Buzz
All medications come with potential side effects, yet most of us ignore the warnings on the labels, likely because only a small fraction of users encounter these effects. Often, they’re mild—like a skin rash or an episode of diarrhea.
That said, certain medications come with bizarre and sometimes severe side effects, such as triggering violent behavior or suicidal thoughts. Occasionally, the unexpected outcomes are positive, like reducing racial bias. Let’s dive in.
10. Propanolol Reduces Racial Bias in Users
Propanolol is primarily prescribed for heart conditions, hypertension, anxiety-related physical symptoms, and migraines. However, a 2012 study by Oxford University revealed that it also has the surprising ability to diminish racist tendencies.
This discovery was made following a study that showed the drug reduced racial bias in users. The experiment included 36 white participants, split into two equal groups. One group was given propanolol, while the other received a placebo. Both groups then underwent a test designed to measure subconscious racial bias.
The results indicated that the group taking propanolol exhibited less racial bias compared to the placebo group. Researchers attribute this effect to propanolol's impact on the amygdalae, the brain regions responsible for emotional responses such as fear.
9. Lariam Can Trigger Violent and Suicidal Behavior
Lariam, a medication for malaria, has a dangerous side effect of inducing violent and suicidal tendencies in users. This issue is particularly alarming given that the drug was once the preferred choice for several militaries sending troops to foreign regions.
In 2009, the US military discontinued the use of Lariam for its special forces after it was connected to multiple killings and suicides. One notable incident involved a US soldier who killed 16 people in Afghanistan after taking the drug. Today, prescribing Lariam to active US military personnel is strictly prohibited.
Numerous Irish soldiers have also attributed a variety of symptoms to Lariam, including memory lapses, anxiety, depression, insomnia, restlessness, and even permanent brain damage. Due to these severe side effects, many militaries have banned Lariam. Some, like the German military, reserve its use only when alternative medications fail.
In 2013, the FDA mandated that Roche include a black box warning on the drug. This is the most serious warning the FDA can require, and it highlights that “Neurologic side effects may arise at any point during usage and can persist for months, years, or even permanently after discontinuation.”
8. Aripiprazole Triggers Compulsive Gambling
Aripiprazole, also known as Abilify or Aristada, has been linked to unusual side effects such as compulsive shopping, gambling, sexual behavior, and overeating. This medication is prescribed for conditions like autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and Tourette’s syndrome.
Many users report an overwhelming compulsion to gamble. Surprisingly, even individuals with no prior gambling history began gambling after starting the drug. One former user shared that his gambling became so severe that his parents had to evict him from their home.
A woman from Las Vegas who was prescribed Abilify for depression reported developing such a severe gambling habit that she lost her home and custody of her children. She had no history of gambling issues prior to taking the medication. Over five years, she allegedly gambled away between $1 and $2 million. On one occasion, she was so absorbed in gambling that she missed her flight, rescheduled it, and then missed the new flight as well.
Experts suggest this occurs because aripiprazole influences the brain’s dopamine receptors, which are activated during pleasurable activities. These unusual side effects ceased once users discontinued the medication.
7. Ambien Causes Sleep Cooking and Eating
Ambien is prescribed for insomnia, but its side effects can include sleepwalking, during which users cook and eat while still asleep. They may remain in the kitchen or return to bed, consuming food before falling back asleep.
Users typically have no memory of these episodes and are often shocked to discover kitchen messes or food remnants in their beds the next day. This bizarre behavior often leads to weight gain, as individuals tend to prepare and consume high-calorie meals unknowingly.
If the idea of sleep-cooking isn’t alarming enough, Ambien has also been associated with sleep-driving. However, those charged with driving under the influence of Ambien had taken the medication immediately before getting behind the wheel, which is a clear misuse. There are no documented cases of individuals waking up from sleep to drive after taking the drug.
6. Capecitabine Can Cause Fingerprint Loss
In 2009, a 62-year-old man was barred from entering the US due to suspicions of being a security risk. The cause? He had no fingerprints. It was later discovered that his fingerprint loss resulted from taking capecitabine as part of his cancer therapy.
Some experts speculate that the disappearance of fingerprints may be connected to hand-foot syndrome and hand-foot skin reaction, both of which are side effects of the drug. These conditions cause swelling and peeling of the fingers, though this theory remains unconfirmed.
A study revealed that 14 percent of capecitabine users lost their fingerprints after eight weeks on the drug. However, a third of those who experienced fingerprint loss saw them return within four weeks of discontinuing the treatment.
5. Mirapex and ReQuip Can Trigger Sudden Sleep Episodes
Mirapex and ReQuip, medications prescribed for Parkinson’s disease, have a significant side effect: sudden, uncontrollable sleep. Users may fall asleep without warning, even while driving, which can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
In one tragic case, a 72-year-old woman caused a fatal accident after dozing off while driving. She had been prescribed Mirapex and Ultram, a painkiller for her back pain. She had previously reported sudden sleep episodes to her doctor, who mistakenly attributed them to Ultram and switched her to Vicodin.
