If you have ever seen some of the interesting commercials on television today, there are some that leave you questioning why they are running in the first place.

These commercials, which suck you into buying the latest and greatest products known to man, only scare you away-it is all about the drugs. Whether they are over-the-counter or prescribed by a doctor, I understand it is important to know what the side effects are, but you start to wonder if the side effects outweigh the drug itself. It is wonderful to know how the specific drug will help; however, what good it is going to do you if the side effects affect you more than the ailment that necessitated the drug.

For example, I have to take Allegra for my allergies. Though it is an antihistamine, the list of side effects is longer than it takes for my allergies to be clear for the day. Side effects include upset stomach, menstrual cramps, back pain, cough, fever, stuffy nose, earache or dizziness. For the record, I have never had any of these happen to me. I have been taking this drug for a long time and never once have I heard anyone suffer from these side effects. The question that remains is if it is an antihistamine which is supposed to help clear allergies, why is stuffy nose on the list? You want to get rid of the stuffy nose for a period of time, not continue to have one.

Another drug that has side effects galore is Sudafed, a decongestant. This is really supposed to clear the sinuses up so well you can breathe again. Side effects include mild upset stomach, trouble sleeping, dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, nervousness, fast heartbeats, loss of appetite may occur or unusual shakiness/sweating. According to WebMD, you are to notify your doctor if you have serious side effects such fast/irregular heartbeats, uncontrolled shakiness, difficulty urinating or decreased sexual ability. Sudafed may work for your sinuses, but part of me thinks it affects more than your sinuses. Again, not knowing if anyone has experienced any of the above side effects, I haven’t heard.

However, one drug, Naproxen, an anti-inflammatory, has more than just the normal side effects. They include upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, headache, tiredness, drowsiness and dizziness. There are also serious side effects including mental/mood changes and vision changes. However, the cream of the crop includes a warning that could cause serious bleeding from the stomach or intestines and can cause rare side effects such as chest pains, shortness of breath, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes and slurred speech.

To tell the truth, there are other side effects mentioned but you will have to just find out for yourself. I have taken this drug before for my knee and it does cause nausea if you do not take it with food. As far as the other effects, that would be too much information for you.

Some drugs like the sexual ones make you wonder why they should even bother to run the commercials for them.

Though the three I listed are not commercials, they prove the side effects overpower the actual purpose of the drug.

For every side effect, another drug has to be made to counteract it.