Possible Side Effects May Include ...

S

SifuPhil

R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
Location
Pennsylvania, USA
This is just a rant, so if you're not in the mood to listen I understand. Go enjoy Pinterest or eBay or NaughtyNightNurses.com or whatever else floats your boat. :eek:

I'm watching TV the other night and an advertisement comes on for the Exelon patch. This patch is supposedly for the control of "mild to moderate" Alzheimer's symptoms.

Of course the videography of the commercial is a masterpiece - soft-focus lenses, soul-touching music, long dreamy sequences of loved ones holding hands, walking on the beach, etc.

But only the first 20 seconds are devoted to a recitation of the benefits. The other 40 seconds are for the side-effects. Here they are from their own site:

[h=4]Important Safety Information[/h] EXELON PATCH should not be used if the patient is allergic to any component in EXELON PATCH including the active ingredient rivastigmine, or has had an allergic reaction to a similar type of medicine. There have been some cases of skin reactions (e.g., rash, itchiness, and hives) that extend beyond the site of patch application. Speak to the doctor before using EXELON PATCH.


Mistakes in using EXELON PATCH have resulted in serious side effects; some cases have required hospitalization, and rarely, led to death. Most mistakes have involved not removing the old patch when putting on a new one and the use of multiple patches at one time. Only one EXELON PATCH should be worn at a time. If you accidentally apply more than one EXELON PATCH, remove all of them and inform the doctor immediately.


EXELON PATCH can cause gastrointestinal adverse reactions, including significant nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and weight loss. Dehydration may result from prolonged vomiting or diarrhea and can be associated with serious outcomes. The incidence and severity of these reactions are dose related. For this reason, treatment should be initiated with EXELON PATCH at a dose of 4.6 mg/24 hours and titrated to a dose of 9.5 mg/24 hours, if appropriate. If you have not taken EXELON PATCH for more than 3 days, do not start taking it again until you have talked to a doctor.


The most common side effects with EXELON PATCH 9.5 mg/24 hours were nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.


Weight should be checked while the person is using EXELON PATCH. Weight loss/loss of appetite may occur. People below 50 kg (110 lbs) may experience more side effects and may have to stop using EXELON PATCH due to these side effects.


People at risk for stomach ulcers or who take certain medicines should tell their doctor before starting EXELON PATCH, because serious stomach problems such as bleeding may occur. EXELON PATCH may cause fainting or slow heart rate; people with certain heart conditions should tell their doctor before starting therapy. People with serious lung conditions and difficulty breathing, bladder problems, or seizures should consult their doctor before using EXELON PATCH. Extrapyramidal symptoms (e.g., uncontrollable facial or body movements, including tremor, restlessness) could occur or get worse. Parkinsonian symptoms, particularly tremor, have worsened in Parkinson's disease dementia patients treated with EXELON capsules. People on EXELON PATCH who feel dizzy or drowsy should not drive or use machines.


Tell the doctor about all other prescription or nonprescription medicines the patient is taking. EXELON PATCH should not be taken at the same time with other medicines that have a similar effect on the body and the brain (cholinomimetic agents) or with anticholinergic medicines. Inform the doctor if the patient needs surgery requiring anesthesia while using EXELON PATCH.
Click to expand...


... so, basically anyone who has any kind of medical condition at all is at risk of dying as a result of using this patch, is the take-away I get. :(

If I'm going to acquire all sorts of dire physical symptoms by using the Exelon patch, wouldn't I be better off being in the fog of Alzheimer's and not knowing about it?
 

Crazy isn't it ? One drug and I forget which advised a possible oily discharge !!! Doesn't say from where this Havoline will come from but it was enough to keep me from wanting to try it ! Haha
 
I agree Sifu, I'd rather take tablespoons of coconut oil everyday in hopes of treating my Alzheimer's...a lot safer than taking the poisons they dish out. Just seeing ads on the TV (and magazines) for perscription drugs angers me, doesn't big pharma make enough money from the sheeple already?? All of these drugs have worse side effects than the disease...and do I really have to approach my doctor with suggestions for my treatment?? Most time these doctors only know the basic outline of those drugs that's given to them by the vendor. :dollar:
 

pchinvegas said:
Crazy isn't it ? One drug and I forget which advised a possible oily discharge !!! Doesn't say from where this Havoline will come from but it was enough to keep me from wanting to try it ! Haha
Click to expand...

