Dangerous Drugs - Animal-Free Science Advocacy

References

Drug	Purpose	Result
Alatrofloxacin	Fluoroquinoline antibiotic	Liver damage
Amrinone	To treat heart failure	Caused thrombocytopenia – a lack of blood cells needed for clotting in 20% of patients taking the drug on a long term basis.
Ariprazole	An antipsychotic	Caused neuroleptic malignant syndrome – fever, confusion, disorientation, muscle rigidity, profuse sweating and autonomic instability.
Atenolol	Beta blocker, treatment for high blood pressure.	Associated with 26% higher risk of stroke compared to newer drugs.
Avandia	Type 2 diabetes	Caused weight gain, bone fractures and heart disease.
Benoxaprofen	A non steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic agent.	Potent phototoxic drug in elderly persons.
Benzarone	For treatment of gout	Liver injury and deaths
Benziodarone	A coronary vasodilator	Acute uric acid build up in the kidneys.
BIA 10- 2474	Pain relief and anxiety treatment	Volunteers in a Phase I clinical trial hospitalised with brain damage. One person died. January 2016.
Bromfenac	For post operative pain	Hepatotoxicity (liver damage)
Celebrex	Cox 2 inhibitor, arthritis painkiller	Risk of heart attack, weight gain, abdominal pain, headache, dyspepsia, diarhhoea, nausea, kidney failure, fainting, blurred vision, allergic reactions, chest pain, ringing in ears, intestinal bleeding etc
Cerivastatin	Treatment for high blood chloresterol,	Muscle toxicity
Cisapride	Gastrointestinal stimulant	Disorders of heart rhythm, headaches, diarhhoea, constipation, nausea and abdominal pain.
Clioquinol	Ingredient in anti-diarrhoea drugs	At least 10,000 people, and possibly up to 30,000, fell victim to SMON (subacute myelo-optic neuropathy), a disease that causes numbness, weakness in the legs, paralysis, eye problems including blindness, all due to nerve damage.
Clomacron	Psychotropic drug	Hepatotoxicity (liver damage)
Clozapine	Anti psychotic	Seizures, shaking hands, fainting, loss of bladder control, confusion, changes in vision, fever, severe muscle stiffness, sweating, changes in behaviour, sore throat, unusual bleeding or bruising, loss of appetite, upset stomach, yellowing of skin or eyes, flu like symptoms, lack of energy.
Cyclofenil	Antiestrogen	Hepatotoxicity (liver damage)
Dexfenfluramine	Weight loss	Cardiovascular side effects
Diethylstillbestrol (DES)	A synthetic estrogen prescribed to pregnant women to prevent miscarriage	Increased spontaneous abortions, premature births and neonatal deaths. Increased risk of vaginal cancer in daughters and granddaughters of users.
Domperidone	Treat symptoms of stomach disorders	Headaches, dizziness, dry mouth, nervousness, flushing, irritability, hot flushes, trouble sleeping, leg cramps, chest pain, slow/fast heart beat, discharge from breasts, swelling of feet and ankles, difficulty urinating, menstrual changes, sexual difficulties.
Droperidol	Antiemetic & anti psychotic	Spasms of the face, disorders of heart rhythm.
Enbrel	Treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.	Hypersensitivity reaction, sepsis, tuberculosis, reactivation of hepatitis B, malignancy, haematological reactions, autoimmunity, seizures and heart failure
Enzyme-inducing antiepileptic medicines	Epilepsy	Reduced bone mineral density and subsequent increased risk of fractures.
Eraldin	Treatment for heart conditions	Found to cause serious eye damage, including blindness. 23 deaths. Over a 1000 patients received compensation for the damage it caused.
Exanta	Blood thinner to treat thrombosis	Causes long term liver damage.
Ezetimibe	Reduces the amount of cholesterol and fatty substances in the blood.	Rapid onset of depression, hives, rashes, difficulty breathing or swallowing, hoarseness, swelling of the face, lips, ankles, throat, legs, hands eyes and tongue, upset stomach, tiredness, unusual bleeding and bruising, lack of energy, loss of appetite, chills, chest pain.
