The drug-maker Abbot Laboratories is constantly running commercials for a drug called Humira, which is supposed to treat “moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis” as well as psoriasis. The other day one of their spots came on and I noticed that holy shit the list of side effects is terrifying.
So I went over to the company’s Humira website and found a shit-ton of the usual lawyerly cover-your-ass language disclosing the various side effects. Here’s a list of the possible complications that could arise from taking Humira:
- Tuberculosis
- Deadly “infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body”
- Lymphoma and the suspiciously named “other cancers”
- Unusual cancers in children, teenagers, and young adults
- A rare type of deadly cancer called hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma
- Two types of skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell)
- Hepatitis B infection in carriers of the virus
- Allergic reactions such as hives, swelling and trouble breathing
- Nervous system problems such as tingling and vision problems
- Bruising or bleeding easily
- Fevers that don’t go away
- Heart failure (no biggie!)
- Immune reactions including a lupus-like syndrome.
- Liver problems (poor appetite, vomiting, yellow eyes, stomach pains)
- Psoriasis (although it apparently also treats psoriasis, so I’m not sure how that works)
- Upper respiratory infections
- Headaches and nausea
How does anyone ever take this drug? WHO IS THIS TERRIFIED OF ARTHRITIS?
Hey at least my knees don’t ache anymore after a long day of gardening! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go die of heart failure and lymphoma.
