If You Owe the IRS Over $51,000, It Can Trap You in the United States

The IRS wants you to know: If you owe it more than $51,000 in back taxes, penalties, and interest, then under most circumstances it can and will instruct the State Department to not issue you or renew your passport, leaving you stranded in the open-air prison known as the United States of America. (Full passport revocation is also possible.) The rule is part of 2015's Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, and the IRS intends to begin enforcing it now.

You won't necessarily be trapped in the U.S.A. instantly. When you apply to acquire or renew a passport, the tax attorneys at Caplin & Drysdale explain, "the State Department will generally hold such application open for 90 days to allow the taxpayer a chance to resolve his or her tax delinquency or any other certification issues before denying a passport." So you've got that going for you.

A passport is very important indeed (even though it shouldn't be in a free country). Since 2009 it has been necessary even to return from our northern and southern neighbors. And if you want to hold two such precious documents, either to hedge your bets or just to share significant parts of your life between two different sets of arbitrary lines drawn by different regimes, governments are more and more likely to target you.

The righteously salty Kevin D. Williamson at National Review points outsomething especially awful about this policy: It doesn't even require that your tax liability be in any way criminal. You don't have to have been convicted or even charged with tax evasion or fraud. You merely must owe enough in back taxes plus penalties to cross the $51,000 line. (That threshold will rise with inflation.)

Williamson reminds the IRS and its supposed masters in Congress that "Americans as free people have a God-given right to come and go as they please, irrespective of the preferences of any pissant bureaucrat in Washington. Yes, we curtail people's rights in certain circumstances—when they have been charged with a crime and convicted after due process. Tax fraud is a crime; having unpaid taxes is not."

"Suspending passports in the course of a civil dispute—a civil dispute that may well be in litigation or soon to be in litigation—is banana-republic, totalitarian stuff," he adds, and he's right.

Robert W. Wood at Forbes gives some advice on what to do if you find yourself approaching the threshold of being denied a working passport. "Before a tax debt gets to this stage, the IRS usually sends multiple notices, so you should respond, and keep protesting," he notes. "If you receive an IRS Notice of Proposed Deficiency or Examination Report, prepare a protest before the deadline....A tax debt does not become final if you keep your tax dispute going."

If this eventually fails, then consider "striking a deal with the IRS. It is often not too difficult to get an installment agreement with the IRS to pay your tax debt over time. If you sign one, stick to its terms. Even if your debt is huge, the IRS doesn't call it "seriously delinquent" if you are paying the installments on time."

The Taxpayer Advocate Service, an internal ombudsman of sorts within the IRS, has criticized aspects of the program, after noting (as Matt Welch did at Reason in a 2004 feature) that the IRS has since 1996 been able to do the passport-snatching thing against those who are even $5,000 overdue on child support. As that ombudsman writes on the IRS's own website, there are serious issues with this sort of thing:

Courts have long recognized that the right to travel internationally is a liberty right, protected by the Due Process Clause. See e.g., Kent v. Dulles, 357 U.S. 116 (1958). In the context of passport denial for unpaid child support, courts have found the statute meets due process requirements because it provides for notice and an opportunity to be heard prior to the state agency certifying the unpaid child support to the federal government....

In the context of passport denial for a seriously delinquent tax debt, notice and an opportunity to be heard prior to the certification are limited. The FAST Act only requires two forms of notice to taxpayers who will be certified:

(1) a notice sent to the taxpayer close to or at the same time as the IRS certifies the seriously delinquent tax debt ("contemporaneous notice"), and
(2) language included in Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing notices explaining the potential certification.

Unlike the [notices] in the child support context, currently, the IRS does not plan to provide any additional, direct notice to affected taxpayers beyond the statutory requirements. I believe this lack of notice may not satisfy taxpayers' due process rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution because taxpayers do not have a meaningful opportunity to contest the certifications prior to them taking place.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service later noted that the IRS and State Department are not required under all circumstances to reverse their passport-snatching if you merely pay the debt down below the $51,000 threshold.

