Sometimes the best-laid plans go awry. That’s what happened when kudzu was introduced into the U.S. as a way of controlling erosion. Now this invasive plant has taken over large swaths of southeastern landscape and is choking out native species.
It can take years to discover that something that seemed like a good idea at first might have unpleasant unintended consequences.
Medicine is rife with examples. Many of our most popular drugs are introduced with great fanfare, only to be tarnished later as people discover serious side effects.
Acid-suppressing drugs are among the most popular pills in the pharmacy. Nexium (the “purple pill”) has been widely advertised on TV. And its predecessor, Prilosec, is now available over the counter.
These proton pump inhibitors (including Aciphex, Prevacid and Protonix) are helpful in treating serious heartburn. But this class of medicine has been linked to an increased risk of hip fractures (JAMA, Dec. 26, 2006).
No one ever imagined such a complication from drugs used to treat acid reflux, but acid is helpful in absorbing calcium. Some experts believe that poor calcium absorption may be linked to weakened bones.
Other drugs that may also contribute to bone problems include SSRI-type antidepressants. Drugs like Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft affect the brain chemical serotonin. This compound also influences bone-building cells. SSRIs may lead to osteoporosis in mice and men (Menopause, Nov-Dec, 2008; Archives of Internal Medicine, June 25, 2007).
Even diabetes drugs such as Actos and Avandia might increase the risk of fractures. Such medications, designed to improve the use of insulin in the body, also seem to hinder bone-building cells. One other serious and unforeseen reaction with these diabetes drugs is a greater chance of developing heart failure.
Drugs designed to strengthen bone and prevent osteoporosis have their own set of unanticipated results. Bisphosphonates such as Actonel, Boniva, Fosamax and Reclast may lead to jaw bone death when patients have teeth extracted. A review of long-term risks in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Feb. 18, 2009) noted this problem along with unexplained thigh bone fractures. The FDA is monitoring the possibility that these drugs might also increase the risk of esophageal cancer. Severe pain in muscles, bones and joints is an acknowledged complication that was unforeseen.
One of the strangest unexpected side effects occurs with a category of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. Drugs like Avelox, Cipro and Levaquin are useful in fighting certain infections, but the FDA has added black-box warnings to the prescribing information that these medicines may adversely affect tendons.
Tendinitis and tendon rupture can be incredibly painful and debilitating. When these drugs were introduced, no one predicted this side effect.
It can take years before some serious and unusual adverse reactions are detected. It often takes even longer for them to be acknowledged. People who suspect that they are experiencing previously unknown side effects may want to share them with others. One way to do that is at Report It.
