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[Sir Finkus]

Even if the medication didn't have any side effects keeping the body awake when it doesn't want to be is pretty brutal on it.  It can be done, but we sleep for a reason. 

[Interus]

Why even list the side-effects?  It seems most medicine can cause every side-effect that has ever been documented so I never understood why people would even list side-effects when anything out of any possibility could happen.

Because no, not every drug causes every side effect.  Though most cause several, I could probably think of several examples that weren't on that list.  It's kind of important to be able to distinguish a symptom of an actual illness from the medication you're taking so that if an illness does appear, you don't just quit taking your medication and wait for it to go away without seeing a doctor.  Of course, I think it says to see a doctor if you have to stop taking it, and it's probably more important that they know the specific symptoms.

But geez, these particular symptoms are terrifying.  Admittedly, it's probably unlikely for somebody to experience all the more severe side effects at once, but potentially fatal, blistery, peeling skin is a terrifying idea.  And the idea of people who need to stay conscious to the point they take medicine having hallucinations or "unusual thoughts or behavior" isn't exactly a pleasant one either.

[RedKing]

I think one of the things that bothered me about the side effects was wondering exactly how in the hell does this drug work, that it could cause things like blistery skin? If it's a neurochemical, then I expect it to have neurological-related side effects. I don't expect leprosy.

In the same way that I'd be like WTF? if they had say...an anti-foot itch cream that could cause blindness.

[Vattic]

Things like this make me glad the regulations on prescription drug advertising are much stricter in the UK.

[Jacob/Lee]

I wonder if they're allowed to test these on sick people, for all we know some of the more severe side effects might be caused by some existing illness if that's the case.

Still, I am keeping a mile of ground between me and a dose of that stuff.

[Knirisk]

I think one of the things that bothered me about the side effects was wondering exactly how in the hell does this drug work, that it could cause things like blistery skin? If it's a neurochemical, then I expect it to have neurological-related side effects. I don't expect leprosy.

In the same way that I'd be like WTF? if they had say...an anti-foot itch cream that could cause blindness.

I'm thinking that it's not a side-effect of the drug, but rather a side-effect of not sleeping. Sleeping helps repair cells and refresh neurons, right? So, naturally, if you're not sleeping, then your body's not repairing itself all that well anyway, nor letting the neurons shut down. The drug's probably even shutting down the tiredness effects, forcing your body to stay awake. So naturally, if the body can't sleep, it can't repair itself, so all goes to hell.

Unusual thoughts and behaviors/hallucinations can be attributed to not getting sleep, as hallucinations are sometimes a symptom of sleep deprivation anyway.

Honestly, I think quite a few of the symptoms are from sleep deprivation anyway.

[ChairmanPoo]

Steven Johnson syndrome. Not really specific, many drug can potentially cause that. Its no t that frequent either, so it should not be at the foremost of your worries..

[RedKing]

I think one of the things that bothered me about the side effects was wondering exactly how in the hell does this drug work, that it could cause things like blistery skin? If it's a neurochemical, then I expect it to have neurological-related side effects. I don't expect leprosy.

In the same way that I'd be like WTF? if they had say...an anti-foot itch cream that could cause blindness.

I'm thinking that it's not a side-effect of the drug, but rather a side-effect of not sleeping. Sleeping helps repair cells and refresh neurons, right? So, naturally, if you're not sleeping, then your body's not repairing itself all that well anyway, nor letting the neurons shut down. The drug's probably even shutting down the tiredness effects, forcing your body to stay awake. So naturally, if the body can't sleep, it can't repair itself, so all goes to hell.

Unusual thoughts and behaviors/hallucinations can be attributed to not getting sleep, as hallucinations are sometimes a symptom of sleep deprivation anyway.

Honestly, I think quite a few of the symptoms are from sleep deprivation anyway.

Again, those sort of symptoms make sense. I've gone three days without sleep before. Yes, headache, insomnia even hallucinations are par for the course there. But skin blisters??

[Aqizzar]

Yes, reminds me of when I stayed awake for about five days to write a term paper.  Irritability, problems distinguishing reality, headaches, overeating and cramps, veiny eyes, and an inability to fall back asleep when I wanted to were all pretty normal.  At no point did I develop indirect leprosy.

