If these were the possible side effects... (painful, blood pressure, hair)

[TKramar]

would you take this drug?

• • Sweating
  • Shakiness
  • Extreme hunger
  • Dizziness
  • Cold sweats
  • Blurry vision
  • Changes in behavior, such as irritability
  • Loss of coordination
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Confusion
  • Seizures

The sound wasn't on, but the end of the commercial listed these possible side effects in print. I paid attention to what drug they were advertising, just so I could find out what it was supposed to help with.

Yet, if those were possible side effects, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone!

[kronenborg]

it totally depends on the context, doesnt it. what is the drug for? how common are these side effects? are there other therapeutic options (both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical).

if those side effects are all very rare (but known) side effects, and the condition the drug is taken for is life-threatening, then really its a no-brainer.

all drugs have side effects, of varying frequency and severity. posting the list of side effects of any drug without weighing them against the benefit, will make any medicine look completely unappealing.

equally, it would be very foolish to consider the benefit of any drug without also considering the risks.

[*Sixy*]

Like the other poster said, it really depends on what you are taking that particular drug for. You need to weigh the benefits of the drug vs. the potential side effects.

I'm on levothyroxine and the side effects listed for this drug include:

Feeling hot all the time and increased sweating
Fever
An increased appetite, along with weight loss
Heart palpitations
A rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
Heart failure, chest pain, or a heart attack
Difficult or painful breathing
Insomnia (see Levothyroxine and Insomnia)
Emotional changes
Hair loss (see Levothyroxine and Hair Loss)
Flushing
Broken bones or other signs of weakened bones
Menstrual problems or fertility problems
Shakiness (tremors) or muscle weakness
Hyperactivity, nervousness, anxiety, or irritability
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal cramps (stomach cramps)
Seizures.

I haven't had any of those except for menstrual changes (not problems, it was actually a positive change), emotional changes (VERY positive) and appetite changes (again, not bad changes).

[texan2yankee]

Have you read the complete list of potential side effects for aspirin? It is a very potent drug that many people take daily. No drug is taken without risk.

[AnonChick]

Look up the risks of overdose of...

water.

[KAILANI]

Sounded like SEX to me...

[*Sixy*]

Originally Posted by AnonChick

Look up the risks of overdose of...

water.

[TKramar]

Turns out that it's for diabetes.

Onglyza. Since the sound was off, I didn't initially catch what it was for, I just got to the potential side effects part, and thought they were scary enough.

[AnonChick]

If seizures are one of the very uncommon side effects, OR only occur in certain people with specific medical contraindications (such as - patients who are also taking blood thinners for clotting disorders, for example)..

Then I'd have to say the potential risk for the side effects of this medication, are far less than the potential risks of a diabetic NOT taking a medicine. And if it means that they wouldn't need to stick themselves with insulin a couple times a day for the rest of their lives, but instead pop a pill once a day, then they might think that was worth it.

I don't know anything about that medicine - my only experience with diabetes is with my uncle, who died from it after a long struggle.

[LovelyinLa]

Originally Posted by kailani

sounded like sex to me...

lol!!!