Side effects may vary............

I was watching a football game earlier this week when a commercial for some no name miracle drug came on during halftime.  And, of course, after the commercial sang the praises of this "miracle drug" for a couple of minutes, the last thirty seconds of the commercial were spent disclosing the possible side effects. Truth be told, the side effects of many of these drugs leave me scared shitless.

Prednisone is used alone or with other medications to treat the symptoms of low corticosteroid levels. Low Corticosteroid levels are the lack of certain substances that are usually produced by the body and are needed for normal body function. Prednisone is also used to treat other conditions in patients with normal corticosteroid levels. These conditions include certain types of arthritis; severe allergic reactions; multiple sclerosis (a disease in which the nerves do not function properly); lupus (a disease in which the body attacks many of its own organs); and certain conditions that affect the lungs, skin, eyes, kidneys blood, thyroid, stomach, and intestines. Prednisone is also sometimes used to treat the symptoms of certain types of cancer. Prednisone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works to treat patients with low levels of corticosteroids by replacing steroids that are normally produced naturally by the body. It works to treat other conditions by reducing swelling and redness and by changing the way the immune system works.

Of course, there are side effects, for instance:

 Headache

 Dizziness

 Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

Inappropriate happiness

Extreme changes in mood

Changes in personality

Bulging eyes

Acne

Thin, fragile skin

Red or purple blotches or lines under the skin

Slowed healing of cuts and bruises

Increased hair growth....and not necessarily where you'd like it

Changes in the way fat is spread around the body

Extreme tiredness

Weak muscles

 Irregular or absent menstrual periods

Heartburn

Increased sweating

and......

 Decreased sexual desire

Prozac is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (bothersome thoughts that won't go away and the need to perform certain actions over and over), some eating disorders, and panic attacks (sudden, unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks). Prozac is also used to relieve the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, including mood swings, irritability, bloating, and breast tenderness. Prozac is in a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance.

Of course, there are side effects; and yes, in case you were wondering, they do vary:

Insomnia

Nausea

Weakness

Headache

Diarrhea

Loss of appetite

Drowsiness

Anxiety

Nervousness 

Shakiness (tremor) 

Dry mouth

Decreased sex drive

Yawning 

Indigestion

Dizziness

Flushing (redness of the skin, especially the face)

Abnormal dreams

Gas

Constipation

Vomiting

Fever or chills

Weight loss

Chest pain

High blood pressure

Increased appetite and weight gain

Taste changes

Vision changes

Sweating 
and

Impotence and Ejaculation problems 

Lipitor is used along with diet, exercise, and weight loss to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke and to decrease the chance that heart surgery will be needed in people who have heart disease or who are at risk of developing heart disease. Lipitor is also used to decrease the amount of cholesterol (a fat-like substance) and other fatty substances in the blood. Lipitor is in a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body to decrease the amount of cholesterol that may build up on the walls of the arteries and block blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body.

Of course, there are side effects; and yes, they do vary:

Headache

Infections

Muscle pain

Diarrhea

Joint pain

Inflammation of the sinuses

Accidental injury (?!?)

Unexplained rash

Abdominal pain

General feelings of weakness

The flu

Back pain

Allergic reaction

Constipation

Sore throat

 Lack of appetite

Intestinal ulcer

Hepatitis

Asthma

Bloody nose

Depression

Memory loss

Hair loss

Ringing of the ears (tinnitus)

Fainting (syncope)

Hearing loss

High blood pressure

Weight gain

Gout 

and last but not least....

Erectile dysfunction (impotence) 

Viagra is used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence; inability to get or keep an erection) in men. Viagra is in a class of medications called phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. Viagra treats erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation. This increased blood flow can cause an erection. Viagra treats PAH (pulmonary arterial hypertension or high blood pressure in the vessels carrying blood to the lungs, causing shortness of breath, dizziness, and tiredness) by relaxing the blood vessels in the lungs to allow blood to flow easily.

If you are taking Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction, you should know that it does not cure erectile dysfunction or increase sexual desire. Viagra also does not prevent pregnancy or the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Of course, once again, there are side effects; and yes, they do vary:

Headaches

Facial flushing

Indigestion, known as dyspepsia  

Nasal congestion 

Urinary tract infections

Vision problems, including trouble telling the difference between blue and green, increased sensitivity to light, or blurred vision  

Dizziness 

Unexplained rash

Respiratory tract infections

Back pain

Flu-like symptoms

Joint pain
Diarrhea commonly referred to as...
Wild bowels

 Of course, the absolute worst side effect of Viagra by far is something called Priapism.  Priapism is a potentially painful medical condition, in which the erect penis does not return to its flaccid state, despite the absence of both physical and psychological stimulation, within four hours. There are two types of priapism: low-flow and high-flow; 80% to 90% of clinically presented priapisms are low flow disorders. Low-flow involves the blood not adequately returning to the body from the organ. High-flow involves a short-circuit of the vascular system partway along the organ. Treatment is different for each type. Priapism is considered a 'frickin medical emergency, which should receive immediate and proper treatment by a qualified medical practitioner. Early treatment can be beneficial for a functional recovery. The duration of a normal erection before it is classifiable as priapism is still controversial. Ongoing penile erections for more than 6 hours can be classified as priapism. 

Six hours?!? Serious?!? I mean c'mon!!!  I think after 5 or 6 hours I'd explode!!!

I wonder when I see these commercials if sometimes the seriousness of the side effects, don't outweigh the benefits of some of these drugs.

By any chance have you or any of your loved ones or acquaintances ever experienced issues with taking a "miracle drug"?!?

And no, I'm not a doctor........I found all this detail about these drugs online. 

If the drug I'm taking is going to give me the flaming shits or a woody that lasts for 4, 5 or 6 hours, then I think I'll take the zero.