There are some major downfalls of relying on pills for a chronic condition. Western medicine tends to focus on managing and suppressing individual symptoms one at a time, rather than carefully identifying the root cause underneath and working to improve it in a holistic way. Unfortunately, in many cases, there is also the risk of addiction to prescription drugs; abuse of medications has been increasing steadily in the United States for years. Currently,
opioid addictions are more widespread than cocaine overdoses.
Not to mention, the majority of prescription drugs for chronic conditions are associated with nutrient deficiencies and a number of side effects that become another health battle of their own. Soon, patients are stuck in a cycle of prescription after prescription; trying to manage the symptoms caused by the medication that came before it. In fact, the CDC states that 48.9% of people are currently taking at least one prescription and 23.1% of people are taking three or more! (
1) The most frequently prescribed therapeutic drugs are antidepressants, painkillers, and antihyperlipidemic agents (such as cholesterol medications).
Top 5 Prescription Drugs to Be Wary Of
You have a higher risk of dying from a preventable adverse drug reaction than you do of dying from cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, breast cancer, or diabetes (
2). And that’s cause for concern. While the following list compromises some of the most popularly prescribed medications with the worst side effects and risk, it by no means approaches a comprehensive list of prescriptions to be careful of. The bottom line is to do your research on every prescription your doctor recommends and talk openly with him or her about your concerns with potential side effects and reactions with your body.
1. Proton Pump Inhibitors
Otherwise known as PPI’s, proton pump inhibitors are commonly prescribed for acid reflux. You may be familiar with their brand names Nexium, Prevacid, and Prilosec. However, they have been associated with higher risks of dementia, kidney disease, and heart attacks (
3). Furthermore, PPI’s can cause chronic constipation, low magnesium levels, and increase the risk of bone fractures.(
3)
If you’ve been prescribed PPI’s for heartburn, talk to your doctor or an integrative healthcare practitioner about finding natural treatments instead. Your focus should be on finding the underlying cause of your acid reflux (either an element of your diet, lifestyle or a side effect of H.pylori bacteria). Often times, the root cause of acid reflux is low stomach acid, not excess acid. Therefore taking PPIs can inadvertently make digestion and overall health worse, as stomach acid is crucial for digestion of protein, absorption of minerals and protecting against pathogens in contaminated food and water.
2. Prednisone
Prednisone is a multi-tasking steroid often prescribed for autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and ulcerative colitis. It works by suppressing the immune response that causes the body to attack itself, but at the same time it is literally compromising your immune system and making you more susceptible to infections, both mild and serious. Long-term use has been associated with bruising, changes in body fat in certain locations (face, neck, back, and waist), low libido, acne, and complicated menstruation. Potential side effects also include insomnia, mood problems, headaches, dizziness, bloating, and nausea.
Talk to your doctor about alternatives to combat inflammation (such as in rheumatoid arthritis) using natural solutions.