Side Effects of Medicine

Dr. Parang Mehta, MD.

Medicines that have effects have the potential to cause side effects also. By definition, medicines are substances that have an effect on the body. While we would like only positive and useful effects, it does not always happen that way. Some of the effects a drug has may be troublesome or even dangerous.

A drug is given to affect one particular organ or system in the body that is not working optimally. However, almost all drugs will have an effect on other systems also — these effects are called side effects. Some side effects are useful, some are harmful, and some are indeterminate. The harmful side effects are sometimes called adverse effects also.

Many children with fever are cranky and vomit. When the drug promethazine is given to reduce vomiting, it makes the child quiet and sleepy also — an example of a useful side effect.

On the other hand, when the drug metronidazole is given for amebiasis, the child has a metallic taste in the mouth, nausea, and abdominal pain. All very unpleasant, and unwanted.

Some side effects can be really serious, rather than unpleasant. Imipramine is used for the control of bed wetting. However, it can cause abnormalities of the heart rhythm, sometimes leading to death.

Not all children will have the same side effects with a drug. That's because the human body has an infinite variety of enzymes, hormones, chemical mediators, and their permutations and combinations. Thus, while child may tolerate a drug with no side effects, another may suffer terribly.

Reducing Medicine Adverse Effects

Give drugs to your child only when needed. Many small illnesses are self-limiting, and do not need medication. Over use of drugs is a major cause of adverse effects.

Limit the number of drugs taken. The probability of adverse effects increases disproportionately with the number of drugs being taken. For example, if one drug causes side effects in 2% of people, 2 drugs will cause them in 6%, and 3 drugs in perhaps 15%. When a child is on some medication for an acute illness, it is often possible to stop the regular vitamin, iron, calcium, and other routine medication.

Make sure of the prescription -- the correct drug, the correct concentration, and the correct amount. Overdosing often leads to adverse effects.
 

By and large, medicines that are in the market have been tested for safety, but no drug is absolutely safe.

 

Last revision: September 16, 2011

Common Medicine Side Effects

Contact Information

Dr. Parang Mehta,
Mehta Childcare,
Opposite Putli, Sagrampura,
Surat. Tel: +91 98241 53923.
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