Drug Side Effects
Learn what others have experienced when taking medications. Which side effects should you be alert for? Share your own experience so others can learn.
If Statins Cause Diabetes, Why Should ALL Diabet…
The guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology are crystal clear. Middle-aged people with diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) should be on a statin-type choles…
OTC Statins? Crestor or Lipitor Without an Rx?
Many years ago, a prominent cardiologist suggested on our public radio show that statins ought to be put in the water supply. His statement was likely tongue in cheek, but some physicians probably did…
Show 1275: The Vicious Cycle of COVID and Diabet…
There are at least two pandemics raging through the world at this time. The first is obesity. The second is, of course, COVID-19. Diabetes sits uncomfortably at their intersection. In a vicious cycle,…
Should You Worry About Myocarditis from COVID Va…
Judging from the comments we have received on our website, millions of Americans are afraid to get vaccinated against COVID-19 because they fear developing serious side effects. One concern centers ar…
Statins and Diabetes! A LONG Delayed Warning
Our first inkling that statins and diabetes might be a problem came in 2003. That’s when a reader of our syndicated newspaper column reported a rapid rise in blood sugar after taking atorvastatin (L…
The Dark Side of Cortisone Shots: Joint Deterior…
You have no doubt heard about “steroids.” By the way, this is a terrible term! It causes nothing but confusion. We promise not to overwhelm you with chemistry. The core structure of steroids can b…
Anticholinergic Drugs and Dementia: The Link Get…
We have been writing about the dangers of anticholinergic drugs and dementia for more than a decade. There are dozens of studies and hundreds of articles referencing anticholinergic drugs and dementia…
Amlodipine (Norvasc) Side Effects
For reasons that remain somewhat mysterious to us, amlodipine (Norvasc) is one of the most popular blood pressure medications in the pharmacy. This calcium channel blocker lowers blood pressure in par…
Lisinopril and Angioedema: A Life-Threatening Si…
Lisinopril is the most frequently prescribed blood pressure pill in the United States. At last count, 20 million Americans take this ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor daily. It works quite…
Will Certo and Grape Juice Help Your Sore Knees?
People with sore joints face a terrible dilemma. Pain interferes with quality of life. On the other hand, medications like diclofenac and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can make p…
New Nasty Warnings for RA Drugs Rinvoq and Xelja…
What’s wrong with the FDA? On the one hand, the agency just issued scary new warnings for two popular rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drugs. On the other hand, it allows commercials for these drugs that m…
Excessive Flatulence Creates Challenges
Flatulence-aka gas-is an embarrassing problem. It can't be broached in polite conversation, and many patients are reluctant to bring it up during a doctor visit. Nonetheless, excessive flatulence is t…
Do People With Low Thyroid Prefer Double Hormone…
Judging by the number of prescriptions dispensed annually, hypothyroidism is one of the most common medical conditions in the country. Doctors usually treat this low thyroid condition by prescribing l…
Are Antibiotics and Colon Cancer Linked?
Antibiotics are, without doubt, one of the greatest breakthroughs in modern medicine. Millions, perhaps tens of millions, of lives have been saved thanks to antibiotics. Antibiotics are often perceive…
Lisinopril Side Effects Can Be Life Threatening:…
Keeping blood pressure under control is extremely important, since hypertension (high blood pressure) is a risk factor for both stroke and heart disease. Finding the correct blood pressure medication …
Petting the Cat Almost Killed It!
Most people rarely think about the topical medicines they put on their skin. Many folks believe that the skin is a barrier to drug absorption. Nothing could be further from the truth. We now know that…
Statins and Dermatomyositis: An Often Ignored Re…
Lovastatin (Mevacor) was the very first statin marketed in the US. The FDA gave the drug its blessing in 1987. That means statins have been available for more than three decades. They are among the mo…
Scary Side Effects of Immune-Modulating Drugs
Immune-modulating drugs have revolutionized the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease and several other hard-to-treat conditions. Examples include: Actemra, Cimzia, …
How Does Metformin Affect Vitamin D Status?
Millions of people take metformin, a versatile drug. Since it reduces insulin resistance, doctors often prescribe to people with type 2 diabetes to help with blood sugar control. However, oncologists …
Can Your Medicines Cause Insomnia?