Apparently one test subject's skin sloughed off and he died.  Was it the drug?  Let's fucking hope so, because if it's not then that could happen to me.

Oh my God, I didn't think about it like that.  Sure, I know that the side-effect disclosure is supposed to be a complete and total list of absolutely everything abnormal that happened to everyone in the test group regardless of specifics ("increased desire to gamble" is one I always wonder about).  But if one guy died of trying to shed his skin like a locust, and it wasn't Nuvigil, then that means it could have been anything else.

Goddammit, if you have to stay awake for 36 hours a time, just do meth like normal people.  Every morning you'll still awake, twitchy, psychotic, and most importantly fully-skinned, you'll be saving the world.

[RedKing]

I think you just found their new marketing slogan.

NuVigil: It's more fucked-up than meth.
Buy yours today!

[Nadaka]

In a similar vein:

I don't recall the exact drug, but I think it was an acne medication that listed at least the following potential side effects:

potentially fatal liver damage, total loss of lung function, heart failure and even death.

Why do they list 3 ways to die, and even death?

[nenjin]

Yeah really. I read this and went "So it's legal meth then?"

Because between the stated effects and side-effects, that's exactly how it reads. And I really wouldn't be surprised. It would be just like the Pharma industry to go "You know what? Let's take one of the most destructive and best selling drugs in America, and legitimize it for profit!"

Funny how scientists have to bend over backwards to get the US gov't to let them TEST Schedule 1 drugs for medical uses.....but Pharma companies can just cook in secret and the FDA is like: "You're a billion dollar drug company and you're doing this for profit? Ok, just make sure you list every single reported side effect. Happy hunting!"

[Bauglir]

Oddly, this list of side-effects isn't all that surprising to me. I mean, yeah, it's a lot of crap, but you guys know that ibuprofen (IE Advil) can cause the following:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Anxiety;
constipation;
diarrhea;
dizziness;
drowsiness;
headache;
indigestion;
infection;
nausea;
nervousness;
sleeplessness;
stomach pain;
swelling;
tiredness;
upset stomach;
vomiting;
weakness;

Call-a-doctor-now Side Effects:
severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue);
black, tarry, or bloody stools;
blurred vision or other eye problems;
chest pain;
dark urine;
fainting;
fast or irregular heartbeat;
fever;
flu-like symptoms;
increased or decreased urination;
irregular or difficult breathing;
mental or mood changes;
red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin;
severe or persistent dizziness;
severe or persistent nausea or stomach pain;
shortness of breath;
slurred speech;
stiff neck;
swelling of the arms or legs;
unusual tiredness or weakness;
unusual weight gain;
vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
yellowing of the skin or eyes.

I'd wanna see the likelihood of any of the side effects of this drug before jumping to any conclusions.

[vagel7]

Oddly, this list of side-effects isn't all that surprising to me. I mean, yeah, it's a lot of crap, but you guys know that ibuprofen (IE Advil) can cause the following:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Anxiety;
constipation;
diarrhea;
dizziness;
drowsiness;
headache;
indigestion;
infection;
nausea;
nervousness;
sleeplessness;
stomach pain;
swelling;
tiredness;
upset stomach;
vomiting;
weakness;

Call-a-doctor-now Side Effects:
severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue);
black, tarry, or bloody stools;
blurred vision or other eye problems;
chest pain;
dark urine;
fainting;
fast or irregular heartbeat;
fever;
flu-like symptoms;
increased or decreased urination;
irregular or difficult breathing;
mental or mood changes;
red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin;
severe or persistent dizziness;
severe or persistent nausea or stomach pain;
shortness of breath;
slurred speech;
stiff neck;
swelling of the arms or legs;
unusual tiredness or weakness;
unusual weight gain;
vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
yellowing of the skin or eyes.

I'd wanna see the likelihood of any of the side effects of this drug before jumping to any conclusions.

Very similar to that, but a bit less are also the pill type things that you suck on when you have a sore throat. Even totally harmless looking medicine has very scary side effects. One of the sore throat pills can make you impotent.

[Bauglir]

Yes, but it's incredibly unlikely, is my point. If you don't consider the risk of getting hit and killed by a drunk driver to be sufficient reason to pass on seeing that movie with your buddies, then you probably shouldn't consider the risk of "red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin" to be sufficient reason to pass on some ibuprofen the next time you have a headache.