Experts have compiled a list of the most harmful drugs for the liver. Unpleasant side effects of taking birth control pills
Many people consider medications to be a panacea for all diseases. But doctors do not advise self-medication and starting to take any medications without first consulting with specialists. Almost any medicine with an incorrectly calculated dose can lead to overdose and even death. But sometimes even prescription medications lead to sad consequences. This is explained by the fact that people, in the hope of recovering faster, do not adhere to the prescribed dose, but significantly exceed it. Doctors release deadly drugs, the excess use of which most often causes death.
How to take medications correctly
With age, all organs and systems in the body begin to work intermittently, so sometimes they need to be helped with medications. Most often affected digestive system, nervous and cardiovascular. Now it becomes clear why people old age in the morning, early in the morning, they rush not so much to have breakfast as to drink the next portion of medications. In some cases, the number of pills taken by older people amounts to dozens.
Almost all old people have a significant problem: they often forget whether they took medicine, and if they did, then when and in what quantity. Memory lapses can play a role cruel joke with a person when he takes medications for heart pain, headaches or pancreatitis several times in a row. Such forgetfulness can end very badly.
There are life-threatening medications, so that treatment with them does not cause harm, you should adhere to certain rules:
- It is necessary to maintain a special schedule for taking medications even in at a young age. This will help you avoid confusion if the treatment regimen is quite complex and consists of several medications.
- It must be remembered that lethal dose medications are individual for each person, if a couple of tablets do not harm one patient, then another will cause a lot of unpleasant minutes.
- A fatal outcome from an overdose can also occur from taking just one or two tablets, if there are chronic diseases of the heart, liver or kidneys.
- The dosage of the drug can be increased only on the recommendation of a doctor.
Under no circumstances should you self-medicate based on the experience of a neighbor or friend. This approach to your health can cause a lot of unpleasant consequences that will have to be treated for a long time.
The dangers of heart drugs
To the first group dangerous means include glycosides that are prescribed to patients with a heavy load on the heart. This group of drugs is of natural origin and is prescribed for severe heart failure. Glycosides have positive impact for the entire cardiovascular system:
- Blood circulation improves.
- Improves contraction of the heart muscle.
- Heart rate decreases.
- Characterized by an unexpressed diuretic effect.
These drugs have a therapeutic effect on the body only with the correct dose and in the event that there is no significant disturbance in heart rhythm.
The life-threatening dose of such drugs (glycosides) must exceed therapeutic dosage ten times. A fatal outcome is also possible with a smaller volume of medication, if ventricular tachycardia is observed.
When an overdose of glycosides occurs, a person begins to experience the following health disorders:
- Nausea, gagging, persistent diarrhea and cramping abdominal pain.
- Migraines, dizziness, loss of coordination and hallucinations.
- Convulsions are observed, blood pressure drops, and breathing is persistently impaired.
- If you do a cardiogram, you can see disturbances in the functioning of the heart.
If a person greatly exceeds the dosage of heart medications, he may experience respiratory arrest and, as a result, death.
You can start taking any heart medications only after consulting a doctor and passing all the tests.
Sleeping pills
Another life-threatening pill is sleeping pills. If the dosage is incorrectly calculated, it is possible fatal outcome. Most often, patients themselves are to blame for an overdose, since the pills do not work too quickly, and the hand reaches out for an additional portion of the drug.
If the dosage is exceeded many times, then not only paralysis of breathing occurs, but also suppression of kidney function, nervous system and hearts. The most dangerous pills for life are sleeping pills, especially if the therapeutic dose is exceeded or they are taken together with alcohol. In case of an overdose of sleeping pills, the following symptoms are observed:
- Atypical drowsiness, apathy and hearing impairment.
- The pupils narrow, the eyelids swell, saliva is released heavily, and the pulse slows down.
- Developing coma with inhibition of some reflexes - cough, swallowing, pupillary.
- If it comes deep coma, then the pupils, on the contrary, dilate, breathing and pulse slow down, and the heartbeat becomes rapid.
- Swelling appears and affects small vessels, which manifests itself as bruises.
- If the coma drags on, renal failure and pulmonary edema develop.
The most commonly prescribed drugs are barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Exceeding the dosage of these drugs by 10 times inevitably leads to painful death.
All medications should be kept out of the reach of children.. It is best in a special locker that can be locked with a key.