Tens of millions of people have trouble sleeping every night. Many just can’t fall asleep. Others fall asleep just fine but wake up after a few hours and have a hard time getting back to sleep. A re…
Doctors and Patients Confused About Statins and …
Tens of millions of people take statins such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin. Most physicians acknowledge that they have patients who complain about muscle pain …
What Do Americans Really Think about Medical Mar…
Americans are changing their attitudes about marijuana. In 2017, a Yahoo News and Marist poll of more than 1,000 adults found that two thirds think opioids prescribed by a physician are more dangerous…
Is Your Medicine Setting You Up for Heat Stroke?
This summer was HOT! We got tired of people saying: "Hot enough for you?" According to the Wall Street Journal (Aug. 19, 2021): "June was the hottest month on record in the continental U.S., and July …
Metformin (Glucophage) Side Effects & Compl…
The fascinating compound called metformin was discovered nearly a century ago. Scientists realized that it could lower blood sugar in an animal model (rabbits) as early as 1929, but it wasn't until th…
Can You Really Control Blood Pressure With Dande…
High blood pressure is a very common condition that is usually treated with one or more medications. For the most part, people don't have a lot of trouble with diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ…
Do Lonely Older People Take More and Riskier Dru…
Doctors write a lot of prescriptions for anti-anxiety agents, pain medicine, sleeping pills and antidepressants. The last time we checked, 22 million Americans were filling more than 100 million presc…
Prednisone Side Effects Can Be Disastrous
Prednisone is one of the most prescribed drugs in the country. The last time I checked, more than 10 million people filled at least one prescription for this corticosteroid. Some people take it every …
Are Rage and Depression Side Effects of Chantix?
No question about it: smoking is terrible for your health. Heart disease, strokes, lung cancer and other malignancies and premature death are all more common among people who smoke tobacco. …
Do ACE Inhibitors or ARBs Work Better for Blood …
One out of two adults in the US has hypertension. That means their systolic blood pressure reads 130 or above and their diastolic blood pressure is at least 80. Most of these people need medication to…
Alcohol for Longer Life? How Much Is Enough and …
The benefits and risks of alcohol consumption have been controversial for decades. Some studies suggest that “moderate” amounts of alcohol have health benefits. In other words, people who drink a …
Is Lp(a) the Best Kept Secret in Heart Disease?
Ask most people about their risk factors for heart disease and they will likely mention total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C (“bad”) cholesterol and HDL-C (“good”) cholesterol. Sometimes people even …
Is There a Link Between Statin Drugs and Gingivi…
Doctors have been prescribing statin drugs to lower cholesterol for more than 30 years. Drugs such as simvastatin and rosuvastatin lower cholesterol very effectively. Consequently, millions of people …
The Zantac – Ranitidine Weirdness Just Got Str…
If you have been reading this newsletter, you know that one of the most popular acid-reducing drugs in the world became embroiled in a carcinogen controversy over two years ago. That's when a pharmacy…
How Do You Weigh the Benefits and Risks of Aspir…
Aspirin has been around over 100 years. It is one of the most versatile drugs in the pharmacy. It relieves pain, lowers fever and reduces inflammation. In addition, it has anti-platelet activity that …
Trelegy for COPD Leads to Hoarseness
According to the CDC, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is surprisingly common. The experts say that at least 16 million Americans suffer with this challenging breathing problem. We’re …
Will Your Eyedrops Affect Your Heart Rate?
As many as three million Americans have glaucoma, a condition that can damage the optic nerve and impair vision. Frequently, glaucoma is associated with increased pressure within the eye, which is why…
Statins and Shortness of Breath (Pleural Effusio…
There are so many statin side effects we have lost count. But here is one we’ll bet you have never heard of before. To be perfectly honest, we never heard about it either. That’s probably because …
Do You Love Your Liver Enough?
Most Americans have no idea where the liver is located or what it does. They generally ignore their livers until something goes badly wrong, such as cirrhosis or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Adm…
Can People Overdose on Potassium-Rich Foods?
Potassium is an essential mineral. When potassium levels fall too low doctors call it HYPOkalemia. This condition can become life threatening. Symptoms include weakness, confusion, muscle cramps, musc…
How Well Does the New Weight Loss Medicine Work?
The FDA recently approved the first new weight loss medicine in seven years. New might not be exactly the best way to describe Wegovy (pronounced wee-GOH’-vee), though. The name is new and so is the…