Fenfluramine	Anti obesity medication	Heart valve disease, pulmonary hypertension.
Fialuridine	Hepatitis B	Successful in mice, rats, dogs, woodchucks and primates, but in human trials caused seven people to develop liver failure – killing five and others requiring liver transplants.
Grepafloxacin	Anti biotic	Caused disorders of heart rhythm
Humira	Rheumatoid arthritis treatment	Hypersensitivity reaction, sepsis, severe reactions occurred with patients who had tuberculosis or hep B or lupus, can cause swelling, shortness of breath, chills, flu symptoms, weight loss, fever, patchy skin, chest pain, coughing up blood, easy bruising, pale skin, unusual weakness.
Ibufenac	Non steroidal Anti inflammatory (Ibuprofen)	Caused severe liver damage.
Kava kava	Herbal remedy for stress and anxiety	Liver toxicity
Leflunomide	Anti inflammatory disease modifying anti rheumatic	Hepatotoxicity, nausea, diarrhea, hair loss, flu like symptoms, mild dizziness, chest pain, back pain, sore mouth, muscle cramping, numbness / tingling sensations.
Levacetylmethadol	Treatment for opium addiction	Withdrawn, caused severe cardiac disorders.
Methandrostenolone	Anabolic Steroid	Enlargement of male breasts, water retention, oily skin, acne, unwanted body hair, aggression, male pattern baldness, liver damage.
Metipranolol	Treatment of Glaucoma	Severe eye irritation or inflammation, slow heart beat or chest pain.
Mibefradil	Treatment of high blood pressure	Abdominal pain, belching, heartburn, stomach discomfort, flushing, headache, nausea, vomiting, pounding heart, stuffy nose, dizziness, lightheadedness, swelling legs, unusual tiredness.
Mumps vaccine	Prevention of mumps	Allergic reactions – difficulty in breathing or swallowing, hives, itching, reddening of skin, swelling of eyes, face or inside of nose, unusual tiredness or weakness. Other side effects include bruising or purple spots on skin, confusion, fever, headache, irritability, pain, tenderness, swelling of testicles, stiffneck and vomiting.
Naftidrofuryl oxalate injection	Treatment for disorder of blood flow to the brain	Cardio toxicity, rash, inflammation of liver, nausea, stomach pain.
Nefazodone	–	–
Nomifensine	Anti depressant	Linked to kidney failure, anemia and death
Odanacatib	Treatment for osteoporosis	Withdrawn from development in September 2016 due to high risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke.
Olanzapine	Anti psychotic	Confusion, sluggishness, fever, disorientation, muscle rigidity, spasms, profuse sweating, autonomic instability, swelling of face, breathing problems, uncontrollable chewing and arm and leg movements, loss of memory, nervousness.
Opren	Arthritis drug.	Found to be highly toxic in humans, with 3,500 reports of harmful effects including 61 British deaths, mainly through liver damage in the elderly.
Osmosin	Non steroidal anti inflammatory	Stomach ulceration and death
Pacritinib	Treatment for rare blood cancer called myelofibrosis	Trials halted in February 2016 as a number of volunteers taking part died from brain haemorrhages or heart failure.
Paroxetine	Anti depressant and anxiety treatment	Suicidal ideation, serotonin syndrome, bipolar mania or hypomania, schizophrenia, jaw / neck and back muscle spasms, fever, chills, sore throat and flu like symptoms, jaundice, GI bleeding, fetal defects, withdrawal syndrome, headache, weight loss, nausea, dry mouth, sweating, drowsiness, insomnia, constipation or diarrhea, erectile dysfunction, tremor, vertigo, dizziness.
Pemoline	ADHD, and narcolepsy	Liver toxicity
phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone	Non steroidal anti inflammatory	Gastrointestinal ulcers, kidney damage, oral lesions, internal heamorrhage, decreased appetite, excessive thirst, suppression of white blood cell production, aplastic aenemia.
