Drug Safety Information
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All medications have their share of side effects. In most cases, the side effects are mild and tolerable and will go away with time or when a patient stops using the drug. Some medications, however, increase the risk of serious, life-threatening side effects.
If you are prescribed a medication, it is important to ask your doctor about all the potential health risks associated with the drug and to learn the symptoms so you can seek medical treatment immediately if you experience any signs or symptoms of severe side effects.
It is also important to disclose all medications you are currently taking (both prescription and over-the-counter) with your doctor so you can be sure you aren’t taking two medications that are known to interact negatively with each other.
Symptoms to Watch
The following is a brief summary of some serious side effects and their symptoms. To learn about the side effects of a specific drug, please go to our Defective Drug Index. If the drug or side effect you are searching for is not listed on this site, please contact us for more safety information.
Heart Attack
Some medications have been linked to an increase in the risk of heart attacks in some patients. Heart attacks are serious and should be treated immediately. Seek emergency attention if you experience the following symptoms:
- Discomfort or pressure in the chest
- Pain in the shoulders, arms, back neck or jaw
- Abdominal pain
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained feelings of anxiety or panic
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Excessive sweating
Heart Failure
Certain medications have been associated with an increased risk of new or worsened congestive heart failure in some patients. Symptoms range from mild to severe and in can either come and go or be constant. Symptoms of heart failure can include:
- Shortness of breath caused by fluid in the lungs
- Difficulty breathing when at rest or lying flat
- Swelling of the legs, ankles and abdomen
- Dizziness, weakness and excessive tiredness
- Rapid heartbeats
Stroke
A stroke can be a side effect of certain medications. It can lead to long-term disabilities in some patients. If you experience any of the following stroke symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately:
- Sudden dizziness or loss of coordination
- Problems speaking or understanding what other people are saying
- Numbness or paralysis or one side of the face or body
- Severe headache that cause dizziness and vomiting
Liver Failure
Liver failure typically occurs gradually over several years. However, some patients may have reactions to certain prescription or herbal medications that can result in acute liver failure, which develops rapidly in as few as 48 hours. Liver failure is a life threatening condition that should be treated right away. Liver failure is sometimes misdiagnosed, because the early symptoms resemble those of other conditions. It is important to ask your doctor if the medications you are taking could increase your risk of liver failure.
Early symptoms include:
- Extreme fatigue
- Nausea, diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
Symptoms of worsened liver failure:
- Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)
- Abdominal swelling
- Sleepiness, coma
- Bleeding easily
- Confusion, mental distortion (hepatic encephalopathy)
Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer develops in the bladder, but if not treated early enough can spread to other organs in the body. The most common symptoms of bladder cancer include:
- Blood in the urine
- Pain when urinating
- Frequent urge to urinate, only a little at a time
- Frequent urinary tract infections
- Pain or discomfort in the lower back
- Swelling in the lower legs
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
The term deep vein thrombosis refers to a blood clot that occurs in one of the veins in the lower leg, thigh or pelvis. If the blood clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream, it can cause pulmonary embolism, which occurs when the blood vessels of the lungs are blocked. Pulmonary embolism can result in difficulty breathing and death. It is important to recognize the symptoms of DVT before it turns into pulmonary embolism. Symptoms of DVT can include:
- Pain or discomfort in the lower leg
- Inflammation of the affected area
- Redness or warmth in the affected area
- Leg cramps
- Blue or white skin discoloration
These are just a few of the potential risks associated with certain medications. Every patient and medication is unique; certain drugs affect certain people differently. For information about a specific drug and its potential health risks, please browse our Defective Drug Index. For information about a drug that is not included in the list, please contact our defective drug lawyers today.
