I’ve always been amazed that the side effects of many advertised prescription drugs are worse than the original condition. For instance, one of the side effects of a drug prescribed for indigestion is diarrhea. Oh yeah! I’d rather spend the day on the throne or in an adult diaper than contend with a little heartburn! Puh-lease!

Some drugs advertise even worse side-effects… lately I’ve seen more than one drug-hawking commercial that adds the quiet disclaimer that “in rare cases” the drug may cause heart attack, stroke or death. That’s the time I wouldn’t choose to take a one in a million chance. And how about the drug for asthma that advertises it may cause asthma related death?

These days Americans are pummeled with advertisement after advertisement that tells us to ask our family doctors about this drug or that one. However, this CNN.com report suggests that even our doctors may not be fully aware of the safety of the drugs they prescribe.

Apparently, all a drug needs to be released is a ten-digit FDA number and these numbers are issued before the drugs are FDA approved.

But don’t take it from me… read the CNN Report “Many drugs slip through regulatory ‘black hole’”