Alabama Prosecutor, Sheriff Threaten to Put More People in Prison in Order to Keep Seizing Massive Amounts of Property

Lawmakers are considering eliminating the authority of Alabama police and prosecutors to seize and keep citizens' property and money without actually convicting them of any crimes.

Unsurprisingly, prosecutors and sheriffs in Alabama would like to keep the gravy train going. But they're surprisingly blunt in admitting that they're in it for the money.

In Alabama, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors rake in millions each year through state and federal asset forfeiture programs, seizing people's property and keeping it for themselves, often without ever convicting anybody of an underlying crime.

A recent study showed that in a quarter of all civil forfeiture cases in Alabama, no underlying charges are ever filed, and in more than 40 percent of all civil forfeiture cases, the underlying crimes revolved around marijuana. Due to lax state reporting requirements, it's not even clear how extensively local police are turning to civil asset forfeiture.

In January two Republican lawmakers introduced legislation that would require that prosecutors actually convict people of crimes in order to keep their stuff. It would put the burden on the state to prove that the property they want to seize is connected to a crime, rather than for the defendant to prove their innocence. It would move the proceeds of forfeiture to the state's general fund to eliminate the profit incentive for police and prosecutors to try to seize whatever they could get their hands on. And it would close a loophole that would forbid local law enforcement agencies from bypassing restrictions by participating in the federal "equitable sharing" Department of Justice forfeiture program.

On Monday, the head of the Alabama District Attorney's Association and the Alabama Sheriffs Association teamed up with an op-ed that urges against reforms to asset forfeiture. Much of the commentary is similar to other misleading defenses of civil asset forfeiture that we've seen. The commentary insists that "Law enforcement uses civil asset forfeiture only to go after criminals, and state law already guarantees a process that is clear and fair for any person to challenge forfeiture in court. State law also provides built-in safeguards that protect the property of those who have committed no crime."

The commentary here completely, deliberately ignores that because this process takes place in a "civil" system, challenging forfeiture requires people to pay for attorneys themselves. Yet, a good half of the forfeiture cases analyzed by a report put the total value of the seizure at less than $1,500, making the prospect of hiring an attorney to fight back a difficult proposition. And the commentary fails to note that the legal standard to seize somebody's property in a civil system is a threshold far lower than getting them convicted of a crime. The system is purposefully designed to be able to take somebody's stuff without actually proving that they are "criminals."

Then op-ed writers Brian McVeigh and Dave Sutton warn that requiring successful prosecutions will lead to them filing more charges against people:

Requiring criminal convictions would result in more criminal charges filed and more people going to prison for lesser crimes. Consider pretrial diversion programs, such as drug court, for example. These programs allow people arrested for nonviolent crimes, including some drug charges, to go into treatment and other programs that keep them out of prison. Participants in these programs are not convicted of a crime, so under the proposed change, the only way to deprive them of their ill-gotten gains would be to prosecute them.

When you find yourself threatening to find more reasons to put even more citizens in jail in order to protect your revenue stream, it's maybe time to take a step back and think about what you're doing. Also, the bill they're attacking does allow for forfeiture to be pursued as part of a plea agreement, so this claim is wildly misleading. It does not, in fact, require that prosecutors put more people in prison in order to engage in forfeiture.

But then, maybe never mind. In the very next paragraph of the op-ed, they also warn that this reform will result in police arresting fewer people! No, really!

Meanwhile, sending the proceeds of forfeiture to the state's General Fund would result in fewer busts of drug and stolen property rings. What incentive would local police and sheriffs have to invest manpower, resources and time in these operations if they don't receive proceeds to cover their costs?

Guys, you're not supposed to actually admit publicly that the purpose of civil asset forfeiture is to keep the money for yourselves and that you only fight crime when you can cash in. And if you're busting "stolen property rings," aren't you supposed to returning that stuff to their rightful owners?

But hey, we'll always have that paragraph to help explain public choice theory to people who want to insist that government employees aren't subject to the same profit motives as the rest of us.

REPORT: Porn Star Stormy Daniels Has 'Monica Lewinsky Dress' To Prove Alleged Trump Affair

Porn star Stormy Daniels apparently kept the dress she wore on the night of an alleged sexual encounter with Donald Trump in 2006 and plans on testing it for DNA to validate her claims of the affair, reports The Blast.