A week after the prescription change, she was involved in a fatal accident. She had taken Mirapex, Ultram (despite the change), and Sinemet, along with a small amount of alcohol, before falling asleep at the wheel and striking a pedestrian, resulting in fatal brain injuries.
Due to the severity of these sleep-related incidents, Health Canada mandated that the manufacturers, Boehringer and GlaxoSmithKline, instruct physicians to warn patients against driving or engaging in activities requiring alertness, as these drugs can induce sudden sleep.
In certain cities, physicians were also instructed to notify local motor vehicle departments whenever they prescribed these medications to a patient. Younger Parkinson’s patients who rely on driving often avoid taking these drugs altogether.
4. Chantix Can Trigger Violent and Suicidal Behavior
Chantix, a medication designed to help smokers quit, has been linked to violent and suicidal tendencies in users. These behaviors can emerge within just two days of starting the drug and tend to subside once the medication is discontinued. The risk of aggression increases if Chantix is taken alongside other medications.
In one case, a 24-year-old woman assaulted her boyfriend and attempted suicide. Other incidents include a 21-year-old woman threatening to shoot her mother, a 42-year-old man punching someone unprovoked, and a 46-year-old man contemplating suicide.
These episodes have occasionally turned fatal. For example, in 2007, a musician became aggressive after taking Chantix and was shot and killed while attempting to break into his girlfriend’s neighbor’s home.
Currently, the FDA mandates that Pfizer, the manufacturer of Chantix, include a warning about the drug’s potential to cause violent behavior and suicidal thoughts. Pfizer disputes this, acknowledging the risks but arguing that the drug’s benefits outweigh its side effects.
3. Several Medications Can Lead to Blindness
One of the most severe drug side effects is Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), which causes the outer layer of the skin and mucous membranes to detach. This includes sensitive areas like the eyes and lungs. The peeling of the eye’s outer layer is a direct path to blindness.
In a tragic case, 13-year-old Veronica Zenkner developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome in 2004 after taking ibuprofen for a headache. It began with a fever and rash that quickly spread from her neck and face to her back, arms, and throat. Her condition escalated to toxic epidermal necrolysis, the most severe form of SJS.
Zenkner was admitted to a burn unit and placed in a medically induced coma during treatment. She lost vision in her left eye, while her right eye remains sensitive to light, red, and itchy, requiring her to wear sunglasses constantly.
While this side effect is alarming, it is not exclusive to ibuprofen. Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) can be triggered by nearly any medication, though it is more prevalent with drugs like penicillin, sulfonamides, naproxen, ibuprofen, and Lamictal (lamotrigine). Notably, Lamictal’s label explicitly warns of SJS as a potential side effect.
2. Viagra Can Lead to Prolonged Erections
Viagra, a medication for erectile dysfunction, has a known side effect called priapism, which involves prolonged and often painful erections.
Typically, the penis becomes erect due to blood filling the spongy tissue inside. After ejaculation, the blood naturally drains away. However, in rare cases, something prevents the blood from leaving, resulting in priapism.
Priapism occurs in approximately one out of every 1,000 Viagra users and is more common in individuals with leukemia or sickle cell anemia. It is also more likely in those who have used Caverject, an injectable treatment for erectile dysfunction. Since distinguishing between a normal erection and a harmful reaction to Viagra can be challenging, doctors advise seeking immediate medical attention if an erection lasts more than four hours after taking the drug.
1. Thalidomide Led to Severe Birth Defects
Thalidomide was once a popular medication for treating depression, insomnia, and morning sickness. Approved in the UK in 1958, it was banned in 1961 after being linked to severe birth defects, particularly limb deformities in newborns.
Within three years, thousands of women who took thalidomide during pregnancy gave birth to over 10,000 children with shortened or missing limbs. The drug’s manufacturer, Distillers, faced significant legal consequences and was required to pay millions in settlements, including £200 million still being distributed to 455 affected individuals. These payments are set to continue until 2037.
While children in Canada, Europe, and the Middle East were severely impacted by thalidomide, American children were largely spared. This was due to Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey of the FDA, who demanded additional safety data from the William S. Merrell Company of Cincinnati, preventing the drug’s widespread approval in the US.
The company failed to provide the necessary data and, frustrated by the rejection, complained to Dr. Kelsey’s superiors, labeling her a “petty bureaucrat.” By 1961, the devastating effects of the drug had become undeniable.
Dr. Kelsey was honored with a medal for her contributions to humanity by Congress and received the highest federal civilian service award from President Kennedy. Years later, she was also awarded the Order of Canada by the Canadian government. Additionally, Congress enacted legislation to ensure drug safety before approval for sale in the US.
