It was more the part about *lips* *melting* that freaked me. Turns out the ad was real (not much doubt after DJ watched the show and did not see the commercial). The product is ACzone. And I gather they don't expect the side effect in topical use; but the product does produce" oxic epidermal necrolysis" sometimes in oral use. Toxic epidermal necrolysis according to WikiPedia is when the entire upper layer of skin peels off the body; early symptom occur in the lips which includes severe blistering and peeling that could be colloquially described as "Lips melting". Lips and nails turning blue is another symptom. I had always assumed that drug warnings included symptoms that were rare but had been noted in actual use as recommended. Did not realize that those warnings include symptoms that have only been observed in what would be misuse of the product, such as eating something intended to be applied topically. But I suppose it makes sense, cause of kids, people confused for various medical or recreational reasons and so on. Plus a study might miss a rare sensitivity, so that for one in 100,000 people you end up with side effects from topical use that in the study only happened from oral use...
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But warning you to immediately call a doctor if your lips melt or your nails turn blue definitely makes the product sound very freaky.
I think if your first instinct isn't to call a medical professional when your lips melt, there isn't much hope for you.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis can (but VERY rarely does) occur with a lot of drugs, which is why the warning section on the information pamphlet tells you to not fuck around if you get a rash after starting the drug. In most cases, the rash will just be a rash, but it could progress to the much more severe toxic epidermal necrolysis, so you should still tell your doctor because better safe than sorry. No one wants all their skin to fall off. People die from that shit.
t /PSA
Every time I call to make an appointment with my PCP, there's a message that if you're experiencing an emergency to go to the nearest emergency room or other healthcare provider. um ... when I've had emergencies, that's where I go, rather than calling to make an appointment.
I think maybe some people want their doctor to make that judgment call for them. Plus it might also be a liability issue.
t /natter
All of my doctors have something like, "If this is an emergency, please hang up and dial 911" when you call.
I think if your first instinct isn't to call a medical professional when your lips melt, there isn't much hope for you.
The one that always gets me is when drug commercials say "and if you experience [excessive bleeding/heart attack/death] while taking [drug], call your doctor." As if you wouldn't normally call your doctor over something as minor as that, but you know, since you're on this drug, you may as well.
Makes me wonder how many people when, say, their lips are melting decide to call and make an appointment for ... two weeks? ... in the future. Although there's probably been at least one.
I knew a woman who walked around on a broken foot for a week because she didn't want to go to the ER. She kept insisting it was just a sprain. She was finally convinced to go when it got worse instead of better. I can totally believe a "bad rash" not being enough to send some people to the hospital until their skin starts falling off.