LOL!

"Hi, I'm Havoline, this is my wife Valvoline and my son Mobil 1 (please excuse his hiding - he hasn't come out of his Shell yet). We only have Mobil 1 because I was Castroled last year. We live in the QuakerState - it's full of Pennzoil. You should take a Peak at it someday." :p

SeaBreeze said:
I agree Sifu, I'd rather take tablespoons of coconut oil everyday in hopes of treating my Alzheimer's...a lot safer than taking the poisons they dish out. Just seeing ads on the TV (and magazines) for perscription drugs angers me, doesn't big pharma make enough money from the sheeple already?? All of these drugs have worse side effects than the disease...and do I really have to approach my doctor with suggestions for my treatment?? Most time these doctors only know the basic outline of those drugs that's given to them by the vendor. :dollar:
Click to expand...

... or from the vendors that give the most kick-backs.

My student is a pharmacist, about my age, has been in the game his whole life. He swears that the kick-back system has been controlled, that they no longer offer those big perks for prescribing the pill du jour, but that there are OTHER types of benefits available to the docs. In addition, he claims that many docs are blackballed if they don't push a certain drug, so I guess it's gone from carrot to stick.
 
Yep, those commercials have made me quite nervous about what drugs I'll put in my body. I doubt that was the intent of pharmaceutical companies. LOL.

But sometimes you just have to do the research and then decide if the benefit outweighs the risk. I have to use eye drops for glaucoma morning and evening. They contain beta blockers and prostaglandins. They are not medications to take lightly. The side effects for some people can be quite serious.

There are lot of articles on the internet touting natural remedies (even cures) for glaucoma. I spent months going through them after my diagnosis. I found no science to substantiate any of it. I'll continue using my eye drops. I'd rather not go blind.

Now, thanks to Phil, I'm gonna have to call the Big Oil companies. I have no idea what oil is in my Cosopt drop.
 
Pricklypear said:
Yep, those commercials have made me quite nervous about what drugs I'll put in my body. I doubt that was the intent of pharmaceutical companies. LOL.
Click to expand...

It does seem to have backfired among a certain percentage of us. ;)

There are lot of articles on the internet touting natural remedies (even cures) for glaucoma. I spent months going through them after my diagnosis. I found no science to substantiate any of it. I'll continue using my eye drops. I'd rather not go blind.
Click to expand...

Snake-oil, a lot of them, granted. But it's good you at least had an open enough mind to research and test them.

Now, thanks to Phil, I'm gonna have to call the Big Oil companies. I have no idea what oil is in my Cosopt drop.
Click to expand...

3-in-1, maybe? Canola? :playful:
 
Pricklypear said:
3-in-one? I don't know yet but I wouldn't be surprised. :)
Click to expand...

I like to be a bit more high-tech in my own healthcare programs.

I use Armor-All. :D

SeaBreeze said:
I've heard that too, the doctors are afraid of losing their jobs...I wouldn't doubt it. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I tend to come down hard on doctors, but at the same time I can understand a few of the problems they face, this being one of them.
 
SifuPhil said:
I tend to come down hard on doctors, but at the same time I can understand a few of the problems they face, this being one of them.
Click to expand...

I feel sorry for them really. I like the good ol' days, when a doctor had confidence, made his own decisions and did his best to "heal" the patient...without being held under a microscope, having every move monitored, and needing to explain to the powers that be, his reasons behind every action. :mask:
 
Orencia

(from Orencia.com)

Just saw a television commercial for Orencia. I think the ad was treatment for Fibromyalgia, but this drug is commonly used for Rheumatoid Arthritis, and is prescribed for some other conditions also. What caught my attention was that a rare, but serious side effect may be malignant tumors or cancer. It seems that the way this drug works is to weaken the immune system, leaving users more prone to various infections.

