Physicians prescribe prescription drugs to treat and prevent diseases, disorders and abnormal conditions. Prescription drugs are chemical substances that can enhance, change or alter the structure or processes of the mind and body. In the course of treatment, prescription drugs have biochemical effects, side effects and, in some cases, harmful effects.
Biochemical Effects
Prescription drugs can increase or decrease the level or affect the way a particular biochemical, such as hormones, neurotransmitters and enzymes, works inside the body. Avandia is a prescription drug that treats Type 2 diabetes, also called insulin resistant diabetes. According to the product label, Avandia improves the way cells in skeletal muscle are receptive to insulin, a hormone that reduces blood sugar levels. Lexapro is a prescription drug for the treatment of depression. According to the product label, Lexapro increases the levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, in the brain by preventing its reuptake by nerve cells. Viagra is a prescription drug that treats erectile dysfunction. According to the product label, Viagra inhibits an enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5, which normally degrades cyclic guanosine monophosphate, a chemical that produces smooth muscle relaxation needed to form and maintain an erection.
Side Effects
A side effect is an unintended outcome from taking a drug. Some side effects are unpleasant, such as nausea, diarrhea, drowsiness, insomnia, dry mouth, itchy skin and skin rash. Some side effects are metabolic and not always noticeable. Research conducted by H.N. Boyd and published in "Trends in Pharmacological Sciences" in 2010 found that antipsychotic drugs are associated with metabolic side effects that include glucose dysregulation, insulin resistance, high blood levels of fat and cholesterol, high blood pressure, and weight gain.
Yet, some side effects are terrifying. Mirapex is a prescription drug that is indicated to treat Parkinson's disease. The product label of Mirapex ER, the extended release formulation, warns that the drug can cause users to fall asleep while engaged in daily activities, such as driving a motor vehicle, and develop intense urges to gamble, spend money, binge eat and seek sexual pleasure, with the inability to control these impulse behaviors.
Harmful Effects
Some prescription drugs can have harmful effects and may have safety warnings within a black box on the product label. The product label for Accutane, a prescription drug that treats cystic acne, warns women who are pregnant or can get pregnant about severe birth defects that can occur if the fetus is exposed to the drug. The product label for Lexapro warns users against the risk of suicide from taking the prescription drug. Avandia can cause a heart attack and congestive heart failure, according to the black box warning on its product label. Acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, is also in prescription pain medications and can cause liver toxicity and death, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
References
- GlaxoSmithKline: Avandia Prescribing Information
- Forest Laboratories: Lexapro Prescribing Information
- Pfizer: Viagra Prescribing Information
- "Trends in Pharmacological Sciences"; Preclinical Models of Antipsychotic Drug-Induced Metabolic Side Effects; H.N. Boyda; July 30, 2010
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals: Mirapex Er Prescribing Information
