What if being on your meds is more dangerous?
I was reading the side effects information on the medication guide a friend received with his new prescription from the pharmacist. One of his prescriptions is for a common antidepressant. The side effects range in degree, may go away, or may not go away, or - this was my thought, what if the negative reaction to the drug suddenly occurs after longtime use? That information wasn't included.
Here are a couple of serious side effects listed:
- Suicidal thoughts
- New or sudden changes of mood
- Attempts at suicide
- Acting on dangerous impulses
- Acting aggressive or violent
There are more side effects listed, but I just noted the scary ones.
Medication.
I bet almost every single reader of this blog is on some form of medication for some thing - not necessarily anti depression drugs - just any kind of drug. Most drugs can have side effects. Likewise, drug interaction may pose another problem, then, if you drink, that may create more problems. Today many states want to legalize marijuana. Combine that with alcohol, prescription drugs, more illegal drugs, and emotional instability and what do you have? Zombie apocalypse when the well runs dry.
Seriously, just last week a kind, gentle, older man in a local hospital freaked out in his room, dismantled his bed, and went on a rampage savagely attacking nursing staff, beating them with a rod from his bed. [Story here.] It was totally out of character for him and he never acted that way before. What happened? Was he given a sleep aid or a tranquilizer, a pain killer? We don't know yet - it is still under investigation.
It made me wonder however. Adam Lanza for instance; what kind of meds was he taking before he attacked the school at Sandy Hook. What about all of the other so-called sudden murder rampages, school attacks which happen almost regularly throughout the country? How many school kids have been on some sort of psychotropic drug with or without therapy, during their formative years? How many use or experiment with legal or illegal drugs as well?
What are the side effects? How about long term use? How does it change the brain?
People are different today. How have drugs changed cultural-social anthropology? That's a bigger question.
Back to everyday questions, problems: How many adults on these meds experience sudden mood swings, maybe suddenly get up one day and quit their job, leave a spouse, or freak out on a co-worker? Or just go nuts in the com box of a blog?
Read the warning labels and medication guide for your prescriptions - I'm not sure the doctors are very good about doing that for you. Before stopping any medication check with your doctor of course, and before going on a medication - make your doctor explains its function, side effects, and why he thinks you need it.
