{"id":3879,"date":"2026-07-04T14:34:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T14:34:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=3879"},"modified":"2026-07-04T14:34:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T14:34:12","slug":"peoples-pharmacy-most-people-ignore-dangerous-drug-side-effects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=3879","title":{"rendered":"People\u2019s Pharmacy | Most people ignore dangerous drug side effects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why don\u2019t Americans care about drug side effects? Perhaps they think that bad things only happen to other people. Our love affair with pharmaceuticals suggests that people take a very optimistic view of the drugs they see advertised on television.<\/p>\n

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Watch just about any commercial for a medication and you could be overwhelmed by the adverse reaction information. Take Jardiance, for example. This diabetes drug has been advertised as \u201ca little pill with a big story to tell.\u201d<\/p>\n

One 2023 commercial warned:<\/p>\n

\u201cJardiance may cause serious side effects including ketoacidosis that may be fatal, dehydration that can lead to sudden worsening of kidney function and genital yeast or urinary tract infections. A rare life-threatening bacterial infection in the skin of the perineum could occur.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2026 Jardiance is also being advertised to treat chronic kidney disease as well as type 2 diabetes. Commercials have featured dancing, singing and acting, not to mention knitting by world class sprinter, Usain Bolt. During current commercials, we are warned that:<\/p>\n

\u201cSerious side effects include increased ketones in blood or urine and infection between and around the anus and genitals, both may be fatal, severe allergic reactions, dehydration, urinary tract or genital yeast infections in men and women and low blood sugar. Stop taking and tell your doctor right away if you have nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, rash, swelling, trouble breathing or swallowing.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell your doctor about lightheadedness, weakness, fever, pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling between the anus and genitals. You may have increased risk for lower limb loss. Call your doctor right away if you have new pain or tenderness, sores, ulcers or infections in your legs or feet.\u201d<\/p>\n

You might think that such warnings would discourage people, but millions take Jardiance (empagliflozin). They are also taking many other medications that are advertised with lengthy lists of scary side effects.<\/p>\n

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When we published the first People\u2019s Pharmacy book in 1976, we couldn\u2019t even imagine such commercials would someday run on television. We did warn, however, that \u201cThere is no such thing as a safe drug\u2026Successful treatment is a careful balance between the beneficial and harmful effects, hopefully weighted in favor of the beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the American Society of Pharmacovigilance, harmful drug effects account for 250,000 to 300,000 deaths in the United States annually. That makes adverse drug reactions the third leading cause of deaths among Americans. Our own calculations for the book, Top Screwups, come closer to 400,000 deaths.<\/p>\n

The CDC estimates that: \u201cMore than 1.5 million people visit emergency departments for ADEs [adverse drug events] each year in the United States, and almost 500,000 require hospitalization.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite such worrisome statistics, the CDC does not list drug complications among its top 10 causes of death. Moreover, no National Institute of Health is dedicated to studying this problem. Very few researchers even appear to be investigating this serious public health threat.<\/p>\n

As a result, consumers are on their own. It is up to you to learn about the potential benefits and risks of any medicine you take. That includes over-the-counter drugs as well as prescription medications. Please do not wait until you develop a life-threating side effect.<\/p>\n

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.com. Their newest book is Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them (Crown).<\/i><\/p>\n

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Why don\u2019t Americans care about drug side effects? Perhaps they think that bad things only happen to other people. 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