If You Want To Get Well, Take This Pill Or If You Want To Die, Take This Pill

If, no matter how remote the possibility, you are warned about everything bad that could possibly happen if you take any particular medication. I contend you are warned about nothing because the medication taker will say, “Well, that’s silly” and will ignore all warnings about everything bad that could happen.

To be more specific, you will do as I do and not even look at the Warnings, Cautions and Watch Outs and shred them as soon as you get home.

************

Today we are going to be discussing Ciprofloxacin. Ciprofloxacin is prescribed very often. In 2010, over 20 million prescriptions were written.

Ever wonder why Big Pharma is Big? If they make $1 off of each Prescription, they have made $20 Million. WhatDoYaWannaBet they make more than $1 off of each Prescription. J

Big Pharmaceutical Companies appear to be more profitable than large companies in most other industries.

Researchers writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) investigated the financial balances of Pharmaceutical Companies dealing in the business of developing, manufacturing, marketing and selling drugs.

Their calculations found that in the years between 2000 and 2018, 35 big drug companies received combined revenue of $11.5 trillion, with a gross profit of $8.6 trillion.

************

àI Did Not Make This Upß

Disclaimer: This is an actual quote but I added the information in the Yellow Parentheses.

Here Are the Warnings and Cautions for the Drug Named Ciprofloxacin

Along with its needed effects, Ciprofloxacin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur, they may need medical attention.

(Do you think the words “Although not all of these side effects may occur” are an attempt at humor by Big Pharma?)

More Common Side Effect…

Ø Diarrhea

Rare Side Effects…

Ø Bloody or black, tarry stools

Ø Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

Ø Changes in skin color

Ø Changes in urination

Ø Chest pain or discomfort

Ø Chest tightness or heaviness

Ø Chills or fever

Ø Clumsiness or unsteadiness

Ø Confusion (No kidding! Anyone who reads all of this is certain to become confused. I bet the manufacturer of this drug also makes a lot of money off of their other drugs which treat Confusion.)

Ø Continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears

Ø Coughing or spitting up blood

Ø Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position

Ø Fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse

Ø Headache, severe and throbbing

Ø Hearing loss

Ø Hives or welts or skin rash

Ø Joint stiffness

Ø Large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs

Ø Light-colored stools

Ø Muscle pain or stiffness

Ø Nausea and vomiting

Ø Nightmares

Ø Numbness of the hands

Ø Pain in the joints

Ø Pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck

Ø Painful, red lumps under the skin, mostly on the legs

Ø Pounding in the ears

Ø Puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

Ø Redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest

Ø Seizures

Ø Severe abdominal or stomach pain, cramping, or burning

Ø Shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet

Ø Swelling of the face, feet, or lower legs

Ø Swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin

Ø Thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor

Ø Unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination

Ø Unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness

Ø White patches in the mouth and/or on the tongue

Ø Yellow eyes or skin

Incidences Not Known Side Effects…

Ø Acid or sour stomach

Ø Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

Ø Bluish-colored lips, fingernails, or palms

Ø Bone pain

Ø Diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody

Ø Difficulty with breathing, chewing, or talking

Ø Double vision

Ø Excessive muscle tone

Ø Feeling of discomfort

Ø Feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there

Ø Increased sensitivity to pain

Ø Increased sensitivity to touch

Ø Irregular or slow heart rate

Ø Mood changes

Ø Nosebleeds

Ø Rapid heart rate

Ø Red skin lesions, often with a purple center

Ø Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

Ø Sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

Ø Unusual bleeding or bruising

Ø Unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness

Ø Vaginal yeast infection

Some side effects of Ciprofloxacin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional (What happened to the word “Doctor”?) may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional (Formerly known as “Doctor”.) if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them...

Ø Runny nose

Ø Sneezing

Ø Stuffy nose

At this point Big Pharma is also confused and can't make up its mind...Runny Nose and Stuffy Nose? I wonder if you can get these simultaneously?

************

Did you notice that the Possible Side Effects are listed in Alphabetical Order? I thought about calling Mr. Ciprofloxacin Maker and asking him, if I did get all of the Side Effects, would I get them in Alphabetical Order?

I did not make the call because I was afraid he would have thought I was being Silly or Foolish or a Wise Guy or a Smartfella or even a Smart Alex.

Would I kid u?

Smartfella