Know What’s in Your Medicine Cabinet
An important part of home safety is knowing what’s in your medicine cabinet. It’s easy to take for granted that a drug is safe if it’s prescribed by a doctor or available for over the counter purchase in a drug store. Unfortunately, dangerous drugs include many widely used medications like these. As a rule, be aware of potential long-term side effects of drugs you may be taking every day. Below is just a sampling of some known dangerous drugs and an overview of their effects. Be sure to ask your doctor for more information.
1. Tylenol (Acetaminophen)
Tylenol is generally considered safe for occasional use as a painkiller. However, taking a higher dose than recommended or taking Tylenol for chronic pain over time can lead to liver damage and liver failure. Early symptoms of liver damage mimic those of the common flu and include loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. According to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, overdoses of acetaminophen cause an estimated 500 deaths and 50,000 emergency room visits each year.
These medications are primarily used as birth control but can also be used as hormone replacement therapy, acne treatment, and as a treatment for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Yaz might not seem like a dangerous drug, but it’s been definitively linked to serious side effects including blood clots, stroke, heart attack, kidney or liver failure, adrenal gland disorders and d