9 Bizarre Drug Side Effects
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Ambien can help insomniacs get a good night’s sleep. But many users say the drug triggers some bizarre behavior such as sleep-eating, sleep-sex and even sleep-driving. It seems that some users of Ambien get up in the middle of the night in a dream-like state and eat, drink, drive and participate in other late night behaviors that they have no recollection of the next morning.
Statins like Lipitor are used to lower cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. Unfortunately, in very rare cases, it may cause amnesia in some users. (AP)
The diet drug Alli is the only FDA-approved over-the-counter weight loss drug. It works by blocking some of the fat you eat. BUT, users have to reduce their fat intake while using. Why? The drug causes the fat you don’t absorb to pass directly out of the body, which means that if you eat too much fat you may wind up with the unpleasant side effects of gas with oily spotting, loose stools, and more frequent stools that may be hard to control.
The Annals of Oncology reported on a cancer sufferer who was detained at an airport in the United States when immigration officials were unable to take a print from his fingers, his doctor said. The patient, only referred to as Mr. S, was taking the drug capecitabine, which is sold under the brand name Xeloda and is used to treat several kinds of cancer. The drug carries side effects such as chronic inflammation of the palms or soles of the feet. Known as hand-foot syndrome, it can result in peeling of the skin, bleeding and development of ulcers or blisters. It also causes the very odd and very rare side effect of making your fingerprints completely disappear. Doctors say fingerprints usually return once the medication is stopped.
The prescription drug Vasotec can be used to control high blood pressure and treat congestive heart failure. But it also carries the unusual side effect of causing users to lose their sense of taste and smell.
U.S. health officials say smoking is the No. 1 cause of preventable death in this country. Chantix has been shown to help users butt out, but it also carries a number of side effects. For example, it may give you insomnia and when you finally do fall asleep, you may find yourself having vivid dreams and/or nightmares.
Viagra is enough of a household name that everyone knows what it's used for. And, thanks to the commercials, most also know that the medication may cause the unwanted and dangerous side effect of a more than 4-hour erection. What people may not know is that the drug may also cause "blue vision" in users. John Pettigrew, a 58-year-old plumber from England, experienced this unpleasant side effect, which Pfizer does warn of in the prescribing information that is given to users. In Pettigrew's case, the man admitted that he probably took too many of the little blue pills but joked that he was having "too much fun" using them.
Restless legs can be a debilitating condition for some, causing them to miss out on a good night's sleep. Mirapex, a drug that is also used to treat Parkinson's disease, has been shown to alleviate the symptoms of RLS. But it also warns users that some people taking the drug have reported problems with gambling, compulsive eating, and increased sex drive. Users experiencing any of these side effects should immediately report them to their physicians. (iStock)
Suffering from mild heartburn, upset stomach or diarrhea? Pepto Bismol provides relief of all those symptoms and is also available over-the-counter. But users beware - the drug also carries the odd, but harmless, side effects of causing a black, sometimes furry-feeling tongue, and black/gray stools.