Are Antidepressants in Pregnancy Safe?
For years, obstetricians have worried about whether women suffering from depression during pregnancy should be prescribed antidepressant drugs. On the one hand, depression during pregnancy has been as…
Can You Put Lipstick on Big Pharma and Its Piggy…
Big Pharma has a problem. According to the Wall Street Journal, "Drug Makers are Having Trouble Improving Their Reputations." A new survey shows that drug companies are not perceived as outstanding in…
Cinnamon Plus Statins Could Be Extremely Harmful…
A Trip to the ER A woman showed up in the emergency department at the Providence Hospital and Medical Center in Southfield, Michigan "complaining of abdominal pain associated with vomiting and diarrhe…
Aluminum and Alzheimer’s Disease: Is There…
Q. Is it true that aluminum contributes to Alzheimer's disease? If so, I would like to avoid it as much as possible. Are there any underarm deodorants that don't contain aluminum? A. Aluminum's potent…
Popular Sleeping Pills Raise Risk of Dementia
People with chronic insomnia are caught in a difficult dilemma. Too many popular sleeping pills may affect cognitive function and contribute to a potential risk of dementia in later years. Q. I am hav…
Supplements for Blood Pressure
Many people would prefer to use natural approaches to managing blood pressure, but mixing certain supplements for blood pressure with anti-hypertensive drugs can be risky. Make sure to check out such…
Why Do So Many Doctors Ignore Obvious Drug Side …
Some adverse drug reactions are subtle and easy to overlook. For example, doctors could be forgiven for not catching a vitamin B12 deficiency associated with long-term prescriptions of popular acid-su…
Diabetes Drug Actos and Billion-Dollar Settlemen…
People with type 2 diabetes may not need insulin to control their blood sugar, but they often need some medicine. Unfortunately, despite a proliferation of medications designed to help people with thi…
Safety Concerns Mount for Sleeping Pill Zolpidem…
A brand new analysis by the ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practices) Quarter Watch reveals a surprisingly high incidence of problems associated with the sleeping pill zolpidem. It is found in Am…
Anti-Anxiety Drugs Pose Hazards for Seniors
Americans are anxious. That is the inescapable conclusion of a recent analysis of anti-anxiety drug use (JAMA Psychiatry, Feb. 2015). The study shows that more than 10 percent of women over 60 are tak…
Statins Raise the Risk of Developing Diabetes
Statin drugs to lower cholesterol are prescribed very widely and are generally seen as well tolerated. Although many people, especially younger individuals, seem to do well with low doses of statins, …
Actos Maker Settles Lawsuits Worth Billions but …
The drug Actos (pioglitazone) has been one of the most financially successful drugs in the history of diabetes treatment. It first went on sale in the U.S. in 1999. Since then it has been estimated th…
Another Scary Side Effect Linked to Heartburn Dr…
Canadian researchers have found that older people taking acid suppressing drugs such as esomeprazole, lansoprazole and omeprazole are at higher risk for kidney failure. The scientists used medication …
New Statin Study Confirms Scary Link to Diabetes
Statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs like atorvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin are supposed to prevent heart attacks and strokes. New research from Finland suggests that such drugs may increase …
Diabetes Drug Dust-Up Reveals FDA Deficiencies
A week ago the FDA put out a report that "suggested significant or near-significant increases in all-cause mortality" associated with the diabetes drug Onglyza (saxagliptin). In other words, more pat…
Do the Risks of Acetaminophen Outweigh the Benef…
Acetaminophen is a popular pain reliever sold under the brand name Tylenol and around the world as paracetamol. A new analysis of research shows that it may not work as well as expected for some commo…
Can Flu Shots Cause Long-Lasting Arm Pain?
On December 27, 2014 we first heard about the possibility that a flu shot could lead to persistent arm pain. Don V. shared his experience with the relatively new "Quad" influenza vaccine. This quadriv…
Should TV Drug Ads Skip Scary Side Effects?
