Side effects may include...

[smeddley]

...dizziness, rash, fever, and an uncontrolable urge to dance naked in the subway while singing show tunes.

Have you ever really taken the time to read all the possible side effects of your medications? It is terrifying. It can also be funny (a side effect of sleeping pills is 'drowsiness'). But mostly terrifying.

Every medication is a potential killer. But then, when you stop to think about it, so is every food and insect. Anyone can have a sudden, fatal reaction to anything.

The steroid shots in my back don't seem to be doing anything, so the doctor prescribed an anti-inflammatory and physical therapy. I picked up the medication today and proceeded to have a mild panic attack over the list of possible side effects (ranging from 'might cause dizziness' to 'you could have a heart attack and die'). My least favorite possible side effect was 'unexplained weight gain'. Thank you very much, I'd at least like to enjoy the overeating and sedentary life style if I'm going to blow up like a puffer fish.

But the best part? All those possible side effects and risks are exactly the same as ibuprofen, a drug I know and love and take all the time.

So now I have a new excuse: it's not me, it's the painkillers making me fat.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/anam_cara_/]

Once upon a time, before taking pharmacology courses in grad school, and really before utilizing common sense when it came to prescribed drugs- I was given six weeks of a beta blocker as a 'sample' from the doc, so no pharmacist information insert. One, since it treats cardio stuff, I didn't realize that vivid (terrifying) dreams and hallucinations were potential side effects. Two, I didn't realize there was anything wrong (nor did the doctor mention it when I called to ask) with quitting it abruptly after 4 weeks (can lead to fatal heart attack under stress). Pharmacology prof drilled into us that we needed a family pharmacist to watch over us as much a family doctor.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

Eeek! That sounds way worse, I feel better about my piddly little anti-inflammatory!

I also think it's important - especially if you have more than one doctor! - to have all your prescriptions with the same pharmacy. They have checks to (hopefully) make sure you don't have any dangerous drug interactions.