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Health risks from prescription drugs can be divided into aspects. One is the misuse of the medication, and other is the side effects caused by the prescribed medication. Medication can be misused in many ways, and it is especially seen amongst students who take medications as a stimulant to gain an edge over the competition or take it for purely recreational purposes. On the other hand, there are inherent dangers in certain prescribed medications, as they can cause serious side effects or other health complications. Misuse of Medication Some of the most misused medications are - • Stimulants prescribed to treat narcolepsy, hyperactivity or attention deficit disorders • CNS (Central Nervous System) depressants used for sleep and anxiety disorders, such as Ativan and Valium • Opioid painkillers such as Vicodin and OxyContin Misusing or “borrowing” a drug prescribed of someone else can have grave consequences. When you are using medication prescribed to someone else, a doctor is not involved, and does not have the chance to examine your problems and prescribe a drug that is suitable for your body type and your requirements. Drugs have different effects on different people. Hence, what works on your friend, may result in producing adverse reactions in your body. Secondly, when a doctor is not involved, the person has no knowledge about the right way of taking the medication. For example, if stimulants are combined with cold medications, it can cause a spike in blood pressure or make the heat beat irregular. If the person takes certain medication and consumes alcohol, it can produce health complications that could be mortal. Apart from various health problems and danger to life, misusing medication can result in addiction, or could cause interference with normal activities that may lead to accidents. Side Effects of Prescribed Medications Many medications can cause serious side effects in patients, even when they are taken under the expert guidance of a medical professional. These side effects are inherent in the medication, but they are still prescribed because the research has shown that it affects a limited percentage of people. However, there are many controversies over the research performed by drug companies and independent researches. For instance, studies that have been funded by drug companies show side effects of statin medication to be less than one percent, whereas independent studies have shown that these side effects have occurred in 20% of patients. Another major problem that seems to be emerging, is doctors prescribing strong medication even to low risk patients. This seems particularly true for statin medications. Many doctors are prescribing statins to low risk patients, where their cholesterol could be easily kept under check by dietary changes. Increasing number of patients who take statins are now complaining of fatigue, mental impairment, muscle pains, impotence, and some patients have even developed cataracts, liver dysfunction, and diabetes. Statins are still quite effective for treating people suffering from heart disease, but the medication cannot be prescribed for healthier people who have minor spikes in their cholesterol levels. For more information visit: http://www.ccaillinois.com/benefits/enrollee-prescription-plan
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