Dangerous Side Effects
08/23/07 10:29 PM
Ever see those beautifully orchestrated commercials
for some new wonder drug that cures all ills? We
all have. And then almost as an after thought, some
mono-tone voice over lists all the side effects of
said wonder drug in one long run-on sentence that
you can hardly make out except for words like
blurred vision and vomiting. Well the other day,
our entire family saw one of those commercials and
couldn't stop laughing.
The ill is RLS. Honestly, I had never heard of RLS before. It stands for Restless Leg Syndrome. I looked it up. It's a real condition. Restless Legs Syndrome is a condition that is characterised by an irresistible urge to move one's legs (insert joke here). Disclaimer - let me apologize to those of you who either suffer from this condition or know someone who does. I simply have a sick, sometimes insensitive sense of humor.
The wonder drug was called Mirapex. Here are the side effects as quoted from their website and commercial: "Most people who take MIRAPEX tolerate it well. Some of the more common side effects can include: Nausea, Headaches,Tiredness." Not too bad, but wait, there's more. "When beginning to take MIRAPEX, you should be cautious until you know how the drug will affect you. Some people who take MIRAPEX can become sleepy or fall asleep while doing normal everyday activities like driving a car." What!? You mean I can either have restless legs or I can fall asleep while driving my car! "It is possible that MIRAPEX treatment can cause someone to feel faint or become dizzy when standing up from a seated or prone position. There are reports of some people having hallucinations (seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, or tasting something that does not actually exist) while taking MIRAPEX." I don't have restless legs anymore, but they've locked me up in a mental institution. Believe it or not, it gets worse.
"There have been reports of patients taking certain medications to treat RLS, including MIRAPEX, that have reported problems with gambling, compulsive eating, and increased sex drive. If you or your family members notice that you are developing unusual behaviors, talk to your doctor." My legs don't shake anymore, but let's go to Vegas! We couldn't stop laughing!
The ill is RLS. Honestly, I had never heard of RLS before. It stands for Restless Leg Syndrome. I looked it up. It's a real condition. Restless Legs Syndrome is a condition that is characterised by an irresistible urge to move one's legs (insert joke here). Disclaimer - let me apologize to those of you who either suffer from this condition or know someone who does. I simply have a sick, sometimes insensitive sense of humor.
The wonder drug was called Mirapex. Here are the side effects as quoted from their website and commercial: "Most people who take MIRAPEX tolerate it well. Some of the more common side effects can include: Nausea, Headaches,Tiredness." Not too bad, but wait, there's more. "When beginning to take MIRAPEX, you should be cautious until you know how the drug will affect you. Some people who take MIRAPEX can become sleepy or fall asleep while doing normal everyday activities like driving a car." What!? You mean I can either have restless legs or I can fall asleep while driving my car! "It is possible that MIRAPEX treatment can cause someone to feel faint or become dizzy when standing up from a seated or prone position. There are reports of some people having hallucinations (seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, or tasting something that does not actually exist) while taking MIRAPEX." I don't have restless legs anymore, but they've locked me up in a mental institution. Believe it or not, it gets worse.
"There have been reports of patients taking certain medications to treat RLS, including MIRAPEX, that have reported problems with gambling, compulsive eating, and increased sex drive. If you or your family members notice that you are developing unusual behaviors, talk to your doctor." My legs don't shake anymore, but let's go to Vegas! We couldn't stop laughing!
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