The dangers of drugs used to treat the nervous system
What other drugs can lead to fatal outcome? Tranquilizers and antipsychotics are two broad groups of drugs that are used in psychiatric practice. Patients treated with such medications must be constantly under the supervision of a doctor and family..
The lethal dosage of these drugs is individual for each person and depends on the state of the central nervous system, the presence chronic diseases internal organs And genetic characteristics. Tranquilizers and antipsychotics are quickly absorbed in the stomach, converted in the liver and quite for a long time excreted by the intestines and kidneys.
Symptoms that may indicate an overdose look like this:
- Muscle weakness, lethargy, atypical drowsiness, hearing loss.
- Trembling of the limbs and head, convulsions.
- Disturbance in the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
- Decline blood pressure.
- Pulmonary edema, collapse.
The drug thymonin, which is often prescribed for various neurological disorders, often becomes the reason severe poisoning. When prescribing this medication, it is necessary to carefully calculate the dose and constantly monitor the treatment.
What drugs are still considered dangerous?
Levomycetin is a life-threatening drug. The explanation for this is simple. This drug is the most inexpensive antibiotic wide range an action that people often use even without a doctor’s prescription.
Many people start taking chloramphenicol for diarrhea, without a doctor's prescription. This should not be done, if diarrhea is caused by a virus, then the antibiotic will only worsen the situation.
Painkillers such as analgin or indomethacin can lead to stomach bleeding. Overdose of these medications causes severe liver damage, which can lead to cirrhosis and death.
TO dangerous drugs include vasoconstrictor drops into the nose, which many people drip for a long time to facilitate nasal breathing. At long-term use such drops and sprays contribute to the constriction of blood vessels in the brain, which leads to dizziness and migraines, and in children there may be loss of consciousness, convulsions and coma.
Vasoconstrictor nasal drops can be used for no more than 5 days and only in the dosage prescribed by the doctor.
To avoid drug overdose, you should follow the recommendations of your doctor. In addition, before starting treatment, you should carefully study the instructions for the medication. If there are contraindications, it is better to stop taking the medication and ask your doctor to adjust the treatment.
Signs to watch out for harmful drug-food interactions. How are medications harmful and when should you be wary? negative effects- we will tell you below.
How are medications harmful and how do medications affect certain foods in your body?
- Medicines can affect your appetite. They can increase or decrease appetite, affect the absorption of calories, vitamin balance and body weight. For example, some painkillers can make you a couple of pounds excess weight.
- Medicines may affect absorption nutrients. For example, alcohol affects the body's ability to absorb essential nutrients. If you drink, then you need more of them. Cholesterol-lowering substances have a negative effect on absorption folic acid, iron and calcium. On the other hand, citrus juice improves the absorption of iron contained in food.
- Drugs can interfere with nutrient metabolism. For example, anticonvulsants, which are used for epilepsy, can cause a deficiency of vitamin D and folic acid in the body. Diuretics can lead to potassium deficiency. Even a simple, almost universal aspirin can lower the body's levels of folic acid and increase the urinary excretion of thiamine and vitamins C and K. Some drugs, such as birth control pills, can unexpectedly increase the levels of certain nutrients (vitamin A, calcium, iron ) and lower levels of others (riboflavin, folic acid and vitamin C).
How food can affect the effectiveness of drugs
- Food can speed up the body's absorption of medications. Food can increase or slow down the rate at which medications are absorbed, thereby affecting their blood levels. Calcium found in dairy products, for example, slows the absorption of the antibiotic tetracycline.
- food products may interfere with drug metabolism. For example, some carbonated fruit juices or soda dissolve medications faster than they can be absorbed.
- Food products can neutralize the effects of drugs. For example, natural licorice (but not artificial) can radically affect the action of some blood pressure medications, producing the opposite effect.
Other possible interactions between medicines And nutrients
Sometimes combining two types of medications can cause serious harm to your body. For example, most anti-shtamines and other drugs cause drowsiness. If you add alcohol, the urge to fall asleep can become overwhelming. Imagine the danger you are exposed to when you mix these substances and get behind the wheel!
Exactly the same and some medicinal herbs, which people take to feel better, may interact with medications. For example, the herb Ginkgo biloba, which some take to improve memory, may react with Comadin, which is intended to dissolve or prevent blood clots. This combination can lead to severe bleeding if tissue damage occurs. This herb interacts with aspirin in a similar way. St. John's wort, which is used for depression, may reduce effectiveness contraception.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but it includes a description of the most common problems that can occur literally every day. So be sure to consult your doctor, pharmacist and other specialists about any possible combinations medications you are taking.
