Table of contents:
- Symptomatic drugs are symptom relievers
- Types of symptomatic drugs and the risk of side effects if used carelessly
- 1. NSAID drugs
- 2. Antidepressant drugs
- 3. Antihistamine drugs
Curing disease certainly needs medicine. But of course the drug must be suitable for its purpose. Basically, there are two most common types of drugs to cure diseases based on their goals, namely symptomatic and causative drugs. Symptomatic drugs are medicine to relieve symptoms of the disease. What is included in this type of drug?
Symptomatic drugs are symptom relievers
Symptomatic drugs are drugs to relieve common symptoms of a disease, such as headaches, fever, nausea, diarrhea, or pain.
As the name implies, this drug is only limited to treating the symptoms but does not cure the underlying cause of the disease. For example, headaches caused by hypertension. Symptomatic medication relieves headache symptoms, but does not cure your hypertension.
Symptomatic drugs can be obtained with or without a doctor's prescription at a drugstore or pharmacy.
Types of symptomatic drugs and the risk of side effects if used carelessly
The most common symptomatic drugs are ibuprofen, paracetamol, antiemetic drugs, and sedatives (antidepressants). Just like other medicines, this drug also has its own timeframe for how long it should be used. If used continuously, these medicinal substances can cause dangerous side effects.
Here are 3 common types of symptomatic drugs and their risk of side effects:
1. NSAID drugs
NSAIDs are nonsteroidal pain relievers commonly used to relieve symptoms such as fever or pain due to inflammation. For example sprains, headaches, migraines, menstrual pain, and rheumatism. The most common types of NSAIDs are aspirin and ibuprofen.
Some of the serious side effects of taking NSAI continuously include:
- Stomach pain or stomach that feels sore / hot
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- Heart failure due to inflammation of the body (fluid retention)
- Kidney problems, including kidney failure
- Bleeding and sores in the stomach and intestines
2. Antidepressant drugs
Antidepressants are symptomatic drugs that are used to relieve symptoms of depression, such as difficulty sleeping, irritability, decreased appetite, and frequent restlessness.
More than 30% of people taking antidepressant therapy experience side effects in the early weeks of starting medication. The most common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Dizzy
- Trembling fingers or hands
- Sweating
However, these side effects usually go away on their own within a few days. While side effects that are quite disturbing are insomnia, anxiety, panic, loss of sexual desire, and weight gain
3. Antihistamine drugs
Antihistamines are symptomatic types of drugs that function to relieve allergy symptoms such as skin itching, sneezing, watery eyes, and nausea.
There are several side effects that can occur when taking this drug, including:
- Drowsiness (you should avoid driving after taking this drug)
- Nausea
- Gag
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation or difficulty defecating
- Chest tightness
- Muscle weakness
- Hyperactivity, especially in children
- Nervous
Some of the serious side effects can include:
- Vision problems, such as blurry eye samples
- Difficulty urinating or painful urination
These two side effects of srius tend to be more common in older people.
It is better to always consult and ask your doctor about how to use and the dosage conditions for any medicine that you should take.
