Dear friends:

Are you taking any of the drugs highly publicized on TV?  It is disgusting how they can be promoted with impunity, whereas harmless health supplements cannot dare mention their known benefits without being sued or forced off the market.  Dangers and side effects of these drugs are often revealed, if at all, in very small print or by some slick, super-fast talking announcer.  That is the power of the power of the pharmaceutical industry and their influence over our government.

Use or misuse of pharmaceutical drugs is a major cause of death in the U.S. and probably elsewhere.
 
Even though age 82 now, I have not taken a prescription drug for 25 years or more, and do not intend to do so.  Jesus is my healer and I fully trust in Him for my health.  Our Designer did not design our systems to assimilate the unnatural, man-made chemicals contained in pharmaceutical drugs. 

Below are some of the side effects from a few popular prescription drugs.  I have concealed the name of the drugs by substituting XXXXX.  .  To check on drugs you may be taking, go to Google and type in "drug name + side effects."

Miscellaneous side effects:

* redness, swelling, stinging, bruising, itching, or a lump at the place where you injected XXXXX
* headache
* joint or muscle pain
* upset stomach
* vomiting
* indigestion or "heartburn"
* stomach pain
* diarrhea
* constipation
* runny nose
* sneezing
* difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:
* leg pain or swelling
* shortness of breath
* coughing up blood
* cough that doesn't go away
* blue-grey color or darkening around mouth or nails
* dizziness
* fainting
* blurred vision
* temporary confusion
* slow or difficult speech
* loss of memory or ability to concentrate
* hallucinating (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
* extreme tiredness
* seizures
* weakness, numbness, heaviness, or tingling in arms or legs
* floppiness or loss of muscle tone
* lack of energy
* increased or rapid heart beat
* irregular heart beat
* chest pain or tightness
* excessive sweating
* fever, sore throat, chills, cough, and other signs of infection
* rash
* hives
* itching
* swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, or ankles
* wheezing
* difficulty breathing or swallowing
* hoarseness
risk of cardiovascular problems, including death, especially in patients with heart disease. It is important for your doctor to check your hemoglobin while you are taking XXXXX . If your hemoglobin rises too high or too fast while using XXXXX serious problems may occur, including edema (swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs), heart attack or heart failure, high blood pressure, seizures, stroke, and blood clots in your heart, legs, or lungs. This increased risk for high blood pressure, seizures, and blood clots reported
headache, facial flushing, and upset stomach. Less common are bluish or blurred vision, or being sensitive to light.
Fatal heart attack, fatal stroke

* Serious stomach problems, such as stomach and intestinal bleeding, can occur with or without warning symptoms. These problems, if severe, could lead to hospitalization or death. Although this happens rarely, you should watch for signs that you may have this serious side effect and tell your doctor right away.

* Heart attacks and similar serious events have been reported in patients taking XXXXX.

* Serious allergic reactions including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat which may cause difficulty breathing or swallowing and wheezing occur rarely but may require treatment right away. Severe skin reactions have also been reported.

* Serious kidney problems occur rarely, including acute kidney failure and worsening of chronic kidney failure.

* Severe liver problems, including hepatitis, jaundice and liver failure, occur rarely in patients taking NSAIDs, including XXXXX. Tell your doctor if you develop symptoms of liver problems. These include nausea, tiredness, itching, tenderness in the right upper abdomen, and flu-like symptoms.

In addition, the following side effects have been reported: anxiety, blurred vision, colitis, confusion, decreased levels of sodium in the blood, depression, fluid in the lungs, hair loss, hallucinations, increased levels of potassium in the blood, insomnia, low blood cell counts, menstrual disorder, palpitations, pancreatitis, ringing in the ears, severe increase in blood pressure, tingling sensation, unusual headache with stiff neck (aseptic meningitis), vertigo, worsening of epilepsy.

More common, but less serious side effects reported with XXXXX have included the following:
Upper and/or lower respiratory infection and/or inflammation
Headache
Dizziness
Diarrhea
Nausea and/or vomiting
Heartburn, stomach pain and upset
Swelling of the legs and/or feet
High blood pressure
Back pain
Tiredness
Urinary tract infection.
 weight loss, loss of appetite, dry mouth, skin rash, sweating, ringing in the ears, shakiness, stomach pain, agitation, anxiety, dizziness, trouble sleeping, muscle pain, nausea, fast heartbeat, sore throat, and urinating more often. Seizures
Headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fainting, dizziness, rectal bleeding
Somnolence (26% vs 15%). Other common events were dizziness (11% vs 4%), weight gain (6% vs 1%), personality disorderÝ (8% vs 4%), constipation (9% vs 3%), akathisia (5% vs 1%), and postural hypotension (5% vs 2%).
You should not take XXXXX if you have low blood calcium, cannot sit or stand for at least 60 minutes, have severe kidney disease, or are allergic to XXXXX. Stop taking XXXXX and tell your healthcare provider if you experience difficult or painful swallowing, chest pain, or severe or continuing heartburn, as these may be signs of serious upper digestive problems. Follow the once-monthly XXXXX dosing instructions carefully to lower the chance of these events occurring. Side effects are generally mild or moderate and may include diarrhea, pain in the arms or legs, or upset stomach. If you develop severe bone, joint, and/or muscle pain, contact your healthcare provider.