ORENCIA can cause serious side effects including:
Click to expand...
  • Serious infections. ORENCIA can make you more likely to get infections or make the infection that you have get worse. Some patients have died from these infections. Call your healthcare provider immediately if you feel sick or get any of the following signs of infection: fever, feel very tired, cough, feel flu-like, or warm, red or painful skin.


  • Allergic reactions. Allergic reactions can happen on the day of treatment or the day after receiving ORENCIA. Tell your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you have hives, swollen face, eyelids, lips, tongue, or trouble breathing.


  • Hepatitis B infection. If you are a carrier of the hepatitis B virus (a virus that affects the liver), the virus can become active while you use ORENCIA. Your healthcare provider may do a blood test before you start or while using ORENCIA.


  • Vaccinations. You should not receive ORENCIA with certain types of vaccines. ORENCIA may cause some vaccinations to be less effective.


  • Respiratory problems in patients with COPD. You may get certain respiratory problems more often if you receive ORENCIA and have COPD, including: worsened COPD, pneumonia, cough, or trouble breathing.


  • Cancer (malignancies). Certain kinds of cancer have been reported in patients receiving ORENCIA. It is not known if ORENCIA increases your chance of getting certain kinds of cancer.
Common side effects with ORENCIA are headache, upper respiratory tract infection, sore throat, and nausea.
Click to expand...
 
Jeeze..How potentially lethal or damaging does a drug have to be before the FDA denies approval? I am very wary of new drugs that are put into the market. Too many of them end up in class action lawsuits for damages. When a new drug hits the market that is just the final phase of testing. In 5 years if they haven't ended up in a class action, resulting in being pulled from the market, they are deemed proven. In the meantime, people die and lawyers get rich.

I recently read an article that stated patients should try to get doctors to prescribe drugs that have been on the market for at least 5 years, as they have a proven track record and are generally less expensive than the newer, much hyped drug.


Remember the good old thalidomide drug of the 50's that caused pregnant women to produce babies with limb deformities? After protracted lawsuits and criminal charges against the manufacturer, which resulted in the manufacturer having to support the deformed kids for life, the drug was re-introduced as a treatment for leprosy, some aids related symptoms and use certain cancers is being researched Meanwhile, there is concern the drug will produce a whole new round of deformities....It begs the question as to why the manufacturer would want to go a second round with this drug and risk more liability? The $$ return must far out weigh the risk.

All these dangerous side effects is like saying, the operation was a success, but the patient died.
 
Ozarkgal said:
Jeeze..How potentially lethal or damaging does a drug have to be before the FDA denies approval? I am very wary of new drugs that are put into the market. Too many of them end up in class action lawsuits for damages. When a new drug hits the market that is just the final phase of testing. In 5 years if they haven't ended up in a class action, resulting in being pulled from the market, they are deemed proven. In the meantime, people die and lawyers get rich.
Click to expand...

People can call me a tin-foil-hat-wearing conspiracy geek as much as they like - I'm firmly convinced that the FDA and Big Pharma sleep together.

... and I don't mean they just sleep, if you get my drift.

I recently read an article that stated patients should try to get doctors to prescribe drugs that have been on the market for at least 5 years, as they have a proven track record and are generally less expensive than the newer, much hyped drug.
Click to expand...

I think many patients would do far better to get their 'scrips on the street - less chance of lethal side-effects, it seems.


Remember the good old thalidomide drug of the 50's that caused pregnant women to produce babies with limb deformities? After protracted lawsuits and criminal charges against the manufacturer, which resulted in the manufacturer having to support the deformed kids for life, the drug was re-introduced as a treatment for leprosy, some aids related symptoms and use certain cancers is being researched Meanwhile, there is concern the drug will produce a whole new round of deformities....It begs the question as to why the manufacturer would want to go a second round with this drug and risk more liability? The $$ return must far out weigh the risk.
Click to expand...

Gruenenthal Group, the company responsible for the initial use of Thalidomide, has apologized to mothers who took it in the 1950s and 1960s and gave birth to children with congenital birth defects. Exactly 50 years ago, Thalidomide was pulled off the market.

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! :(

All these dangerous side effects is like saying, the operation was a success, but the patient died.
Click to expand...

They always seem to be able to extract the wallet before the patient dies, however ...
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top