Table of contents:
- Do all drugs have side effects?
- When is it necessary to see a doctor if you experience drug side effects?
- If you have this, do you have to stop taking the medicine?
All drugs have different side effects for each person. Along with the desired results, the drugs can also cause unwanted side effects. Drug side effects can occur when you start a new medication, reduce or increase the dose of the drug, or when you stop using it. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, feeling tired, dizziness, dry mouth, headache, itching, and muscle aches. If you have this, what should be done? Continue treatment or stop?
Do all drugs have side effects?
All drugs used to treat all types of health conditions can cause side effects. However, not all drugs will cause these side effects. In fact, most people who take certain medications experience no side effects or may experience only mild effects.
The appearance of side effects of a drug depends on your age, weight, gender, and your overall health condition. Also, the severity of your illness can increase the chances of these side effects appearing.
The reason is, the more severe your health problem is, the more and more various drugs are consumed. This then causes the side effects of the drug to appear.
When is it necessary to see a doctor if you experience drug side effects?
It is important that you understand the potential side effects of your medication and what to do if symptoms occur. If indeed you begin to feel symptoms of side effects, tell your doctor about this immediately, even though the symptoms you feel are still relatively mild.
It may not be a health hazard, but the appearance of mild side effects of the drug means that the drug is not reacting as it should.
See your doctor right away if you have any of these side effects:
- Stomach ache
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Dizzy
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Loss of appetite
- Palpitations
- Problems with coordination
- Ringing in ears
- Skin rash or hives
- Swelling of the hands or feet
- Loss of consciousness or fainting
Some of the side effects may not make you feel sick, so your doctor will usually ask you to do routine laboratory tests to detect any problems early on.
For example, if you are taking a medication for high cholesterol, such as Lipitor (Atorvastatin), your doctor will most likely recommend that you have a liver function test before starting the drug, which is 12 weeks after you start therapy, and thereafter periodically thereafter.
If you have this, do you have to stop taking the medicine?
All drugs have benefits and risks. The risk is the possible serious side effect of the medication you are taking. This risk can be mild to severe. However, some minor side effects can sometimes interfere with your activities.
Some side effects may be severe and require medical care, while others may be mild. Severe or severe side effects are sometimes one of the main reasons why people stop using the recommended drugs.
However, don't stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor first. If you think you have serious side effects that are dangerous to your health, immediately consult a doctor or come to the nearest hospital.
If you have any worrisome side effects, your doctor may change your dose, try a different medication in the same class of drugs, or recommend some type of diet or lifestyle change.
Some of the serious side effects may be life-threatening, such as liver damage. Therefore, understand very well what benefits and side effects may occur before you take the drug. Ask your doctor or nurse to explain.
