If you suffer from chronic pain, news of the Fentanyl patch may seem like a Godsend. Its users choose it over pills for a variety of reasons including the fact that, with proper instruction, it's relatively simple to use, offers a long-lasting dose and, if used right, has few side effects. Unfortunately though, for those not taught to use it correctly or who ignore the rules of use, one side effect may be death.

Despite warnings in the US & Canada to use and dispose of the powerful patch with extreme care, a number of patients have overdosed on the medication. Some have been prescribed the patch for the wrong reason (it should only be used by those suffering from chronic, long-term pain and isn't appropriate for post-operative pain control), some have accidentally put on more than one patch at a time and others have exposed themselves to extreme heat in a bath, with a heating pad or in the sunshine -- all of these things can cause an overdose.

Many doctors stress that the Fentayl patch is a very effective tool for controlling chronic pain but stress that patients must be properly educated on how to use the medication, and must be responsible and ensure they follow the rules. So if you think the patch may be for you, make sure you discuss the pros and cons with your physician and follow their advice and instructions.

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Cosmetic medical procedures are becoming more and more commonplace everyday as technology advances, but there are still serious risks associated with even the simplest of procedures. Permanent makeup, which is basically just tattoos, is one that can easily have serious and devastating side effects. Studies have shown that certain shades of the tattoo ink used for permanent makeup cause allergic reactions in a significant number of patients, with redness, swelling, and even permanent bumps in the skin called granulomas resulting. The especially scary part is that it's possible to develop an allergy to the pigment at any time -- even in a tattoo you've had for years!

I for one would never want something permanent like this on my face, with or without the chance for nasty side effects, but for those who like the idea -- is it worth the risk?

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Science is almost equally as dangerous as it is helpful. Prescription medications, for example, all too often turn out to have deadly side-effects that are seemingly unrelated at all to what they were originally intended to do.

But until we develop other methods, a big part of the learning curve for scientists is watching what happens once a new drug has been approved for general human use. There's just no way they can reproduce that kind of research in a lab setting, and they learn new things about old drugs all the time.

Medications for heartburn, blood pressure, breast cancer, and osteoporosis all have risks that you may not be aware of -- like an increased chance for breaking a hip or developing diabetes. Read this article for the latest on these 4 common prescriptions, and consider talking with your doctor about any new findings on other meds you may be taking.

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