"Following doctor's advice" is the principle for many patients when buying medicine. However, some drugs that even doctors wouldn't choose have become regularly consumed by ordinary people. Experts point out that there are seven kinds of drugs with a higher possibility of causing side effects, and caution should be exercised by the public before taking them.
1. Asthma medication Advair
It contains the long-acting beta-2 agonist salmeterol, which may increase the likelihood of asthma attacks and worsen the condition.
2. Diabetes medication Avandia (Actos)
If diabetics choose this drug, it could lead their bodies toward another dangerous edge—heart disease. A study by the American Medical Association found that using this drug to treat diabetes for a year more than doubled the risk of heart failure or heart attack in patients.
3. Painkiller Celebrex (Celecoxib)
Once considered an effective pain-relieving drug, recent studies indicate that this drug can increase the risk of various diseases such as gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney disease. Therefore, experts recommend safer pain relief options like ibuprofen or acupuncture.
4. Antibiotic Ketek (Telithromycin)
This drug can kill bacteria in the lungs and sinuses but also causes respiratory infections and increases the risk of liver disease.
5. Stomach medications Prilosec (Omeprazole) and Nexium (Esomeprazole)
These two drugs belong to the class of proton pump inhibitors used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease and stomach ulcers. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration claims these drugs do not increase the risk of heart disease, this does not mean they are completely harmless, as they suppress stomach acid production, potentially leading to pneumonia and reduced bone density.
6. Eye drops Visine Original
This eye drop reduces redness in the eyes but can also put blood vessels into a cycle of continuous contraction and dilation, worsening redness symptoms. To avoid adverse effects, besides reducing usage frequency, one can opt for more natural eye drops.
7. Cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine
People with heart disease and hypertension should pay attention to whether their medication contains pseudoephedrine when choosing drugs. Not only can it constrict nasal blood vessels, but it also easily raises blood pressure and accelerates heart rate, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.