Side Effects by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Side effects of natural supplements and prescription medications

I am quite cautious when new medicines are introduced because it is not uncommon that unforseen side effects could come up after a medicine is marketed to the public and hundreds of thousands of patients start using it for many months or years. Most of the time, studies with new drugs are done for a maximum of a few months, yet doctors prescribe these new drugs to patients for years and decades at a time.

Doctors should be more aware of side effects of prescription drugs
When patients feel they might be having an adverse drug effect, doctors will very often dismiss their concerns. In a survey of 650 patients, taking cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins, who reported having side effects to the drugs, many said their physicians denied that the drugs could be connected to their symptoms. Physician reaction to a potential side effect is crucial because the muscle problems can progress to a rare but potentially fatal condition called rhabdomyolysis if the drug isn't discontinued. Drug Safety, August 2007.

Side effects of herbs
Q. What is the worst side effects that herbs can have?
   A. We would say heart rhythm disturbances are the most serious side effects from certain herbs such as ephedra.

Side effects of statins
The best-known side effects of statins, which include widely prescribed drugs such as Lipitor and Zocor, are liver damage and muscle problems, although statins can also cause changes in memory, concentration and mood.