Prenylamine	Angina pectoris	Depletes myocardial catecholamine stores
Propanidid	Short acting general anaesthetic	Withdrawn due to causing anaphylactic reactions
Pulmonary surfactant	To increase pulmonary compliance	Increased mortality.
Risperdal	Antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and symptoms of bipolar disorder (manic depression). Also used in autistic children to treat symptoms of irritability.	Increased risk of strokes and death in elderly dementia patients, seizures, major weight gain, onset of diabetes and potentially fatal high blood sugar.
Ritalin and Dexamphetamine	Treatment of ADHD, especially in children.	Children as young as 5 suffered strokes, heart attacks, hallucinations and convulsions, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, hair loss, muscle spasms, severe abdominal pain, tremors, insomnia, severe weight loss, depression and paranoia.
Sertindole	Anti psychotic	Cardiac arrhythmias, also caused some deaths
Simvastatin	Control hypercholesterolemia & prevent cardio vascular disease	17 % patients died between December 2005 and February 2006. Common side effects include, diarrhea, abdominal pain, indigestion, weakness. Less common – joint pain, memory loss and muscle cramps
Sitaxentan	Antihypertensive drug	Mitochondrial dysfunction and liver damage
Suprofen	Non steroidal anti inflammatory.	Caused kidney toxicity, withdrawn from the market.
Temafloxacin	Anti biotics	Death, low blood sugar, hemolytic anemia, other blood cell abnormalities, kidney dysfunction resulting in renal dialysis, liver dysfunction, allergic reactions causing life threatening respiratory distress.
Terbinafine (marketed as Lamisil)	Oral treatment for fungal skin infections and thrush	As of January 2008 there were 722 reports of adverse effects, including 3 deaths from liver failure and 70 liver reactions.
Terodiline	Treatment of urinary incontinence	Cardiac arrhythmias
Thalidomide	A sedative and to treat morning sickness in pregnant women.	Found to cause damage to the human foetus, resulting in 10,000 children born crippled and deformed with missing limbs.
Tienilic acid	Anti hypertensive drug	Liver damage
TGN1412	Treatment of inflammatory conditions (especially rheumatism) and leukemia	Volunteers in a clinical trial suffered poor breathing, heavy swelling of neck and head, organ failure
Tolcapone	Treatment of parkinsons disease	Life threatening liver disease
Torcetrapib	Treatment of hypercholesterolemia	Up to 82 known deaths reported worldwide.
Trasylol	Used to prevent blood loss during surgery	Kidney problems, heart attacks and strokes
Trovafloxacin	Fluoroquinoline antibiotic	Liver damage
Triazolam	Sedative	Neuropsychiatric
Troglitazone	Diabetes	Causes liver damage, resulted in 28 deaths and 7 liver transplants.
Trovan	Anti biotic	Acute liver failures and deaths.
Viagra	Erectile dysfunction drug given to pregnant women in a clinical trial to help boost growth of unborn babies	Growth was severely limited in the womb and 11 babies died – despite being supported by animal research.
Vioxx	Painkiller for rheumatoid and osteoarthritis	Increased risk of cardiovascular events.
Voltaren	Non steroidal Anti inflammatory	Life threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke.
Ximelagatran	Anticoagulant	Liver damage
Zelmac	Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome	Studies have shown a link to heart attacks and strokes.
Zelmid	Anti depressant	Linked to Guillain Barre syndrome, liver damage
Zolpidem	Short term treatment of insomnia	Possible death or coma from overdose, anterograde amnesia, hallucinations, delusions, ataxia and poor motor coordination, increased appetite, decreased libido, altered thought patterns, extroversion.
Zomax	Arthritis treatment & anti inflammatory drug to treat post operative pain	Deaths and severe allergic reactions.