This would mean Daniels held onto the apparently stained sex-dress, which she never washed, for 12 years.

The gossip magazine claims several sources close to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, told them the porn star kept the gold, shimmery, deep neck-lined dress in "pristine" condition and will have the clothing scanned for the president's DNA to buttress her claims of an affair.

"We’re told Daniels is planning on having the dress forensically tested to search for any DNA that proves she isn’t lying about her tryst with Trump, including samples of skin, hair or … anything," wrote The Blast.

Daniels told In Touch Magazine that she and Trump took up with one another in 2006 soon after Melania gave birth to son Barron. A sexual encounter allegedly spurred a relationship between the adult actress and Trump.

Daniels has a "Monica Lewinsky dress," wrote the gossip outlet, likening Daniels' alleged dress to that of former White House intern Monica Lewinsky's. Some 20 years ago, Lewinsky had sexual relations with married and then-President Bill Clinton in the Oval Office, relations Mr. Clinton initially lied about. Ms. Lewinsky's infamous stained blue dress was found to likely contain Clinton's fluids.

Daniels' manager Gina Rodriguez said Wednesday that a non-disclosure agreement her client signed in 2016 silencing her from speaking about the alleged affair was invalidated by Trump lawyer Michael Cohen.

“Everything is off now, and Stormy is going to tell her story,” said Rodriguez.

Mr. Cohen admitted Tuesday that he paid Daniels $130,000 of his own money to silence her in 2016. Cohen has not admitted that the allegations concerning the affair are true, but said he “will always protect Mr. Trump.”

But the thing is, even if this dress is authentic and the allegations of the affair are true, it will not affect President Trump's support level. As noted by Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief Ben Shapiro, Trump voters already knew for whom they were pulling the lever, and it was not because Trump was a choir boy. Non-political indiscretion was part of the package.

These Are Some of the Weirdest Food Allergies You’ll Ever See

Food allergies, though more common than you might think, aren’t always easy to detect. Especially those to foods you probably don’t eat that often, like pineapple. You’ve heard of people who are allergic to dairy, nuts, and even gluten. You probably haven’t heard of these strange, much rarer allergies — but you might know someone who has one.

Avocados 

If you’re allergic to latex, you might also have an allergic reaction to avocados. While the two may not seem related, they’re more similar than you think — at least at the molecular level.

Latex and avocados contain different proteins with similar structures. Avocados themselves aren’t hazardous to your health because of this — unless you have an allergy, of course. If your lips or mouth become irritated after eating even a spoonful of avocado, you’ll have to swear off avocado toast for good. 

Red meat 

Though it’s extremely rare, some people do have allergic reactions to red meats like pork and beef. But they aren’t born with this allergy — and the way they get it is the reason it’s so uncommon. A single bite from a specific type of tick, called a Lone Star tick, can cause the allergy to develop.

If you notice you get a stuffy or runny nose after eating red meat, or it gives you hives, headaches, or a stomach ache, you might have to say goodbye to beef burgers and pulled pork sandwiches. 

Corn 

You’ve heard of wheat and gluten allergies, but in some rare cases, people can actually have allergic reactions to corn — a specific type of grain.

It’s hard to identify a corn allergy, because its symptoms are similar to other food allergies, like other grains. Eliminating corn from your diet, even temporarily, might be able to help you decide if you need to stop eating corn and corn-based products. 

Hot dogs 

Hot dogs are a highly processed food, but a hot dog allergy has nothing to do with their nutritional value (or lack thereof).

Actually, the nitrates added to this food during processing can cause adverse reactions, the same way many different food additives can in some people. Most of the time, these chemicals aren’t dangerous. They give hot dogs their pink color and make them taste “better.” 

Pineapple 

Fruit allergies aren’t as common as allergies to nuts, milk, or soy, but when they do happen, they can become life-threatening — especially if you don’t eat it often, and have a taste without expecting consequences.

