ImageIt’s hard to believe that only a few years ago, pharmacuetical companies weren’t required to clearly spell out the many potential side affects of their prescription medications in television advertising.  Now, it is both scary (because before we had no idea what the medicines could do to us) and hilarious (because the side affects far outrank the initial medical condition we are TRYING to treat!). 

Here are just a few of my favorites, courtesy of our friends at WebMD.  See if you can find some common patterns:

Nexium
Uses:   used to treat certain stomach and esophagus problems (such as acid reflux, ulcers).
Side affects: Headache or abdominal pain; unusually fast/slow/irregular heartbeat; persistent muscle spasms; seizures; rash; itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat); severe dizziness and trouble breathing

Lipitor
Uses:   is used along with a proper diet to help lower “bad” cholesterol and fats (such as LDL, triglycerides) and raise “good” cholesterol (HDL) in the blood
Side affects:   muscle pain/tenderness/weakness (especially with feveror unusual tiredness); change in the amount of urine; yellowing eyes/skin; dark urine; severe stomach/abdominal pain; persistent nausea/vomiting; rash; itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat); severe dizziness; trouble breathing

And, since I just love the idea of depression being a black dot (or a bath robe) with eyeballs that follows you around and tries to pull you into its black hole (woah!), here are two of my favorite prescription medicine commercials.  Enjoy!

David