Pharmaceuticals are often dangerous. Those "side effects" are not side effects IMO, they are effects proper. The medical model used to make these meds is that they target a certain symptom and make the assumption that that direct path from (A) pain to (B) symptom is a clean line from A to B. But the brain/body doesn't work like that. (A) can effect (B) or anything else from (A) to (Z). It's all effects. So while you might get relief of some pain you might also damage some other parts of your physiology. Like your bladder won't work right or you'll damage your nerves etc. These are not side effects. These drugs are dangerous and they know it or they choose to ignore it for profit.

The medical model IMO is mostly broken. The place they still shine is traumatic injury. They have that down very well and help people.

But often disease is the result of lifestyle choices and other environmental factors. This is hardly addressed by the medical profession now and the only reason it is at all is that patients have revolted and insisted that lifestyle can be a direct cause or worsening of disease. But they are hardly the experts in this most important area. They hardly mention it if you don't bring it up. It's a dangerous maze you must navigate when you involve yourself with pharms. By the time most people are ill they feel they have little choice. But it's a crap shoot if you will be helped or hurt as is evidenced by all the legit drug deaths every year and that does not include folk who are only made worse or sickened.