Drug company marketing executives hate having to warn people about dangerous drug complications and side effects. Imagine a car salesman trying to sell a car but having to warn customers that there is…
How to Prevent Dementia
Q. I am interested in information about preventing dementia. What drugs should someone avoid to prevent memory loss? Are there any drugs that might help? Please answer in the newspaper so my wife won'…
Flonase Nasal Spray Can Help with Nose Spray Add…
Q. I have been using Afrin Nasal Decongestant Spray for two decades. My mom started me on it when I was a kid with bad allergies and then I couldn't stop. I hated that nose spray addiction. I finally …
Do Januvia Side Effects Include Cancer of the Pa…
Q. My wife is taking Januvia to control her blood sugar. Without Januvia her sugar level is 130 or more. With Januvia it is in the range of 110, which is close to normal. I heard an interview on the r…
Drugs May Be Driving the Diabetes Epidemic
Diabetes has become one of the world's most troubling diseases. The American Diabetes Association estimates that nearly 28 million Americans have type 2 diabetes. About 8 million have not been diagnos…
Statins Sap Sex Drive and Lower Testosterone
As visitors to this website know, statin-type cholesterol-lowering medicines remain among the most popular drugs in the pharmacy. Many cardiologists maintain that such medications are extremely safe, …
Yerba Mate for a Gentle Afternoon Pick-Me-Up
Yerba mate (pronounced matay) has been valued in South America for centuries, long before Columbus set off on his epic journey. A hot "tea" was made from the leaves of a holly tree (Ilex paraguariensi…
Doctors Disagree About Putting Petroleum Jelly i…
A decade ago we responded to a reader who put Vicks VapoRub in her nose before bed to control symptoms of post-nasal drip. We suggested that this might not be such a good idea and quoted the manufactu…
Lisinopril Cough Caused Loss of Consciousness
We are constantly amazed by the number of reports we have received about ACEi (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors) and cough. These are among the most widely prescribed blood pressure drugs in t…
Statin Smackdown: Doctors Disagree on Pros &…
There are few modern medications that have stirred such heated debate as statins. Some health professionals believe the benefits have been overblown and the risks downplayed. Others have hailed such d…
TV Drug Ads or Pharmaceutical Sales Reps for Inf…
Have you ever become frustrated or annoyed at prescription drug advertisements on television? Many people love to hate these commercials, but of course they must be effective at increasing prescriptio…
FDA Issues Testosterone Warning, But Research Is…
Television commercials focusing on the dangers of "low T" have gotten many men to ask their doctors for a prescription. In 2013, prescription testosterone medicines such as AndroGel or Axiron hit $2 b…
New Research Links Aluminum to Alzheimer’s…
That was the title of an article Joe wrote over 26 years ago for a newspaper column. FROM KING FEATURES SYNDICATE FOR RELEASE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6, 1989 Here is the original article: I'm getting nervous…
Aggressive Blood Pressure Control Leads To Menta…
Physicians have been debating the role of high blood pressure and dementia for decades. Some studies suggest that hypertension is linked to cognitive decline while others have found that higher blood …
Hot Flashes Stop but Brisdelle Side Effects Keep…
Have you seen the TV commercials for Brisdelle to ease symptoms of menopause? The female announcer says: "Are you dealing with hot flashes during menopause? Why suffer more than you have to? You can d…
Testosterone May Not Be Linked to Heart Attacks …
Q. I am a 54-year-old male and I have noticed a drop-off in sexual performance and energy. I have seen commercials for products that either boost or cause your body to produce testosterone. What can y…
Asthma Treatment with Prednisone Triggered Stero…
Q. My 16-year-old grandson's pediatrician prescribed prednisone for 5 days with a follow-up of 6 weeks of steroids for a recent asthma attack. My grandson was also given an inhaler with steroids in it…
FDA Adverse Event Reporting System Is Outmoded
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices has issued a scathing report on the Food and Drug Administration's adverse event reporting system. This computerized database collects information on drug s…
Did Anti-Anxiety Medicine (Clonazepam) Lead to A…
Q. My wife has taken clonazepam for more than 15 years now and shows signs of Alzheimer's disease. Is there clinical evidence to support this connection? A. Clonazepam belongs to a class of drugs call…
Nurse Suffers Painful After Effects of Flu Shot
Q. I am a nurse practitioner and had to get a flu shot this year as a condition for working in my hospital. I hadn't been sick in three years but I ended up with the flu, even after the shot. Now two …