Think about how many times you've seen some sort of pharmaceutical commercial like this one, below. It's amazing how much trust can be built with the right mood music, the right words, and the right actors (which will inevitably include some "doctor" in a white coat... is this how we got the term "doctored up")?
Watching these commercials below, you get the feeling that this drug is safe to take. Or, should I say, we've just gotten used to thinking it's normal to hear commercials with serious side effects, and thinking it's ok to take the stuff. Is there anything about these commercials that makes this drug appear to be LESS safe than any of the other pharmaceuticals being advertised on television, right now? Further down the page, you'll see what Xarelto has been shown to cause (and a YouTube commercial for a lawsuit against the manufacturer).
How did we get so numb, as a society, so that we think it's somehow OK to take any drug that says THIS in the commercials:
Don't stop taking Xarelto without talking to your doctor, as this may increase your risk of stroke, while taking a spinal injection increases the risk of blood clots, which may cause paralysis, the inability to move. You may bruise more easily, or take longer for bleeding to stop. Xarelto can cause serious, and in rare cases, fatal bleeding. It may increase your risk of bleeding if you take certain medicines. Get help right away for unexpected bleeding or unusual bruising. Do not take Xarelto if you have an artificial heart valve, or abnormal bleeding. Before starting, tell your doctor about all planned medical or dental procedures, and any kidney or liver problems. Be sure you're doing all you can, to help protect yourself from a stroke. Ask your doctor if it's time for Xarelto."
In case you're not already aware of this.... when you hear "please tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems," that typically means it can cause kidney or liver damage. If you're healthy, you can probably handle a certain amount of kidney or liver damage and be ok. But if you're not healthy (which most people probably aren't, if they're considering taking this drug in the first place), then there's probably a good chance your liver and kidneys won't be able to handle it, in the long term! You may not even be aware of whether or not you have kidney or liver damage, so the side effects could take you by surprise. And, if you're thinking of taking a drug like this, for the short term, keep in mind what'll happen once you STOP taking it. As it said in the commercial:
Don't stop taking Xarelto without talking to your doctor, as this may increase your risk of stroke.
LOVELY.
Now, check out what this lawyer has to say about Xarelto. This is just one example of many, many drugs that wind up turning into a huge lawsuit.
This same lawyer also has something to say about Proton Pump inhibitors. In case you haven't seen my posts (or should I say rants) about PPI's like Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid (and in cirrhosis patients, Pantroprazole or Omeprazole), just keep reading my blog.
There are so many times when I hear some commercial on TV, and then they get to the side effects and talk about how bad they are, and I always think the same thing: Why in the f*** would someone take that???? OK yes I know, obviously the answer is, because they are trying to get rid of whatever that other problem is, that they have. But you really have to consider how it will affect your health in the long term. This is why I'm such a huge fan of alternative healing, although, in my opinion, it should be called NORMAL healing, and pharmaceutical drugs should be considered "the alternative."
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