What are Unsafe Drugs?
Thousands of Americans are seriously injured and die every year from adverse reactions and side effects associated with prescription medications. Drug manufacturers have a responsibility to market drugs and medications that are safe for use by consumers. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is the agency responsible for approving prescription drugs before they are sold to the public. However, even FDA approved drugs may still cause harmful side effects not yet recognized during the approval process.Drugs that May Be Considered Unsafe
The following is a list of prescription drugs that may be considered unsafe:- Accutane
- Actos
- Albuterol
- Arava
- Ativan
- Avandia
- Baycol
- Benzodiazepine
- Bextra
- Celebrex
- Clorazil
- Cytotec/Misoprostol
- Duract
- Enebrel
- Ephedra/ephedrine
- Fen phen
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
- Lamisil
- Lipokinetix
- Lotronex
- L-tryptophan
- Lymerix
- Meridia
- Monicin
- Oxycontin
- Permax
- Phenylproenolamine (PPA)
- Prempro
- Propulsid
- Rezulin
- Serzone
- Vioxx
- Zyprexa
- Medically prescribed for - Accutane is prescribed for the treatment of severe acne that has not been helped by other treatments.
- Adverse reactions experienced -Some Accutane dangers that patients have experienced include depression, serious mental problems, mood swings, irritability, anger, loss of pleasure, sleeping too much or too little, changes in weight or appetite. Some more severe symptoms include suicidal tendencies and birth defects if Accutane is taken while the patient is pregnant.
- Status of drug - Federal Drug Administration has recognized the link between these adverse reactions and the drug.
Actos
- Medically prescribed for - Actos is prescribed to patients with type II diabetes to help reduce insulin resistance.
- Adverse reactions experienced - Patients who were prescribed Actos have experienced heart failure and rapid weight gain. In addition some patients have experienced liver damage. Initial symptoms of liver damage are anorexia, nausea, upper abdominal discomfort, yellowing of the skin or eyes and dark urine.
- Status of drug -There have been no conclusive studies linking the use of Actos and liver damage. However, the manufacturer has included warnings in the packaging instructing users to have their liver enzymes monitored consistently during the use of the medication.
Albuterol
- Medically prescribed for - Albuterol is used to treat conditions with reversible airway constriction such as asthma and emphysema.
- Adverse reactions experienced - Some patients taking albuterol have experienced aggravation of preexisting diabetes, delay of pre-term labor, alteration of sleep patterns, excitement, nervousness, hyperactivity and loss of appetite.
- Status of drug - In 1999 and 2000 the manufacturers of albuterol recalled many of the albuterol distribution units. It became apparent that the emergency inhalers did not contain albuterol and the manufacturer was forced to recall the inhalers.
Arava
- Medically prescribed for - Arava was the first oral treatment approved for slowing the progression of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Adverse reactions experienced - Patients taking Arava have experienced adverse side effects such as birth defects, liver damage and even death. Arava is not for people with severe immuno-deficiencies.
- Status of drug - The label of Arava indicates that women who are or may become pregnant should not take this medication because it may cause birth defects.
Ativan
- Medically prescribed for ? Ativan is an anti-anxiety drug used to treat irritability, insomnia, mania, schizophrenia, anxiety prior to surgery, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and severe vomiting due to chemotherapy. Ativan has also been used to treat children with seizures, but Ativan is not FDA approved for the use on children under 18.
- Adverse reactions experienced ? Ativan has been linked to severe respiratory failure, death, increase in aggressiveness, violent behavior, suicidal tendencies, hallucinations and addiction. Ativan and drugs like it have been linked to problems with memory including acute amnesia and long-term memory displacement.
- Status of drug ? The FDA required Ativan's manufacturers to change their warnings to include information about the adverse side effects present with the use of Ativan.
