Buzz
Medication advertisements often include a lengthy rundown of potential side effects, such as diarrhea or blurred vision. However, there are numerous rare and peculiar reactions that are rarely mentioned. These unusual effects are so uncommon that they seldom make it into the commercials. Here’s a compilation of the top 9 most bizarre side effects associated with common medications. Be advised: some descriptions are graphic and may include mature language.
10. The Scent of Fear…or Its Absence
Drug: Vasotec Purpose: Treating congestive heart failure and managing high blood pressure.
Individuals using Vasotec may encounter issues affecting all five senses, with the most unusual being a complete loss of smell. Additionally, it can lead to symptoms like tinnitus, blurred vision, and dry eyes. While these effects are generally considered minor, they can become more concerning if they happen at the same time.
9. Mind Over Matter
Drugs: Chantix; Mirapex; Lariam (mefloquine) Purpose: Helping individuals quit smoking (Chantix); managing Parkinson’s Disease (Mirapex); preventing and treating malaria (Lariam).
These medications share a common side effect: hallucinations. While Chantix primarily causes vivid dreams that can feel like hallucinations, Lariam, originally developed by the U.S. Army for malaria, has been linked to terrifying hallucinations and violent psychotic episodes. Due to these risks, the FDA mandates screening for psychosis or depression before prescribing Lariam. Mirapex has also been reported to cause hallucinations, with elderly patients describing visions of snakes on walls or people hiding in closets.
8. The Fine Print
Drug: Xeloda (capecitabine) Purpose: Treating various types of cancer.
This case is particularly unusual. The Annals of Oncology, a medical journal, detailed a patient’s experience with Xeloda:
“…The patient, identified as Mr. S, was using Xeloda. Among its side effects is chronic inflammation of the palms or soles, known as hand-foot syndrome, which can lead to skin peeling, bleeding, ulcers, or blisters. Additionally, it has an extremely rare side effect: the complete disappearance of fingerprints…”
Fortunately, fingerprints reappear once the medication is discontinued.
7. Why So Blue?
Drug: Viagra (sildenafil citrate) Purpose: If you’re unaware of its use by now, I can’t assist you…
Viagra, a symbol of hope for men globally, may come with unexpected consequences. Some users report difficulty distinguishing between blue and green, while others experience “blue-vision,” where everything takes on a blue hue. It seems “blue-balls” might just lead to “blue-vision”!
6. Staying Informed About the Situation
Drug: Propecia Purpose: Combating male hair loss and baldness.
Baldness is often seen as a symbol of aging or diminished vitality. However, Propecia, a treatment for hair loss, can lead to an unusual condition called gynecomastia. This condition causes men to develop fully functional mammary glands, leading to lactation and the growth of breasts. Suddenly, baldness might not seem so bad after all.
5. Slipping Back Into Those Old Jeans
Drug: Alli Purpose: Weight loss and weight management.
Obesity rates have soared to unprecedented levels, and many individuals are willing to go to extreme lengths to shed even a single dress size. However, there’s often a catch, and Alli’s side effects are particularly noteworthy. These include uncontrollable bowel movements, loose stools, and a phenomenon known as “oily spotting,” often accompanied by flatulence. The official Alli website describes this side effect as follows:
“…It may resemble the oily residue you’d find on top of a pizza…”
This vivid description is labeled as a “minor” issue on the website. The problem can be mitigated by reducing or eliminating fat intake, which begs the question: Why use Alli at all? Why not simply cut fat from your diet?
4. Deepening That Frown
Drug: Zoloft Purpose: Treating depression and other mood-related disorders.
While Viagra commercials warn of prolonged erections, Zoloft has its own surprising side effects. It can cause erections lasting over three hours and a condition called “ejaculation failure,” where achieving orgasm becomes difficult or impossible. Additionally, like many antidepressants, Zoloft may increase suicidal thoughts, particularly in teenagers and individuals under 18. One might wonder: How exactly does Zoloft help with depression?
3. The Dark Urge(s)
Drug: Requip Purpose: Treating Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
As someone with RLS, I can attest to how frustrating, embarrassing, and downright infuriating it can be. Kicking others or yourself while asleep, poor leg circulation—it’s all dreadful. Requip offers relief, but it comes with a catch. It can trigger uncontrollable sexual and gambling urges. While feeling adventurous or aroused is one thing, experiencing these impulses involuntarily is another. Requip may increase the likelihood of unusual urges, making it hard to resist them. Living with RLS and taking Requip in Virginia is challenging enough, but I can’t imagine the chaos of dealing with it in Las Vegas.
2. Everything, Except the Itchy Sink
Drug: Accutane Purpose: Treating acne.
High school is tough, and acne can make it feel like a cruel and unusual punishment. While Accutane offers a solution, it comes with its own set of challenges. Side effects may include rectal bleeding, hirsutism (excessive hair growth), psychosis, depressive episodes, hepatitis, herpes, and even bone fractures. It seems high school can always get worse. Fortunately, these side effects are rare and have never been reported to occur simultaneously. Still, Accutane’s extensive list of potential symptoms outshines the bizarre side effects of other medications.
1. Twilight Meets Blade
Drug: Levaquin Purpose: Treating bacterial infections.
Need to tackle a stubborn bacterial infection while moonlighting as a vampire extra in the next “Twilight” movie? Levaquin might be your go-to! However, it comes with a peculiar side effect called “phototoxicity,” a condition similar to Lupus that can cause instant sunburns, sometimes as severe as third-degree burns. In some cases, it may even lead to tendon ruptures. Ironically, treating this side effect might require the same medication that caused it!