Drug

Purpose

Result

Alatrofloxacin

Fluoroquinoline antibiotic

Liver damage

Amrinone

To treat heart failure

Caused thrombocytopenia – a lack of blood cells needed for clotting in 20% of patients taking the drug on a long term basis.

Ariprazole

An antipsychotic

Caused neuroleptic malignant syndrome – fever, confusion, disorientation, muscle rigidity, profuse sweating and autonomic instability.

Atenolol

Beta blocker, treatment for high blood pressure.

Associated with 26% higher risk of stroke compared to newer drugs.

Avandia

Type 2 diabetes

Caused weight gain, bone fractures and heart disease.

Benoxaprofen

A non steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic agent.

Potent phototoxic drug in elderly persons.

Benzarone

For treatment of gout

Liver injury and deaths

Benziodarone

A coronary vasodilator

Acute uric acid build up in the kidneys.

BIA 10- 2474

Pain relief and anxiety treatment

Volunteers in a Phase I clinical trial hospitalised with brain damage. One person died. January 2016.

Bromfenac

For post operative pain

Hepatotoxicity (liver damage)

Celebrex

Cox 2 inhibitor, arthritis painkiller

Risk of heart attack, weight gain, abdominal pain, headache, dyspepsia, diarhhoea, nausea, kidney failure, fainting, blurred vision, allergic reactions, chest pain, ringing in ears, intestinal bleeding etc

Cerivastatin

Treatment for high blood chloresterol,

Muscle toxicity

Cisapride

Gastrointestinal stimulant

Disorders of heart rhythm, headaches, diarhhoea, constipation, nausea and abdominal pain.

Clioquinol

Ingredient in anti-diarrhoea drugs

At least 10,000 people, and possibly up to 30,000, fell victim to SMON (subacute myelo-optic neuropathy), a disease that causes numbness, weakness in the legs, paralysis, eye problems including blindness, all due to nerve damage.

Clomacron

Psychotropic drug

Hepatotoxicity (liver damage)

Clozapine

Anti psychotic

Seizures, shaking hands, fainting, loss of bladder control, confusion, changes in vision, fever, severe muscle stiffness, sweating, changes in behaviour, sore throat, unusual bleeding or bruising, loss of appetite, upset stomach, yellowing of skin or eyes, flu like symptoms, lack of energy.

Cyclofenil

Antiestrogen

Hepatotoxicity (liver damage)

Dexfenfluramine

Weight loss

Cardiovascular side effects

Diethylstillbestrol (DES)

A synthetic estrogen prescribed to pregnant women to prevent miscarriage

Increased spontaneous abortions, premature births and neonatal deaths. Increased risk of vaginal cancer in daughters and granddaughters of users.

Domperidone

Treat symptoms of stomach disorders

Headaches, dizziness, dry mouth, nervousness, flushing, irritability, hot flushes, trouble sleeping, leg cramps, chest pain, slow/fast heart beat, discharge from breasts, swelling of feet and ankles, difficulty urinating, menstrual changes, sexual difficulties.

Droperidol

Antiemetic & anti psychotic

Spasms of the face, disorders of heart rhythm.

Enbrel

Treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Hypersensitivity reaction, sepsis, tuberculosis, reactivation of hepatitis B, malignancy, haematological reactions, autoimmunity, seizures and heart failure

Enzyme-inducing antiepileptic medicines

Epilepsy

Reduced bone mineral density and subsequent increased risk of fractures.

Eraldin

Treatment for heart conditions

Found to cause serious eye damage, including blindness. 23 deaths. Over a 1000 patients received compensation for the damage it caused.

Exanta

Blood thinner to treat thrombosis

Causes long term liver damage.

Ezetimibe

Reduces the amount of cholesterol and fatty substances in the blood.

