These Are Some Of The Most Dangerous And Deadly Drugs The FDA Has Ever Approved
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the health of the public by ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, medical devices, and drugs—basically whatever we put into or onto our bodies.
However, the FDA has had a long history of approving drugs with dangerous—and sometimes deadly—side effects. Here are five of the most significant and impactful mistakes that the FDA has made.
Quaaludes
The first disastrous drug was Quaaludes, a sedative and hypnotic used as a sleeping aid between 1962 and 1985.
Insomniacs and sufferers of anxiety would take the drug to get some rest, but unfortunately, they got more than what they bargained for. Many of them became manic, had seizures or convulsions, and vomited. Some of them even died from the drug.
Others developed an addiction. Quaaludes are now considered a Schedule One drug. Before the FDA approved it, there had been research showing that it had a high potential for abuse and dependency.
By the 1970s, Quaaludes had gained a reputation as a popular street drug. In 1982, there were over 2,764 emergency room visits due to Quaaludes use.
Cylert
In 1975, Cylert was released into the market. The medication was geared toward children and was meant to treat ADHD/ADD. In order to improve profitability, it was advertised as having minimal effects on the heart.
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While there were no cardiovascular issues associated with Cylert, it was found to be toxic to the liver. Thirteen cases of acute liver failure were reported, and 11 of them resulted in death or liver transplant.
A nonprofit group called Public Citizen petitioned to remove Cylert from the market in 2005. However, the drug stayed on the market until 2010. Even then, it was only discontinued because sales weren’t looking too hot, rather than for safety concerns.
Darvon/Darvocet
For 55 years, Darvon/Darvocet served as an opioid pain reliever. It was said to have the “potency of codeine” and effectively got rid of headaches, but it was really hard on the heart.
Between 1981 and 1999, Darvon/Darvocet caused serious cardiac abnormalities, leading to 2,110 deaths. In 1978 and again in 2006, the FDA was petitioned to take the drug off the market.
In early 2009, an FDA committee voted to stop marketing the drug, but later that same year, the FDA decided to add more fine print that warned of the risks and continued marketing it.
It wasn’t until 2010 that it was actually removed from the market after a clinical trial proved how it affected the heart’s electrical activity.
DES
DES was a synthetic form of estrogen that was prescribed to pregnant women who wanted to have a healthy baby. It claimed to help prevent miscarriages, premature labor, and other complications that could occur during pregnancy.
It was unsuccessful at doing what it was meant to do. Instead, it caused a number of other health problems, such as cancer, birth defects, developmental issues, fertility complications, and more.
DES was one of the worst FDA mistakes in history. Somewhere between five to 10 million mothers and female fetuses were exposed to the drug.
Studies showed that multiple generations could be negatively affected by the drug. It didn’t stop at just the mother and child; grandchildren could also suffer health issues as well. In the 1960s, the number of users dropped, and finally, in 1971, the FDA banned it.
Vioxx
Vioxx was an anti-inflammatory medication for arthritis. It was approved in 1999 and was prescribed to over 20 million people. In 2004, it was recalled because a high number of heart attacks was associated with the drug.
Before its recall, reports suggested that the FDA and Merck, the drug company that created Vioxx, had ignored evidence of the drug’s dangerous side effects since 2000 because they didn’t want sales to drop.
Eventually, studies were conducted, and they showed that the drug caused an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Vioxx is remembered as one of the largest recalls in the history of the United States.
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