10 Most Dangerous Medicines

The side effects of medicines are a well known fact, but not all medicines are the same. Some side effects are rare and mild, while others can literally ruin your life.

Among the hundreds of drugs with dangerous and frequent side effects, we selected the 10 most dangerous. The winners are:

 

1.Alli or Xenical (Orlistat) – diet pills

Manufactured by: GlaxoSmithKline

The FDA is currently reviewing the safety of this drug because of the numerous cases of serious liver damage.

Common side effects:

• weakness, chronic fatigue
• brown urine
• jaundice
• nausea and vomiting
• liver damage

2.Avandia  (Roziglitazone) – medicine against diabetes

Manufactured by: GlaxoSmithKline

Avandia increases the risk of a heart attack by a staggering 43%!

The FDA has issued a warning about the dangers of this drug, proven by statistics and subsequent studies of the drug.

Side effects:

• heart attack
• death

3.Gardasil  – vaccine against cervical cancer

Manufactured by: Merck and Co. Inc

The active promotion of Gardasil as an effective protection against cervical cancer was followed by horrifying news. In the United States only, 8000 people suffered from serious side effects of this drug, 31 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome and 15 deaths were also registered.

Side effects:

• Guillain-Barré syndrome (often ends with total paralysis)
• degenerative muscle
• blood clots
• abortion
• death

4.Chantix ( Varenicline, Champix) –  medicine for quitting smoking

Manufactured by: Pfizer

FDA Warning: serious neurological and psychiatric problems can occur while taking this drug.

Side effects:  

• agitation
• depression
• worsening mental state
• suicide

 5.Zelnorm (tegaserod maleate)  – cure for irritable bowel syndrome and chronic constipation

Manufactured by: Novartis

FDA Warning: the risk of taking Zelnorm far exceeds its benefits.

Side effects:

• heart attack
• stroke
• angina pectoris
• violations of the gastrointestinal tract
• inflammatory bowel disease

6.Seroquel (quetiapine) – cure for schizophrenia and other mental illnesses

Manufactured by: AstraZeneca

Seroquel is one of the new generation of drugs, which unlike the older drugs do not affect motor coordination. Unfortunately, seroquel causes serious side effects, one of which is neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), which can damage the kidneys.

Symptoms of NMS include:

• high fever
• stiffness in the muscles
• sweating
• arrhythmia
• unstable blood pressure
• acute renal failure

Other side effects:

• heart attack
• low pressure
• diabetes
• tardive dyskinesia
• Increased cholesterol
• sudden changes in body temperature
• liver disease
• cataract
• thyroid disease

7.Actonel (risedronate) – for treatment of osteoporosis in women after menopause

Manufactured by: Proctor & Gamble

Side effects:

• osteonecrosis of the jaw
• tissue death
• joint disease
• loss of teeth
• bone pain
• diseases of the teeth and gums
• shortness of breath
• bone fractures
• kidney disease

8.Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium) – pills against heartburn

Manufactured by: AstraZeneca

Using the popular anti-heartburn pills like Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec increases the risk of bone fractures, especially hip fracture in older people. Scientists suspect that reduction of gastric acid makes it difficult for the organism to absorb calcium, which causes bone loss and fractures. Hip fractures in the elderly can cause life-threatening complications. One in five people with hip fractures will die within 12 months.
Millions of people use Nexuim on a daily basis. Experts warn that doctors should think twice about the dangers of this drug before they prescribe it.

9.Ortho Evra – contraceptive patch

Manufactured by: Ortho McNeil (Johnson & Johnson)

Evra is a contraceptive strip that is pasted on one of the four parts of the body: abdomen, bottom, outer surface of the upper arm or another part of the upper body, except the breast. During the day, the patch continuously releases the active contraceptive substance which the skin absorbs for 24 hours.
Unfortunately, although it is comfortable and efficient, the Evra patch is life-threatening. Thousands of women reported dangerous complications after using the patch. 44 women died.

Side effects:

• heart attack
• blood clots
• gallbladder disease
• stroke
• venous diseases
• death

10.Viagra – a drug for erectile dysfunction

Manufactured by: Pfizer

Viagra, the popular remedy for erectile dysfunction, is by no means harmless. During just one year, Viagra has killed 522 people, and that was only in the U.S.

Side effects:

• heart attack
• arrhythmia
• stroke
• sudden changes in blood pressure
• death

Studies show that millions of men, including young people, who do not have problems with erection, use Viagra every day.