People with latex allergies — and those with close family members who are also allergic to pineapple — are more likely to experience negative, sometimes dangerous side effects. 

Celery 

It’s a popular low-calorie diet food that basically tastes like crunchy water if you don’t dip it in something. How could someone be allergic to something so tasteless?

It turns out those allergic to pollen are more likely to experience similar reactions to celery, like rashes and hives. People with celery allergies have these reactions because celery, a root vegetable, shares similar structures with some tree pollen. 

Sesame seeds 

It’s estimated that only about 0.1% of the U.S. population lives with a sesame seed allergy. Once you’re no longer allowed to have them, you realize they’re everywhere, especially when you eat out.

You can easily spot sesame seeds in your food and avoid them. Some foods, however, like processed, packaged snacks and baked goods and meals from Chinese restaurants, are made with sesame seed oils. Those with this allergy generally have to avoid those, too. 

Marshmallows 

Love s’mores? Some people have to do without the gooey deliciousness of a freshly roasted marshmallow — not because they’re trying to cut down on sugar, but because they’re extremely allergic.

If you experience negative reactions to foods like marshmallows and gummy candies, you actually have a gelatin allergy. Gelatin is a type of animal protein found in these types of snack foods. Many medications and some vaccines also use the substance, so make sure to always alert your health care provider.

The 15 Healthiest (and Unhealthiest) Meats You Can Eat

Muscle-building protein might be abundant in certain plant-based foods, yet we typically look to meat to get our fill. There isn’t necessarily anything wrong with that, until you start to look at how vastly different the nutritional makeup is for different types. After all, a super fatty cut of steak isn’t exactly going to keep you as trim as a boneless, skinless piece of poultry.

If you’re scratching your head about which choices you should be making, we have you covered. Here are a few healthy meats you should definitely toss into your grocery cart, plus several less-than-wholesome options you’ll probably want to skip.

1. Healthy: Grass-fed beef 

Beef has been praised as both a healthy and harmful food choice. Confusing, right? However, grass-fed beef, which comes from cattle raised without the use of grain, really can be good for you. Cooking Light says choosing grass-fed beef over grain-fed varieties can save you around 16,000 calories a year if you eat the typical amount. Obviously, that can really help out your waistline. Grass-fed beef also has less fat and, according to Mayo Clinic, it even contains a decent amount of omega-3s.

2. Healthy: Pork tenderloin 

Pork doesn’t deserve the unhealthy image it’s garnered over the years, so let up already. In fact, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service reveals a 3-ounce serving of roasted pork tenderloin is similar to chicken in nutritional value, with 120 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, and 22 grams of protein. If you need more convincing, know one expert told Time chicken breast and pork tenderloin are pretty much equal when it comes to how lean they are. Just be sure to steer clear of factory-raised meat to avoid added hormones. And stick with lean cuts.

3. Healthy: Chicken 

A common protein choice for fitness enthusiasts, chicken is known for being low in calories and high in protein. According to Nutritionix, a 3-ounce serving of grilled chicken breast has around 130 calories and 25 grams of protein. It is also low in saturated fat, which according to the American Heart Association, makes it a better protein choice than red meats. It’s also loaded with B vitamins. Livestrong mentions these nutrients help with metabolism, contribute to healthy skin, and also maintain a healthy nervous system.

4. Healthy: Bison 

A less common source of protein, bison may actually be healthier than beef. According to Dr. Axe, one factor that makes bison a naturally healthier option is that the animals roam free. Because of this, their diets aren’t filled with hormones or other questionable feed. A 3-ounce portion of the ground meat contains 152 calories and 7 grams of fat, only 3 of which are saturated. And the flavor is even richer than beef.

5. Healthy: Turkey 

Compared to chicken, a 3-ounce serving of turkey breast has slightly fewer calories and less fat, plus about the same amount of protein. Authority Nutrition says this extra lean source of meat is filled with B vitamins, including selenium. This nutrient can help  support a healthy immune system. And the best thing about turkey breast is its versatility. The poultry works well for everything from chili to sandwiches.