State of the art modern medicine helps prevent unwanted pregnancy. Proper use contraceptives guarantees a woman the right to have a child when she is ready for it.
| Type of contraception | pros | Minuses |
|---|---|---|
| Hormonal | Effective protection against unwanted pregnancy, reducing the risk of ectopic pregnancy, malignant neoplasms in the organs of the reproductive system, normalization of the cycle, improvement of the skin condition, prevention of infertility, can be taken constantly | Side effects, contraindications, does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, requires organization - medication should not be skipped |
| Reliability, one-time use | High concentration of hormones, a limited number of doses, the likelihood of complications and side effects | |
| Emergency non-hormonal | Ease of use, low cost | Lack of efficiency |
For nulliparous women A properly selected contraceptive is not dangerous. Analyze harm and benefit birth control pills necessary taking into account the characteristics of a particular drug. These medicines are accepted only after consultation with a gynecologist-endocrinologist.
Action
Oral contraceptives (OCs) contain the main hormones that regulate the uterine cycle and a woman's ability to conceive a child. The composition is:
- combined (COCs) - based on estradiol and progesterone;
- mini-pills - based on progesterone.
By hormone concentration combination drugs there are:
- microdosed;
- low-dose;
- medium dose;
- highly dosed.
Depending on the content of hormones, OCs are divided:
- to monophasic (the content of estradiol and progesterone in all tablets is the same);
- biphasic (tablets contain a constant amount of estradiol and the amount of progesterone varying depending on the day of the cycle);
- triphasic (the amount of estradiol and progesterone in tablets corresponds to the day of the menstrual cycle).
Advantages modern drugs in the absence of side effects (weight gain, neoplasms, body hair growth) that were observed in the first oral contraceptives. These medicines were introduced in 1960 and contained a large number of female hormones.
Last generation hormonal pills“mini-pills” are recommended for women over 35 years of age for whom estrogens are contraindicated. Even smoking patients are allowed to take them. Bleeding between menstruation is not an indication for discontinuing the contraceptive.
Small doses of hormones contained in OCs provide therapeutic and preventive action:
- prevent development malignant tumors reproductive organs, infertility;
- regulate the uterine cycle;
- facilitate premenstrual syndrome;
- filmed painful sensations during menstruation;
- improve skin condition.
Birth control hormonal pills are prescribed to a woman special conditions:
- in a mini-pill;
- COCs are included in therapeutic measures after artificial termination of pregnancy or miscarriage;
- OK for violations uterine cycle, for the prevention of endometriosis (growth of the inner layer of the uterine wall), in the treatment of mastopathy.
What consequences may arise if canceled?
Earlier hormonal agents contraception suggested a mandatory break of several months every 3 years of admission. Modern OK can be taken for a long time, their cancellation affects the body in different ways.
Positive
Already in the first months after the cancellation of OK, a woman has the opportunity to become pregnant. During the reception hormonal drugs are created in the body favorable conditions to conceive a child: the ovaries are rested, the uterus is prepared for bearing the fetus. Birth control pills do not pose a threat to the life of the unborn child. But if pregnancy occurs while taking a contraceptive, it must be immediately canceled.
Negative
In some episodes, with the abolition of hormonal pills, women cannot become pregnant. In this case, gynecologists recommend that the patient undergo an examination to exclude the presence of inflammation. infectious diseases, malignant neoplasms in the uterus. In the absence of pathologies, a woman can plan a pregnancy.
Sometimes, after discontinuing OCs, women begin to experience skin problems, mood swings, depression, and disruption of the uterine cycle. They associate these phenomena with the development of dependence on the drug. steroid hormones. Negative reactions develop only in the case of an incorrectly selected contraceptive, so the choice is made by the doctor and regularly monitors the patient’s condition. Dependence does not develop while taking OCs.
Contraindications
The benefits and harms of birth control pills can only be determined by a specialist. The doctor will choose best condition health, regularity of sexual activity and other factors. Definitely OK will cause harm when the following pathologies:
- liver and kidney diseases;
- hypertension;
- diabetes;
- thrombosis;
- cardiac ischemia;
- arthritis;
- lupus erythematosus.
At depressive disorders, migraines, varicose veins, PMS, birth control pills can be taken under medical supervision.
