Some prescription drug side effects seem odd and sometimes laughable. But sometimes when a patient takes the time to read the fine print, certain side effects can be disturbing and make one reconsider which is worse: the ailment, or the side effects from the drug that is supposed to cure or treat the ailment. Here is a list of ten of the most intriguing side effects one might encounter from prescription drugs:
1. Amnesia
Amnesia, often caused by a traumatic event or head injury, may also be caused by prescription drugs, although total amnesia is rare. Some patients report short-term memory loss, such as not being able to remember what they did the day prior. Amnesia is often linked to statins, a group of medications prescribed to lower cholesterol.
2. Aches and Pains
Many people take drugs to help relieve the discomfort of aches and pains, but many medications not created for this purpose may actually cause pain instead, causing the patient to take yet another drug to combat the pain. Antihistamines prescribed to prevent hay fever and allergy symptoms such as itching eyes, sneezing and coughing may find themselves suffering from backaches and muscle pain. Similarly, patients taking statins may also experience weakness, stiffness and pain in the muscles.
3. Vision and Sense Problems
Although swallowing pills can leave a nasty taste in your mouth, did you know that they could also entirely distort your sense of taste? Others used to treat congestive heart failure and high blood pressure can cause you to lose your sense of taste and smell, have a ringing in your ears and lead to eye complications such as dry eyes and blurred vision. A popular drug used to treat erectile dysfunction can not only result in blurred vision but also difficulty distinguishing between the colors green and blue.
4. Colored Urine
Urine resembling any color other than yellow, clear or yellow-orange may indicate a serious complication. For example, brown, red or dark orange urine could indicate blood and an infection. However, some medications used to treat urinary tract infections or iron poisoning can result in different colors such as blue, green, purple and black as they pass through your system.
5. Hallucinations
While hallucinations may be common while taking psychedelic drugs or heavy painkillers, some of the most unlikely prescription drugs may have auditory or visual hallucinations as one of their side effects. For instance, those taking medications for Parkinson’s disease have reported seeing people hiding in their closets and snakes crawling the walls.
6. Strange Sleep Behaviors
Some prescription drugs cause patients to have disturbing dreams while they sleep, while others may cause users to behave violently or sleepwalk. A medication used to help patients stop smoking may cause night terrors or nightmares, and a drug prescribed to those with chronic insomnia helps to induce sleep. Yet, many patients reported performing activities in their sleep such as driving, making phone calls, eating and becoming intimate with their significant others.
7. Bowel Control Problems
Nearly every medication designed for those struggling with weight loss may experience an increased number of bowel movements, gas with oily discharge, an urgent need to use the toilet and an inability to control these urges.
8. Compulsive Behavior
Some medications may cause people to radically change their behaviors – those who were occasional drinkers may find themselves becoming alcoholics, or those who had never shown any interest in gambling may find themselves at the nearest casino every night. Others become shopaholics and find themselves in debt because they could not control their spending habits.
9. Suicidal Ideation
Those taking certain antidepressants may find themselves suffering from paranoia and suicidal ideation. There are currently pending lawsuits surrounding certain medications, alleging that the medications caused an increased risk of suicides, suicide attempts and withdrawal symptoms.
10. Birth Defects
When a woman finds out she is pregnant, she may receive a list from her physician of acceptable and safe medications to take during pregnancy. Some drugs are teratogenic and can lead to birth defects due to interference with fetal development. One particularly famous teratogenic drug caused babies to be born with extremely short or missing limbs.
Prescription Drug Side Effects Often Hidden
Unfortunately, not all prescription drug side effects are disclosed or expected, which is often how lawsuits result. As a patient, it is your legal right to be aware of the risks or potential dangers associated with any medication prior to treatment, and it is the responsibility of the drugs’ manufacturers to supply you with this information.
If you have been injured, you may be entitled to recover damages including pain and suffering, medical treatments or expenses you may have incurred as the result of undisclosed side effects, lost wages or loss of earning capacity or wrongful death if you are filing on behalf of a loved one.
Have Questions about Your Prescription Drug Side Effects?
Have you or someone you love taken a medication and are now suffering from prescription drug side effects that were not fully disclosed prior to the start of your treatment? If you have any questions about the legal actions that you may take following an injury while taking a prescription drug, Attorney Group can help. We can provide you with a free, no-obligation case evaluation and answer your concerns to the best of our ability. We will connect you with an experienced attorney who will handle your claim and work to help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled.