6. Healthy: Lamb 

As long as you don’t have any unreasonable attachments to “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” this red meat can actually be quite good for you. In fact, lamb is an excellent source of zinc and iron, and it’s super rich in B vitamins, as well. According to Nourish With Lamb, “Lean lamb is a source of healthy, unsaturated fats. Forty percent of the fat in lean lamb is heart healthy monounsaturated fat.” So, stick with lean cuts, and you’ll be doing the body good.  

7. Healthy: Pheasant 

This may sound a bit off-the-wall, but it’s a great alternative to your typical go-to meats. Turns out, pheasant is way healthier than you may think. According to game-to-eat, “Pheasant and partridge also contain a high level of iron, protein, vitamin B6 and selenium, which helps to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.” Not to mention, if you live in a bird-hunting region, it’s usually fairly accessible.    

8. Healthy: Veal 

Similar to pork, the other red meat in its category, veal is lower in fat than most kinds of beef. It’s a great option when you’re fixing for iron and protein, but want to skip the burger. In fact, SFGate say 3 ounces of ground veal contain just 146 calories, while the same serving of ground pork is about 252 calories.  

9. Unhealthy: Bacon 

Pork can be great for your body, but unfortunately this processed version falls short. Three slices yield around 150 calories, the majority of which comes from fat. The cured meat also delivers 570 milligrams of sodium for this portion, which is 24% the recommended daily value. According to The Huffington Post, the tasty meat can also increase the risk for heart disease and cancer. It’s best to skip this salty stuff.

10. Unhealthy: Corned beef 

Corned beef definitely falls under our list of unhealthy meat options because of the way it’s prepared. Nutritionixshows a 3-ounce serving has 210 calories, 16 grams of fat (5 from saturated fat), and 830 milligrams of sodium. The protein content for one serving falls far short for the same amount of grilled chicken breast, too. It’s fine for the occasional treat, but stick to leaner cuts most of the time.

11. Unhealthy: Hot dogs 

This highly processed, ballgame favorite is, unfortunately, a very unhealthy meat. According to Business Insider, hot dogs are made with different meat trimmings, such as steak, chicken, and pork chops. Those trimmings are then combined with additives, including corn syrup and salt. A single beef hot dog can have 410 milligrams of sodium, only 6 grams of protein, and 150 calories. Experts also told Time the nitrates added during processing can contribute to cancer.

12. Unhealthy: Duck 

Duck is one of the worst meats that you can eat due to lots of calories and fat. Nutritionix shows that ½ cup of roasted duck with skin totals 235 calories, 75% of which come from fat. Eating a diet high in saturated fat can raise bad cholesterol and, according to the American Heart Association, this can increases chances of heart disease. Duck also has less protein to offer than our favorite picks. When you do want to indulge, ditch the skin to save yourself some calories.

13. Unhealthy: Deli meat 

Deli meats were once thought to be much healthier than they actually are. WebMD mentions cold cuts are one of the worst foods you can have in your refrigerator because they’re filled with preservatives. Like hot dogs, most are made with nitrites and have large amounts of sodium. They are also associated with an increased risk of colon cancer. While deli meats may seem like a quick and easy way to get some protein, it’s much better to opt for less processed options.

14. Unhealthy: Chicken nuggets 

Chicken made our “healthy” list for good reason. Chicken nuggets, on the other hand, have landed a spot on our unhealthy list, which probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise. These bite-size favorites may be more mystery meat than actual poultry, which is why we’d be remiss to not mention them at all.

Although nuggets may be a somewhat better choice when (fast) food options are limited, keeping them stocked in your freezer isn’t advisable. For instance, Perdue’s nuggets have 210 calories and 480 milligrams of sodium in just one serving. And, given the size of a nugget, the heavily-breaded skin to actual chicken ratio leaves you with less meat, and more crisp.

15. Unhealthy: Ham

 

You know deli meat ham isn’t good for you, and the fancier version is no different. Often consumed around the holidays, this salty meat needs to stay where it belongs: on the Christmas dinner table. A honey-baked ham has 1,230 milligrams of sodium in just one serving. These types of hams are super cured and typically loaded with unnecessary sugars, as well. Tasty? Yes. An unnecessary choice of meat to have on hand? Absolutely. 