Oral hormonal contraceptives are reliable and safe method. They should only be selected by the attending physician. This will help to avoid negative consequences and will provide reliable protection from unwanted pregnancy. OCs are used as therapeutic and prophylactic agents.
IN Everyday life Many things are harmful to health - polluted atmosphere, water, radiation, stress and much more. But today we will draw up a black list of pharmaceuticals and products that we ourselves can influence by eliminating or reducing the amount taken orally harmful substances.
The black list published by the Ministry of Health:
Phenacetin
Cimetidine - Forbidden medical use
Hemodez– Medical use prohibited
Phenylbutazone(butadione)
Gentamicin– Limited medical use
- limiting the age of children who are prescribed these drugs to 3 years of age. For children under 3 years of age, gentamicin is prescribed exclusively for vital signs at a dose of 6.0-7.5 mg/kg per day, 2.0-2.5 mg/kg every 8 hours;
- section “Contraindications” has been added: “Severe renal impairment and hearing aid, increased sensitivity microorganisms to gentamicin or other aminoglycoside antibiotics";
- caution and monitoring of renal function and hearing during the use of gentamicin are noted: “When long-term use the dose of the drug should be such that it would ensure a concentration of gentamicin in the blood that does not exceed the maximum permissible (12 mg/mol), for which it is necessary to monitor it in the patient’s blood;
- in the “Peculiarities of Application” section, attention is drawn to the fact that ototoxicity increases with dehydration in elderly and old age, and therefore it is necessary that the patient receive sufficient quantity liquids. If resistance develops, the antibiotic must be discontinued and other adequate therapy must be prescribed.
Nitrofural (furatsilin) – Medical use of tablet forms orally is prohibited
Nitrofuran– Limited medical use
Preparations containing coffee-coffee,– Medical use prohibited
Detox solutions, which contain low molecular weight polyvinylpyralidone - Medical use is limited
Metamizole sodium (analgin)– Limited medical use
- limiting the age of children when prescribing it in tablet form - up to 12 years;
- groups of patients in whom there is a possible risk of developing PR (with burdened allergy history, blood diseases, liver and kidney dysfunctions);
- the duration of continuous use of these drugs is no more than 3 days for all age groups(on average therapeutic dose for adults 0.5 -1.0 grams);
Rofecoxib(rofika, denebol) – Limited medical use
- the maximum daily dose is limited (not higher than 50 mg per day)
- contraindication for use – people with increased risk from the cardiovascular system ( suffered heart attacks, strokes, progressive clinical forms atherosclerosis); age over 65 years.
Thioridazine(sonapax, ridazine) – Limited medical use
- the highest daily dose is limited (not higher than 300 mg per day)
- indication for use: limiting mental states, psychoneurotic conditions, mental disorders of alcohol origin
Eufilin– The medical use of medicinal forms that contain the stabilizer ethylenediamine is prohibited
Nimesulide preparations– Limited medical use
- prohibited use in children under 12 years of age;
- simultaneous use with potentially hepatotoxic agents
- alcoholism, drug addiction
- increased body temperature and flu-like condition
Preprati Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) – Changes have been made to the Instructions that relate to the potential risk of neuro mental disorders against the background of the use of oseltamivir, especially in children.
Listed here is a small fraction of what is truly harmful to health. If you have comments on this list or know other harmful pharmaceuticals or food products, list them in the comments to the post. We will be happy to add them to the general list.
Medicine is designed to heal people. But history knows cases when doctors used substances that killed them to treat patients. In our review of 10 historical documented facts of the use of drugs that best case scenario are placebos, and at worst, deadly poison.
1. Paraffin
Today, doctors use Botox and collagen to rejuvenate facial skin. Also used silicone implants to increase breast size. But the story of wrinkle reduction and breast enlargement actually began much earlier than people realize. The first documented attempts to remove wrinkles and artificial increase breast examinations were performed back in the early 20th century.
The procedure involved injecting paraffin directly into the area of wrinkles to smooth them out, or directly into the breasts to increase volume. But this practice quickly stopped due to good reason. A side effect was the infections that were introduced into the body during this primitive technique. Also similar procedures led to the formation of hard, painful lumps under the skin or in the chest.
Psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and MDMA (ecstasy) have a long history of use as a treatment method. mental illness. Researchers in the 1950s and 1960s studied the use of LSD therapy. They have published numerous clinical papers and conducted experiments on more than 40,000 patients. They were faced with the problem that treating mental disorders with psychedelics could cause new mental disorders.
