10 Cases of Weird Medicine That Causes Crazy Side Effects

A 2013 study found that at any one time, seven out of 10 Americans are taking medications. Antibiotics are the most commonly prescribed medicines, with antidepressants and opioids as the second and third.

While most people take medication from their doctors without problems, others find that they experience side effects. They can range from mildly annoying to life-altering. In some cases, the side effects are downright bizarre.

Doctors don’t prescribe medicine if they feel the risk outweighs the benefits. But each time you introduce a foreign substance to your system, you take the chance of something really strange happening to your body.

After reading this list of the top 10 weird medicine side effects, you might be afraid to take prescription pills ever again.

Although this list shouldn’t deter you from taking prescriptions for your health, it is a good idea to speak to your doctor if you have any concerns.

1. The Weird Medicine That Can Cause Bizarre Behaviors From Midnight Shopping to Murder

Ambien is the number one prescribed sleep aid in the United States. But it’s also known for some seriously weird side effects.

The medication is in a class called a hypnotic, which is known to cause erratic or, at times, even dangerous behavior.

While its stated in the literature that these side effects are extremely rare, there is no shortage of anecdotal evidence of people doing seriously strange things while on the drug. Called “Ambien blackouts,” users have stated that they have eaten large quantities of food, driven and online shopped without any recollection of the events.

Under the influence of Ambien, Robert Stewart killed nine people at a North Carolina nursing home. Authorities found that he was not in his right mind when he opened fire but instead was under the influence of the medication.

2. Hallucination

A popular medication, Lexapro, has a pretty freaky side effect: hallucination. Lexapro is most commonly prescribed as an antidepressant. While the majority of people take it without a problem, some find that they have trippy experiences while taking it.

A hallucination means seeing or hearing something that isn’t actually there. While this is commonly associated with mental illness, it can be a side effect to drugs used to treat them.

Patients have also reported hallucinations with the drug Lunesta, a common sleep aid.

3. Penis Amputation

This one is pretty rare and pretty extreme. But it isn’t totally unheard of.

The common male erectile dysfunction drug, Viagra, can cause a prolonged erection. While some balk at the advice to see a doctor if it lasts more than four hours, this can actually turn pretty serious. If your blood vessels refuse to relax, it can cause permanent damage.

In some cases, this can mean amputation.

4. Red Man Syndrome

Red Man Syndrome is a weird potential side effect of several different antibiotics. While it is most commonly seen in vancomycin infusions, patients can also experience it after taking ciprofloxacin, teicoplanin or rifampicin.

The side effect is exactly what it sounds like: your skin turns red all over. While this is potentially serious, and cause a hospitalization, it is easily resolved. Your doctor will most likely prescribe strong antihistamines to get you back on your feet.

5. Amnesia

While amnesia is often associated with a traumatic event, some medications can cause you to completely lose your memory. While this is extremely rare, a few medications have caused severely debilitating and devastating memory loss.

The medications most associated with this scary side effect include Mirapex and prescriptions which help lower cholesterol.

Duane Graveline, a former astronaut, could not recognize his wife while he was taking the cholesterol-lowering medication Lipitor.

After discontinuation, his memory came back.

If you or a family member have experienced life-altering issues thanks to weird medicine, you can discover more here for help with compensation.

6. Looking Like You Have Hypothermia

Although it is rare for your fingers and lips to turn blue if you aren’t losing oxygen or extremely cold, a common anti-inflammatory medication can cause this bizarre side effect.

Naproxen, which is sometimes used to treat migraines, can give your lips and fingers a blue tinge. You might look like you’ve just come back from Siberia, even if you’re in the sweltering summer heat.

7. Confusion and Inability to Understand Human Language

Who would have thought that an antibiotic for treating swimmer’s ear could make you unsure of your identity? Ofloxacin, which many take to treat a common ear infection, can cause you to become unsure of who you are, where you are or the current year/day.

It can also cause you to temporarily have trouble understanding human language.

8. Shrinking

You may think that shrinking is only reserved for old age. But a common steroid, Prednisone, can cause a decrease in height. Used in the short term to treat a variety of ailments, and in the long term for management of many autoimmune and rare diseases, it can cause you to lose inches.

9. Technicolor Pee

While your pee can change color for a variety of totally natural reasons, a few medications can make it turn alarming shades. Amitriptyline, an antidepressant and pain management pill, can cause your urine to turn bright blue.

The pain reliever indomethacin can also cause a blue hue in your pee.

More alarmingly, metronidazole, an antibiotic, can turn your urine black.

10. Not-So-Clear Vision

If carrots make your vision stronger, these medications make it much weaker. Blood pressure medication, as well as antihistamines, are both known to cause visual disturbances. These can be anything from halos to blurred vision to blind spots.

Be careful when taking these medications and driving, as this side effect can be potentially hazardous for yourself or others on the road.

Should I Skip My Meds?

Don’t skip your medication after reading about strange side effects and getting freaked out. Instead, discuss it with him or her if you’re prone to certain side effects or taking them making you anxious. Together, you can find a solution to help you manage your illness and the side effects of any medication.

Read our blog for more weird facts on a variety of topics. Sometimes facts are truly stranger than fiction.

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