I was watching the national news on TV a few nights ago and during every commercial break there was an ad for some kind of medicine or a pill for some ailment.  

Recently, I was having lunch with a pharmacist friend of mine in Quincy and I mentioned this to him. He said thanks to the lawyers concerns for liability issues from taking these pills, every conceivable ailment that may have occurred in the past from the usage of a pill must be mentioned as a side effect even if that side effect was seen in a very low percentage of users.

I decided to use ACIPHEX as an example. A 20 mg tablet of ACIPHEX taken daily is used for the treatment of daytime or nighttime heartburn associated with acid reflux disease (I didn't know there was a difference in heartburn between daytime and nighttime).

Plus, if you take it, here’s what could happen to you. Serious allergic reactions may occur. A rash, face swelling, throat tightness, or difficulty in breathing is possible. There is also an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine. You may experience seizures, dizziness, abnormal or fast heartbeat, jitteriness, jerking movements or shaking (tremors), muscle weakness, spasms of the hands and feet, cramps or muscle aches, or spasm of the voice box.

In adolescents, the most common side effects with ACIPHEX include headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In adults, the most common side effects with ACIPHEX include pain, sore throat, gas, infection, and constipation. OK, enough is enough.

Having just read this information, I think I’d be willing to put up with the acid reflux if I were to be suffering from it. It does make you wonder why anyone would take any pill that is out there after hearing all of the symptoms that may accompany taking it.

I mentioned that to my pharmacist friend and he just smiled and said nothing which speaks volumes.

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