Are You Taking The Drugs That Doctors Refuse To?

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There will always be some drugs on the market that aren't safe. Doctors generally know which of these drugs may pose a danger. The following are eight medicines you may want to reconsider if you are on them. As always if you are taking a prescription medicine check with your own doctor about going off of one before you stop abruptly.

Advair

An asthma medicine that kills asthmatics? That's the warning on this medicine. Each year 5,000 people die after taking this drug. In 2006 the FDA tagged this medicine with a "black box" warning.

The drug contains that long acting beta-agonist slameterol. Long term use of this drug can increase the severity of an asthma attack.

If you are taking this medicine you may need to start a different medical regiment. Often taking just Flovent is all the medicine you need in mild asthma. There are other drug combinations for more severe asthma.

As reported on MSN.com:

"Patients can also consider an inhaled corticosteroid paired with a leukotriene modifier," says Dr. Rodgers. This combo won't create dangerous inflammation, and according to a Scottish review, it's as effective as a corticosteroid-and-LABA combo.

Avandia

If you are taking Avandia for diabetes you could be risking the health of your heart. A Journal of the American Medical Association report found that those on this drug for at least a year increased their chance of heart failure by 109 percent and of a heart attack by 42 percent.

The medicine may cause fluid retention and raise LDL cholesterol levels. Still scientists are not sure what the actual reasons behind the higher increase in heart disease.

Your new strategy: Stick with a proven performer. "I prefer metformin, an older, cheaper, more dependable medication," says Sonal Singh, M.D., the lead author of the JAMA study. "Avandia is now a last resort."

Celebrex

Celebrex was once marketed as a super aspirin. Today it is known for the multiple side effects that come hand in hand when taking the medication such as stomach bleeding, kidney trouble, and liver damage and more importantly heart damage. Taking 200 mg a day can double your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

A safer alternative for reducing pain is acupuncture. The closest medicines to Celebrex are Bextra and Vioxx, both of which have been removed from the market because of their risk to the heart.

Ketek

This antibiotic has been used to kill bad bacteria in the lungs and sinuses with a horrible little side effect, by killing those bacteria it just may kill you in the process by damaging your liver.

"Ketek can cause heart-rhythm problems, can lead to liver disease, and could interact poorly with other medications you may be taking," says Dr. Rodgers. "Unfortunately, it's still available, and although many doctors are aware of the risks, some may still prescribe it without caution."

In February 2007 the FDA limited this medicine's usage to the treatment of pneumonia.

Think you're safe from the dangers because of that limitation? Pneumonia is on the top ten of causes of death for men. The smart way to avoid this lung infection is to have your annual flu shot. If you do come down with pneumonia a safer drug course would be Augmentin or the antibiotics doxycycline or Zithromax.

Prilosec and Nexium

Prilosec and Nexium are used to treat heartburn but they have come under the microscope after being linked to cardiac trouble. While the scientific jury is still out on these two medications on heart damage there are more concerns on taking theses little pills. They are proton-pump inhibators. That means they stop acid production in the stomach and they are very effective at that.

a lack of stomach acid can raise your chances of getting pneumonia. Yes that lovely stomach acid that gives you heart burn actually can be doing your body some good by killing bacteria and viruses that come their way.

Would you like another reason to reconsider these drugs? How about the fact that calcium may not be absorbed while on the medication.

"The risk of a fracture has been estimated to be over 40 percent higher in patients who use these drugs long-term, and the risk clearly increases with duration of therapy," says Dr. Rodgers.

Instead of these heavy guns fighting heartburn consider taking Zantac 150 or Pepcid AC. The bad news on these though are they are not a long-term fix.

"To really cure the problem, lose weight," says Michael Roizen, M.D., chief wellness officer at the Cleveland Clinic and co-author of "YOU: The Owner's Manual."

Visine Original

These well known eye drops that get "the red out" can shrink your eye's blood vessels. Overusing this product will actually increase the redness in your eyes.

Your eye doctor should be consulted if you have red and itchy eyes. Allergies and dryness have different types of eye drops that don't harm the blood vessels.

Pseudoephedrine

Let's think about this drug that is also used by meth labs. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure you could be setting yourself up for a vascular catastrophe.

Most decongestants on the market also contain phenylephrine which isn't that effective in stopping your nose from dripping during a cold.

The smart move for keeping a runny nose clear? No drugs at all. If you have a constant problem flushing your sinuses with saline can help.

A cold won't kill you, the medicines you take to feel better from a cold just might though.