Rapid onset of depression, hives, rashes, difficulty breathing or swallowing, hoarseness, swelling of the face, lips, ankles, throat, legs, hands eyes and tongue, upset stomach, tiredness, unusual bleeding and bruising, lack of energy, loss of appetite, chills, chest pain.

Fenfluramine

Anti obesity medication

Heart valve disease, pulmonary hypertension.

Fialuridine

Hepatitis B

Successful in mice, rats, dogs, woodchucks and primates, but in human trials caused seven people to develop liver failure – killing five and others requiring liver transplants.

Grepafloxacin

Anti biotic

Caused disorders of heart rhythm

Humira

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Hypersensitivity reaction, sepsis, severe reactions occurred with patients who had tuberculosis or hep B or lupus, can cause swelling, shortness of breath, chills, flu symptoms, weight loss, fever, patchy skin, chest pain, coughing up blood, easy bruising, pale skin, unusual weakness.

Ibufenac

Non steroidal Anti inflammatory (Ibuprofen)

Caused severe liver damage.

Kava kava

Herbal remedy for stress and anxiety

Liver toxicity

Leflunomide

Anti inflammatory disease modifying anti rheumatic

Hepatotoxicity, nausea, diarrhea, hair loss, flu like symptoms, mild dizziness, chest pain, back pain, sore mouth, muscle cramping, numbness / tingling sensations.

Levacetylmethadol

Treatment for opium addiction

Withdrawn, caused severe cardiac disorders.

Methandrostenolone

Anabolic Steroid

Enlargement of male breasts, water retention, oily skin, acne, unwanted body hair, aggression, male pattern baldness, liver damage.

Metipranolol

Treatment of Glaucoma

Severe eye irritation or inflammation, slow heart beat or chest pain.

Mibefradil

Treatment of high blood pressure

Abdominal pain, belching, heartburn, stomach discomfort, flushing, headache, nausea, vomiting, pounding heart, stuffy nose, dizziness, lightheadedness, swelling legs, unusual tiredness.

Mumps vaccine

Prevention of mumps

Allergic reactions – difficulty in breathing or swallowing, hives, itching, reddening of skin, swelling of eyes, face or inside of nose, unusual tiredness or weakness. Other side effects include bruising or purple spots on skin, confusion, fever, headache, irritability, pain, tenderness, swelling of testicles, stiffneck and vomiting.

Naftidrofuryl oxalate injection

Treatment for disorder of blood flow to the brain

Cardio toxicity, rash, inflammation of liver, nausea, stomach pain.

Nefazodone

–

Nomifensine

Anti depressant

Linked to kidney failure, anemia and death

Odanacatib

Treatment for osteoporosis

Withdrawn from development in September 2016 due to high risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke.

Olanzapine

Anti psychotic

Confusion, sluggishness, fever, disorientation, muscle rigidity, spasms, profuse sweating, autonomic instability, swelling of face, breathing problems, uncontrollable chewing and arm and leg movements, loss of memory, nervousness.

Opren

Arthritis drug.

Found to be highly toxic in humans, with 3,500 reports of harmful effects including 61 British deaths, mainly through liver damage in the elderly.

Osmosin

Non steroidal anti inflammatory

Stomach ulceration and death

Pacritinib

Treatment for rare blood cancer called myelofibrosis

Trials halted in February 2016 as a number of volunteers taking part died from brain haemorrhages or heart failure.

Paroxetine

Anti depressant and anxiety treatment

Suicidal ideation, serotonin syndrome, bipolar mania or hypomania, schizophrenia, jaw / neck and back muscle spasms, fever, chills, sore throat and flu like symptoms, jaundice, GI bleeding, fetal defects, withdrawal syndrome, headache, weight loss, nausea, dry mouth, sweating, drowsiness, insomnia, constipation or diarrhea, erectile dysfunction, tremor, vertigo, dizziness.