The Dangerous Side Effects of These Commons Rx Meds Will Freak You Out

For most of us, taking prescription drugs is as routine as taking a shower. Today a whopping 60% of Americans pop pills for various ailments, according to The Washington Post.

Though getting a prescription from your doctor for the pharmacy to fill commonplace, we should carefully consider what we put in our bodies. Here are 20 prescription medications with their fair share of dangerous side effects. Both adults and children take a common drug that can impact their sexual health (page 9). 

1. Vasotec 

Prescribed for: high blood pressure

As an ACE inhibitor, Vasotec relaxes your arteries, which prevents them from getting too narrow and raising your blood pressure. It can also be the difference between life and death for those struggling with heart failure. However, you may experience low blood pressure and liver dysfunction, as well as the swelling of your lips, face, or tongue. 

2. Xanax 

Prescribed for: anxiety

Also called alprazolam, Xanax helps treat those suffering from anxiety and panic disorders, giving them much-needed relief. At its best, this well-known drug affects the chemicals in your brain to help balance your anxiety. At its worst, Xanax can be habit-forming, resulting in addiction, overdose, or death. 

3. Viekira Pak 

Prescribed for: hepatitis C

Those suffering from hepatitis C certainly need help treating it. And Viekira Pak can help. However, it also has terrible side effects for those with underlying advanced liver disease. Taking Viekira Pak can lead to liver injury and failure, which can result in death. 

4. Chantix 

Prescribed for: quitting smoking

Few things are more life-altering than this terrible habit. However, quitting smoking with help from this popular drug can result in intense side effects. Chantix, also known as varenicline, can cause psychiatric disturbances, such as suicidal thoughts, as well as vivid nightmares and intense withdrawals. Be sure to ask for input from your doctor. 

5. Methadone 

Prescribed for: relief from extreme pain and withdrawal symptoms

Opiate addiction is a severe problem in the U.S., and many doctors rely on Methadone to treat patients in withdrawal. Known as an opiate analgesic, the drug alters the way the nervous system and brain respond to pain. Although this drug can aid an addict with their recovery, it can also cause life-threatening breathing problems, hallucinations, nausea, agitation, fever, intense muscle stiffness, and more. 

6. Nexium

 

Prescribed for: excessive stomach acid and stomach ulcers

Excess acid production in your stomach can be painful — it makes sense that you’d want to avoid it. Nexium, also known as esomeprazole, treats conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), erosive esophagitis, and more. Just watch out for side effects like severe diarrhea, inflammation of your kidneys, and vitamin deficiencies. 

7. Lipitor 

Prescribed for: heart health

Two types of cholesterol exist: LDL, which is bad for your heart, and HDL, which is is known as the good cholesterol. Lipitor lowers the former and elevates the latter, which can be lifesaving for those struggling with heart health. Unfortunately, this common drug has made headlines many times for its ability to cause long-lasting muscle and nerve problems.

One Atlanta man filed a lawsuit claiming that even three years after ceasing his Lipitor use, he still experiences a lack of balance, a burning sensation in his feet and hands, and bouts of memory loss. Another lawsuit alleges that a New York man experienced extensive muscle damage and debilitating memory loss. 

8. Plavix 

Prescribed for: preventing blood clots

Many people are tempted to ignore heart problems until it’s too late. But Plavix can treat your blood vessels so they don’t clot by preventing the platelets in your blood from coagulating. Unfortunately, it can also cause users to cough up blood or discover blood in their urine. Some people experience chest pain that spreads through their arms and shoulders. 

9. Risperdal 

Prescribed for: schizophrenia

As an antipsychotic, Risperdal can prevent the hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking associated with schizophrenia. The drug actually rebalances the brain’s serotonin and dopamine levels, helping the user lead a happier life. But treating this debilitating disease with Risperdal can also cause side effects like low blood pressure, sexual dysfunction, muscle tremors, and uncontrolled movements. 

