Prescription drug induced illnesses is a problem, particularly among the elderly, according to Public Citizen's Health Research Group. Illnesses caused by prescription drugs can be due to dose, interaction with other drugs or expected effect of the medicine, according to Lawrence Tierney in research titled "Iatrogenic Illness" published in "Western Journal of Medicine" in 1989. Three illnesses caused by prescription drugs include movement disorders, heart disease and gastrointestinal disease.
Antipsychotics and Movement Disorders
Antipsychotics drugs treat schizophrenia, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Typical antipsychotic drugs are medications developed between 1950 and 1990 that include chlorpromazine and fluphenazine. Atypical antipsychotic drugs were developed in the 1990s and include clozapine, risperidone, quetiapine and olanzapine. Atypical psychotic drugs can cause weight major gain, changing a person's metabolism and increasing their risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Typical antipsychotic drugs can cause problems with movement including rigidity, muscle spasms, tremors and restlessness.
Long term use of typical and atypical antipsychotics can cause an irreversible illness called tardive dyskinesia, causing the inability to control involuntary muscle movements, particularly affecting the mouth, but can also affect the arms and legs. Research conducted by D. Kasantikul and published in the "Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand" in 2007 found that prolonged use of typical or atypical antipsychotic drugs can result in movement disorders that include tardive dyskinesia, characterized by tongue rolling and lip pouting, and tardive myoclonus, characterized by sudden jerking. Research conducted by S.W. Woods and published in the "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry" in 2010 discovered that the incidence of tardive dyskinesia is similar between typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs.
Diabetes Drugs and Heart Disease
Oral medications that treat type 2 diabetes, such as metformin, sulfonylureas and thiazolidinediones, can cause heart attacks and congestive heart failure, an illness in which the heart cannot pump a sufficient supply of blood to the body's other organs. Congestive heart failure is normally due to narrowed arteries, high blood pressure or a past heart attack. Research conducted by I. Tzoulaki and published in the "British Medical Journal" in 2009 discovered that compared with metformin, first or second generation sulphonylurea drugs have between a 24 and 61 percent excess risk for mortality from heart disease, and between a 18 to 30 percent excess risk for congestive heart failure. Compared with metformin, thiazolidinediones were associated with a 34 to 41 percent higher risk of mortality from heart disease.
NSAIDS and Gastrointestinal and Heart Diseases
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac, celecoxib, ibuprofen, naproxen, melaxicam, nimesulide and rofecoxib treat pain. These drugs can cause gastrointestinal and heart diseases. Research conducted by H.E. Vonkeman and published in "Drugs and Aging" in 2007 discovered that NSAIDS related ulcer complications are serious, often require hospitalization and have a 10 percent mortality rate. Research conducted by T. Turajane and published in the "Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand" in 2009 found that incidence of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular illnesses is associated with NSAIDS. These illnesses include indigestion, anemia, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, stomach ulcer, small intestinal ulcer, heart failure, angina pectoris and heart attack.
References
- Public Citizen's Health Research Group: Drug-Induced Diseases
- "Western Journal of Medicine"; Iatrogenic Illness; Tierney, L.M., Jr.; Nov 1989
- National Institute of Mental Health How Is Schizophrenia Treated?
- "Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand"; Antipsychotic-Induced Tardive Movement Disorders: A Series of Twelve Cases; Kasantikul, D.; Jan 2007
- "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry"; Incidence of Tardive Dyskinesia Antipsychotic Medications; Woods, S.W.; Apr 2010
