The red pill or the blue pill, when either one comes with side effects?

// July 26th, 2009 // Health

red-pill-or-blue-pill

The availability of prescription drugs has prolonged the health of many. It has given new hopes for people who are diagnosed with illness that can only be treated through doses of prescription drugs. But many prescription drugs do come with side effects, some that are minor while some that can be fatal.

Abilify, the drug used in the treatment of depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, seems like a wonder-drug for its ability to treat so many diseases. Don’t let the benefits fool you. Abilify, comes with many side effects that include:

(Taken from here)

Common Side Effects With Abilify

Abilify has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials. In these studies, the side effects that occur in a group of people taking the drug are documented and are then compared to side effects that occur in another group of people not taking the medicine. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.

In these studies, the most common Abilify side effects included:

Headaches — in up to 30 percent of people
Anxiety — up to 20 percent
Insomnia — up to 19 percent
Nausea — up to 16 percent
Constipation — up to 13 percent
Vomiting — up to 12 percent
Dizziness — up to 11 percent.

Some other common side effects (occurring in 2 percent to 10 percent of people) included:

Indigestion or heartburn
Drowsiness
Shakiness
Weight gain
Restlessness
Fatigue
Dry mouth
Joint pain
Throat pain
Blurred vision
Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
Pain
Cough
Nasal congestion
Increased salivation
Swelling or water retention in the arms, legs, or feet.

Side Effects of Abilify to Report

There are a number of side effects with Abilify that you should report to your healthcare provider. These include but are not limited to:

Signs of diabetes, such as:

- High blood sugar
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Extreme hunger (see Abilify and Diabetes)

Large or rapid weight gain
Suicidal thoughts
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Dizziness or fainting when going from a sitting or lying-down position to standing
Feelings of internal restlessness or jitteriness
Any abnormal muscle movements (these movements can become permanent if Abilify is not stopped quickly)
A painful erection of the penis that does not go away (priapism)
Signs or symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome, which can include:

- A high fever
- Stiff muscles
- Confusion
- Irregular pulse or blood pressure
- An increased heart rate (tachycardia)
- Sweating
- Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias)

Signs of an allergic reaction, including:

- Unexplained rash
- Hives
- Itching
- Unexplained swelling
- Wheezing
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Rare Abilify Side Effects

Some side effects occur in less than 2 percent of people taking Abilify. Because these side effects are so uncommon, it is difficult to tell whether they are actually caused by the medication or something else.

These less common Abilify side effects include but are not limited to:

Anemia
Vertigo (a spinning sensation)
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Low thyroid (hypothyroidism) or high thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
Gas
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Hemorrhoids
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Canker sores
Gallstones
Yeast infections
Arthritis
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Kidney stones
Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction or ED (see Abilify Sexual Side Effects)
An increased or decreased sex drive
Acne
Eczema
Hair loss (see Abilify and Hair Loss)
Varicose veins.

Despite all those possible side effects, Doctors have no ability to know whether or not their patients are allergic to Abilify. Therefore, it is still up to the patients to risk it by taking Abilify.

Hmmm…which one will i choose? Be free of depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia OR possibly get all the side effects from taking Abilify?

Have you read the warning and side effects on your prescription drugs lately? You should!
Love it, Loathe it? Comments are very much appreciated.

-Boon