10. Propecia 

Prescribed for: male-pattern baldness

Propecia can give men a better head of hair and a lot more confidence. But one user, Kevin Malley, had absolutely no sex drive after taking the drug for six months. ABC reported that Malley’s “body changed, even his genitals shrank, and he slipped into a mental fog.”

Unfortunately, a study by the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that Propecia’s side effects, including sexual dysfunction and loss of libido, may last for months or even years after ceasing drug use. 

11. Cardura 

Prescribed for: relaxing the prostate muscles and treating hypertension

Cardura, or doxazosin, blocks specific chemicals, which relaxes the prostate muscles and bladder. It also widens blood vessels, which helps with hypertension. Some people who use this prescription drug experience breathing problems, a painful erection, or an irregular heartbeat. 

12. Actos and Avandia 

Prescribed for: controlling blood sugar

Diabetics may take either Actos or Avandia to lower the sugar in their blood. How? These prescription drugs make your tissues “more sensitive to insulin, the hormone that regulates the absorption of sugar into your cells,” according to the Mayo Clinic. Unfortunately, Actos and Avandia users may be at an increased risk of heart failure, heart attack, and bladder cancer. 

13. Ambien 

Prescribed for: insomnia

Not being able to sleep can be torturous, making for drowsy days and anxiety-filled nights. When Ambien improves unbalanced brain chemicals, users can experience relief. But the sedative has been known to cause impaired thinking; some people completely forget they’ve done an activity like driving a car, making a phone call, or having sex. 

14. Mirapex 

Prescribed for: Parkinson’s disease

Also known as pramipexole, Mirapex can help someone suffering from Parkinson’s disease to move better and shake less. Decreasing stiffness and unsteadiness can dramatically help those who need the drug. Unfortunately, it can also cause them to hallucinate and experience low blood pressure and sudden sleepiness. 

15. Levaquin or Cipro 

Prescribed for: bacterial infections

Both Levaquin and Cipro can remedy serious bacterial infections like urinary tract infections, chronic bronchitis, and anthrax. The antibiotics can also disable tendons, muscles, and joints, however, and they’ve been discovered to cause irreversible nerve damage in some users, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

16. Klonopin 

Prescribed for: panic attacks and seizures

Klonopin, also known as clonazepam, increases the effects of a neurotransmitter that moderates the brain’s nerve signals. This can be invaluable to those suffering from panic attacks or seizures.

As a controlled substance, the drug can be abused by users, who can overdose with grave side effects. Emergency room visits due to clonazepam abuse grew by 122% from 2004 to 2011. Other side effects include suicidal thoughts and chest pain. 

17. Brilinta 

Prescribed for: heart disease

Despite the fact that Brilinta can cause dizziness, nausea, and severe bleeding, the drug is used by many to prevent heart attacks and strokes in people with heart disease. Doctors may recommend using Brilinta along with low-dose aspirin, and they’ll stress not to take it too often because those side effects may increase.Next:Unexplained rashes? It could be your epilepsy medication.

18. Lamictal 

Prescribed for: epilepsy

Both adults and children can use Lamictal to manage this neurological disorder involving sudden convulsions and loss of consciousness. Unfortunately, this drug can cause serious rashes requiring hospitalization. Suicidal thoughts are also a side effect of this anti-epileptic. 

19. Accutane 

Prescribed for: acne

Living with skin problems is terrible, and Accutane can provide relief to frustrated teens and adults by treating severe cystic acne that hasn’t responded to other treatments.

However, doctors stress how crucial it is for female users to avoid getting pregnant. Many studies link Accutane to serious birth defects, so “women of childbearing age are required to enroll in a special pregnancy prevention program before beginning Accutane treatment,” according to DrugWatch. Other side effects include liver damage, depression, and bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease. 

20. Yaz 

Prescribed for: preventing pregnancy, hormonal acne, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

Yaz is a rather dynamic prescription drug recommended for women 14 and older. It can treat PMDD, a severe form of PMS, and clear up moderate acne. Although women rely on it for these reasons — and to prevent pregnancy — they may be at an increased risk of blood clots, which could travel to the brain, heart, or lungs. Studies also link Yaz to high cholesterol, high potassium levels, and gallbladder disease.