Pemoline

ADHD, and narcolepsy

Liver toxicity

phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone

Non steroidal anti inflammatory

Gastrointestinal ulcers, kidney damage, oral lesions, internal heamorrhage, decreased appetite, excessive thirst, suppression of white blood cell production, aplastic aenemia.

Prenylamine

Angina pectoris

Depletes myocardial catecholamine stores

Propanidid

Short acting general anaesthetic

Withdrawn due to causing anaphylactic reactions

Pulmonary surfactant

To increase pulmonary compliance

Increased mortality.

Risperdal

Antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and symptoms of bipolar disorder (manic depression). Also used in autistic children to treat symptoms of irritability.

Increased risk of strokes and death in elderly dementia patients, seizures, major weight gain, onset of diabetes and potentially fatal high blood sugar.

Ritalin and Dexamphetamine

Treatment of ADHD, especially in children.

Children as young as 5 suffered strokes, heart attacks, hallucinations and convulsions, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, hair loss, muscle spasms, severe abdominal pain, tremors, insomnia, severe weight loss, depression and paranoia.

Sertindole

Anti psychotic

Cardiac arrhythmias, also caused some deaths

Simvastatin

Control hypercholesterolemia & prevent cardio vascular disease

17 % patients died between December 2005 and February 2006. Common side effects include, diarrhea, abdominal pain, indigestion, weakness. Less common – joint pain, memory loss and muscle cramps

Sitaxentan

Antihypertensive drug

Mitochondrial dysfunction and liver damage

Suprofen

Non steroidal anti inflammatory.

Caused kidney toxicity, withdrawn from the market.

Temafloxacin

Anti biotics

Death, low blood sugar, hemolytic anemia, other blood cell abnormalities, kidney dysfunction resulting in renal dialysis, liver dysfunction, allergic reactions causing life threatening respiratory distress.

Terbinafine (marketed as Lamisil)

Oral treatment for fungal skin infections and thrush

As of January 2008 there were 722 reports of adverse effects, including 3 deaths from liver failure and 70 liver reactions.

Terodiline

Treatment of urinary incontinence

Cardiac arrhythmias

Thalidomide

A sedative and to treat morning sickness in pregnant women.

Found to cause damage to the human foetus, resulting in 10,000 children born crippled and deformed with missing limbs.

Tienilic acid

Anti hypertensive drug

Liver damage

TGN1412

Treatment of inflammatory conditions (especially rheumatism) and leukemia

Volunteers in a clinical trial suffered poor breathing, heavy swelling of neck and head, organ failure

Tolcapone

Treatment of parkinsons disease

Life threatening liver disease

Torcetrapib

Treatment of hypercholesterolemia

Up to 82 known deaths reported worldwide.

Trasylol

Used to prevent blood loss during surgery

Kidney problems, heart attacks and strokes

Trovafloxacin

Fluoroquinoline antibiotic

Liver damage

Triazolam

Sedative

Neuropsychiatric

Troglitazone

Diabetes

Causes liver damage, resulted in 28 deaths and 7 liver transplants.

Trovan

Anti biotic

Acute liver failures and deaths.

Viagra

Erectile dysfunction drug given to pregnant women in a clinical trial to help boost growth of unborn babies

Growth was severely limited in the womb and 11 babies died – despite being supported by animal research.

Vioxx

Painkiller for rheumatoid and osteoarthritis

Increased risk of cardiovascular events.

Voltaren

Non steroidal Anti inflammatory

Life threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke.

Ximelagatran

Anticoagulant

Liver damage

Zelmac

Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome

Studies have shown a link to heart attacks and strokes.

Zelmid

Anti depressant

Linked to Guillain Barre syndrome, liver damage

Zolpidem

Short term treatment of insomnia

Possible death or coma from overdose, anterograde amnesia, hallucinations, delusions, ataxia and poor motor coordination, increased appetite, decreased libido, altered thought patterns, extroversion.

Zomax

Arthritis treatment & anti inflammatory drug to treat post operative pain

Deaths and severe allergic reactions.

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