I read an article about a medication that is supposed to help Parkinson's patients. Since my wife Claudia has Parkinson's I thought this might help her. Here's the lead into the article...
"Pramipexole is used alone or with other medications to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD; a disorder of the nervous system that causes difficulties with movement, muscle control, and balance), including shaking of parts of the body, stiffness, slowed movements, and problems with balance."
Then, further down the article is the possible side effects...
"What side effects can this medication cause?
Pramipexole may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
nausea
weakness
dizziness
loss of balance, falling
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
difficulty remembering
abnormal dreams
heartburn
constipation
diarrhea
dry mouth
swollen, stiff, or painful joints
pain in back, arms or legs
frequent urination or urgent need to urinate
difficulty urinating or pain when urinating
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist), confusion, aggressive behavior, agitation, abnormal thoughts
changes in vision
abnormal body movements and motions that you cannot control
changes in the way you sit or stand that you cannot control, such as your neck bending forward, bending forward at the waist, or tilting sideways when you sit, stand, or walk,
dark, red, or cola-colored urine
muscle tenderness
muscle stiffness or aching
muscle weakness
Pramipexole may cause other side effects."
See that list? That's a list of Parkinson's symptoms!!! WTF! If you don't have Parkinson's, take this pill and get it!
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13 comments:
I never read the side effects list unless something really weird happens, then I read it to see if the medication caused it. I don't take a lot of medications anyway (3) and one of those is for the heartburn caused by one of the others.
Sigh. I once read that there is no such thing as side effects. They are all effects it is just that we want some and don't want others. And that is a very long list of effects not to want.
River - It may be unfortunate for me but I always read the side effects. I have a formula I follow; lots of side effects but low costs - try it; few side effects but high cost - maybe try it; lots of side effects high cost - no F'in way.
Sue - I see side effects as a bad thing. The good effects are what you pay for.
Many TV ads for drugs spend more time listing the possible side effects than they do explaining why the drug is worth taking. This is what happens when the lawyers are the script advisors. My approach is this: if the doctor advises me to take something, I do. I read the list of possible side effects and ask the doctor which ones are the ones I really need to worry about.
Bilbo has it right-whenever lawyers get involved things get screwy.
Weird, isn't it.
Tell Claudia that Parkinson's prequalifies her for a job as a bartender at a cocktail bar ;-)
Not having Parkinson's, but dealing with side effects and medication I understand this all too well. I think I may pass on this one Mike.
Yikes. That is one heck of list. What are the symptoms is it supposed to help?
Bill - This list is just a "little" too long for my liking.
Kathy - I wouldn't make a good lawyer. I would have never made the debate club in high school.
Deb - Weird to the max.
Stu - Sort of. It's not her hands that shake but her feet, at times. So if you want your cocktail mixed with some toe action, she's your gal.
Peg - Good call.
Lady - I'm not sure. But there's not much left.
One has to be so discriminating and wise about medical treatment. I wish your wife all the best. I know several wonderful people who live with MS and such.
I realize that they are different conditions. I don't mean to be rude or insensitive.
Cloudia - You're OK. Claudia's symptoms come and go. Sometimes hours apart. I'm always watching or listening to what she is doing.
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