Modern medical science has had to advance to keep abreast with novel diseases that were unheard of a century ago. Pharmaceutical companies constantly research to discover treatments that can prevent, treat, and reverse a health condition.
These treatments may take the form of therapy, surgery, IV infusions, or oral drugs. Every year, millions of drugs are produced (both old and new) to promote patient well-being. In 2023, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) approved 55 new drugs for commercialization.
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) runs extensive checks and clinical trials before approving a medication. Even so, certain side effects may go unobserved. In other words, there could be ramifications that are only identified after the drug is marketed and used by patients.
In many cases, they are minor, like diarrhea, headaches, drowsiness, Naa Songs or dry mouth. However, some drugs can lead to serious or life-threatening side effects. In this article, we will talk about four such medicines that you must know about.
Angioedema
Often similar to hives, angioedema is a swelling that develops under the skin in its deep layers. It is caused due to fluid buildup and may appear as welts that form within minutes or hours. The Cleveland Clinic mentions the following symptoms of this condition –
- Puffy face, mainly the eyes, lips, and the mouth
- Digestive issues in case of swollen intestines
- Swollen feet, hands, or genitals
- Sense of dizziness due to changes in blood pressure
- Difficulty breathing in case of swelling in the mouth or throat that blocks the airway
Angioedema can become life-threatening if the patient’s airway is blocked due to a swollen mouth or throat. This condition can be a side effect of Angiotensin-converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as captopril, lisinopril, and ramipril.
These medicines are generally prescribed to patients suffering from heart failure or high blood pressure. They indirectly participate in the relaxing and widening of blood vessels.
This lowers the blood pressure as well as the burden on the heart. In most cases, ACE inhibitors are well-tolerated. Angioedema as a side effect has an incidence rate that varies between 0.1% and 0.7% (under-reported). The risk is higher among those of Hispanic or African descent.
Tooth Decay
Due to the high mineral content, teeth are said to be the hardest tissues in the body. Now, dental issues are almost always vulnerable to turning into infectious complications that can be painful. One drug that has been criticized for causing tooth decay and other dental injuries is Suboxone.
This medicine is used for patients suffering from dependence on opioids or narcotic drugs. As per the European Medicines Agency, It is primarily given to anyone over the age of 15 years.
Suboxone received its FDA approval back in October 2002. For two decades, this drug played a major role in treating opioid use disorder. In September 2023, the first-ever claim regarding Suboxone’s dental side effects was made. The claim was made in the form of a Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit by a man called David Sorensen.
Sorensen stated that he developed cavities that required significant dental work as a result of Suboxone use. Gradually, more people came forward with similar complaints, bringing the total number of lawsuits to 100+. Besides tooth decay, TorHoerman Law states that plaintiffs suffered cracked teeth, infections, and tooth loss.
It has been alleged the drug’s manufacturer, Indivior, was aware of the risks. Still, the company failed to issue proper warnings to healthcare providers and patients. In January 2022, the FDA issued a public warning regarding Suboxone’s side effects.
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis is an injury sustained to a muscle that ends up releasing a harmful protein into the bloodstream. The condition itself is pretty rare, affecting an average of 26,000 Americans every year.
Essentially, rhabdomyolysis causes the muscle to break down and deteriorate. As a result, certain components of the injured muscle leak into the blood, including myoglobin, potassium, phosphate, creatine kinase, and urate.
If produced in large quantities, these components can damage the kidneys – the organ responsible for flushing out such toxins. When the kidneys are strained and fail to remove the components, the situation can become life-threatening.
Common symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include weak muscles, swelling, pain, and dark-colored urine. In some cases, the affected individual may experience dehydration, nausea, reduced urination, and unconsciousness.
Medicines criticized for causing this rare condition as a side effect are statins like Zocor, Crestor, and Lipitor. These are generally prescribed for patients with high levels of triglycerides and bad cholesterol.
Patients may experience muscle pain on prolonged consumption of these medicines, strong enough to discontinue treatment. The risk of a full-blown rhabdomyolysis disorder is low (1.5 for every 100,000 patients), as stated by the Mayo Clinic. However, the condition mostly becomes life-threatening if developed.
Unfortunate as it is that drugs should have such debilitating after-effects, patients often wonder if prevention is possible. At least the severity of side effects depends upon factors like diet, age, hydration, smoking or alcoholism, etc.
Patients need to consume drugs as per the doctor’s prescription – before or after food, avoiding alcohol, or drinking plenty of water. They must ask the doctor about possible side effects and report any at the earliest. This will prevent the complication from becoming serious. leakbio
Finally, one can discuss with their physician about possible alternatives in case the drug’s side effects have affected a large group of people.
