Pharmacists are often confronted with this question by drug users and patients and thereafter, some patients come back to either complain of how ‘ strong’ the drug was or to confess that they had to quit using their medication because “ that drug was too strong for my system .”
Side effects are effects whether pleasant or not, other than the one intended for the use of a particular drug. Hence side effects (often interchanged with adverse effects) are key properties of any medication and so it is fair to state that “all drugs are capable of having side effects.” All drugs have side effects. However, drugs are manufactured in such a way that their benefit by far outweighs the risks associated with their use .
Some examples include stomach upset (diarrhea, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, sleeplessness, etc).
Adverse effects are specifically the unpleasant effects or events felt as a result of using the drugs. These experiences are reported to the Pharmacovigilance department of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agency of the country who document these findings and the reports serve for regulating the use of the drug.
Side effects can happen when you
start taking a new drug, dietary supplement, or vitamin/mineral
stop taking a drug that you’ve been on for a while, or
when you increase or decrease the amount of a drug that you take.
A side effect is considered serious if the result of using it is death, life-threatening, disability or permanent damage or exposure before conception or during pregnancy causes birth defects.
To reduce chance of suffering a serious side/adverse effect:
Ask your health care professional about any possible side effects and what, if any steps should be taken to reduce the risk when you are prescribed a drug. For example, he or she may recommend taking the drug with food to lower the chance of getting nausea.
Ask your pharmacist for the patient prescribing information when you receive your prescription. This document will include possible common and serious side effects.
Read the pharmacy label and any stickers that may be attached to the prescription bottle. The label and stickers have information on how to take the drug and possible side effects.
In the event of an adverse effect:
Consult your healthcare provider especially your doctor and/or pharmacist.
Take note of the drug for which the reaction occurred and the nature of the adverse events.
Always work with your Healthcare provider!
It is important to always partner with your healthcare provider concerning your treatment. Always ask for possible side effects of the drugs dispensed to you so that you will be better prepared to reduce your chance of getting an adverse effect or be able to cope with the adverse effects.
