With the diagnosis, yesterday, that I am suffering from psoriatic arthritis, came a prescription for new medication and an introductory leaflet containing a lengthy litany of the ills that may befall me once I start the regime. I quote:“The most common unwanted side effects are nausea, stomach pains and soreness of the mouth and lips…
“Less common unwanted side effects include vomiting; diarrhoea; loss of appetite; tiredness; drowsiness; feeling weak; dizziness; eye irritation; mood changes; loss of interest in; or ability to have sex; fever, chills; pain in the joints and muscles; acne; boils; vaginal ulcers…
“In a small number of patients, this drug may cause serious unwanted side effects - a numb or tingling feeling, a painful lump in your neck, hair loss, loss of consciousness, tiny red spots on the skin, black or tarry stools, an inability to move, difficulty with speech, fits or confusion and, on rare occasions, death...”
In the event of any of the aforementioned, the patient is advised to "consult your doctor immediately", although, in the event of the last-named side effect (to wit, kicking the bucket), that would seem a tad difficult!
Anyway, it has left me asking myself, if those are the UNwanted side effects - what, for pity's sake, are the WANTED side effects?!
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3 comments:
I have learnt from experience never to read the 'side effects' section of medications. The danger is that psychosomatic symptoms set in... 'oh dear, I have a loss of appetite and I'm moody and confused! Next I'll be unable to move, and death will inevitably follow'.
I was prescribed a medication to help cure dizziness a couple of years ago. One of the 'unwanted' side effects listed was 'may cause dizziness'...
Sound advice,Anna, except that this leaflet doesn't allow you to toss it aside too carelessly, on account of the opening sentence:
"Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine. Keep this leaflet. YOU MAY NEED TO READ IT AGAIN."
You just know that, soorner or later, "MAY" is going to turn into "WILL"!
If you are not worrying already, I would start to panic if you experience vaginal ulcers!
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