LSD can cause panic attacks or feelings of extreme anxiety. Thus, the condition of people diagnosed with schizophrenia or depression may have worsened during LSD therapy. There have also been cases of LSD causing psychosis in people who were healthy before taking this drug. Not surprisingly, since 1970 psychoactive substances banned from being used as medical supplies.
In 1903 it was actively advertised radioactive water. After the discovery of radioactive radiation, dozens of “radioactive drug” manufacturers emerged, claiming that miracle drugs would cure everything from arthritis to hypertension. At the same time, they were usually silent about side effects such as cancer, hair and tooth loss, bone destruction and rotting alive.
4. Goat testicles
In the early 1900s, John Brinkley became one of the richest doctors in America, despite the fact that he did not even have medical education. He claimed to be able to cure impotence, infertility and other sexual problems surgically, namely, the implantation of goat testicles in the scrotum of a man. Not only did the operation have no justification, it was extremely dangerous.
In 1913, Brinkley opened a clinic where he began performing countless implant surgeries. The procedure cost $ 8,600 at the current value of the dollar. Not surprisingly, such an operation actually caused impotence and led to hormonal problems. Dozens of patients have died and hundreds have suffered from infection.
5. Arsenic
Arsenic is a fairly well-known poison, but it has been used as a medicine for centuries. In traditional Chinese medicine, arsenic is known as "Pi Shuang". Arsenic was also a key ingredient in many patent medicines, including Fowler's Solution, a cure for malaria and syphilis that was used from the late 18th century until the 1950s. Another patented drug containing arsenic was used to treat arthritis and diabetes. Women in Victorian era used arsenic as a cosmetic. All such procedures, of course, led to arsenic poisoning.
6. Manure
IN Ancient Egypt Crocodile dung was used as a contraceptive. Dried manure was inserted into the vagina. The idea was that when exposed to body temperature, the manure would soften and form an impenetrable barrier. Besides the Egyptians, some African cultures used elephant dung as a contraceptive.
In 17th century England, doctors recommended chicken manure as a cure for baldness. In India, cosmetics and potions with the addition of cow dung were used to treat literally all diseases - from cancer to acne. The problem with using manure as medicine is that it always contains great amount bacteria, which in turn cause various diseases. Water contamination with feces in developing countries causes 1.8 million deaths every year.
7. Mercury
Mercury was once a popular medicine and was used to treat syphilis, indigestion and a variety of other ailments. Perhaps it was the hypnotic allure of the flowing silver liquid that made it such a hot commodity. Some took mercury influential people, including Abraham Lincoln, whose fits of rage may have been attributed to the mercury content of the then-popular pills he took.
China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, is believed to have died from taking mercury pills, believing they would give him immortality. As soon as mercury enters the blood, you should immediately try to remove it. The neurotoxic elements contained in mercury accumulate over just a few doses. Mercury poisoning can cause paralysis, insanity, loss of musculoskeletal function, neurological damage and death.
3. Tapeworms
In the 19th century, diets became popular everywhere. In the early 1900s, tapeworms began to be promoted as a diet. Those who wanted to lose weight had to swallow a piece of beef containing worm larvae. It was thought that the tapeworms would reach maturity in the intestines and begin feeding on human food.
This would lead to weight loss as well as diarrhea and vomiting. After a person reached their desired weight, they took a pill that was supposed to kill tapeworms. Dead worms were passed out in the feces, often resulting in various complications. Also, tapeworms could grow up to 9 m in length, which could cause many diseases, including headache, vision problems, meningitis, epilepsy and dementia.
2. Sex with virgins
The myth that a person who suffers from sexually transmitted diseases can be cured by engaging in sexual intercourse with a virgin, appeared around the 16th century. Then in Europe they tried to treat syphilis and gonorrhea in a similar way. This myth is still common in some African countries. Needless to say that similar treatment has exactly the opposite effect.
In all medieval Europe and in the Middle East there were cases where corpses were ground into powder and used as medicine. This "mummy powder" was considered a panacea for treating many common ailments such as headaches, coughs and stomach ulcers. Ironically, it was also used as an antidote for poisoning. In the 17th century, the French surgeon Ambrose Pere helped shake confidence in healing properties mummies, stating that “this terrible drug does not bring any benefit, but on the contrary, it causes severe pain in the stomach, gives breathing bad smell and causes vomiting."
They posed no less danger.
