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Chapter 38: Coping with Side-Effects
| Doctors are men who prescribe medicines, of which they know little, to cure diseases, of which they know less, in human beings, of whom they know nothing. - Voltaire |
Medicines have certain desirable effects (which is why the doctor prescribes them in the first place!) and these effects of a drug are known as the drugs effects or therapeutic effects. Drugs, however, have undesirable effects as well, and these are broadly called side-effects or adverse reactions. Some side-effects are expected and unavoidable, but others may surprise the doctor as well as the patient, and some of these unexpected reactions may be due to an individuals specific response to the drug. Side-effects generally fall into one of two major groups - those that are obvious and those that cannot be detected without laboratory testing. A discussion between you and your doctor about your medicines should not be restricted to the most easily recognized side-effects because other, less obvious, side-effects may also prove harmful. Some side-effects may signal a serious, perhaps dangerous, problem, and if such side-effects appear, you should consult your doctor immediately. If you know that a particular drug produces a particular side-effect, you can afford to relax a little. Most expected side-effects are temporary and need not cause alarm. Youll merely experience discomfort or inconvenience for a short time. For example, you may become drowsy after taking an antihistamine or develop a stuffy nose after taking certain drugs for treating high blood pressure. Of course, if you find certain minor side-effects especially bothersome, you should discuss them with your doctor, who may be able to prescribe another drug or at least assure you that the benefits of the drug (you are currently taking) far outweigh its somewhat irksome side-effects. Sometimes, side-effects can be minimized or eliminated by changing your dosage schedule or taking the drug with meals, but you need to check this aspect with your doctor! TOP Even if you experience minor side-effects, it is very important that you take your medicine exactly as it has been prescribed. Dont stop taking a medicine just because you think that it does not suit you ! You should take the full dose at the specified times for the length of time prescribed by your doctor. Taking a lesser amount of medicine to avoid side-effects or because your condition appears to be improving is NOT advisable. A smaller dose may not provide any benefit whatsoever; that is, half the dose may not provide half the therapeutic effects ! Some obvious side-effects of commonly used drugs include blurred vision, a dry mouth, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, loss of appetite, drowsiness, dizziness, stuffy nose, skin rash, swelling, itching and sweating. Remember that these side-effects do not mean that you are allergic to the drug, it may simply be one of the reactions of your body to the drug. Other side-effects may be subtle and more difficult to detect. You may not notice any symptoms at all, or you may notice only slight indications. Therefore, your doctor may advice you to go in for periodic blood tests or eye examinations to ensure that no subtle damage is occurring while you are on certain medicines. Such damage could affect your heart, kidney or liver; or cause anaemia or loss of hearing. USE OF DRUGS DURING PREGNANCYAND BREAST-FEEDING Before taking ANY medicine, it is very important to tell your doctor if you are pregnant (or planning to become pregnant) or are breast-feeding your baby. For most drugs, at present, complete information on safety during pregnancy and while breast-feeding is woefully lacking. This shortcoming cannot be attributed to negligence or lack of concern on the part of regulatory agencies, but to the fact that it would be unethical to conduct drug experiments on pregnant and nursing women. Keeping this aspect in mind, you should discuss in an unambiguous manner with your doctor the risks versus the benefits of taking any medicines during pregnancy or while nursing an infant. TOP MANAGEMENT OF SIDE-EFFECTS First of all, check your drug information leaflet or consult your doctor to determine whether, the side-effects you are experiencing are minor (relatively common and usually not serious) or major (symptoms that you should consult your doctor about). If your side-effects are minor, you may be able to compensate for them (see the following table for suggestions). However, consult your doctor if you find minor side-effects persistent or particularly bothersome. Common Minor Side-Effects Side-effect and its Management Constipation: Increase the amount of fibre in your diet; drink plenty of fluids; exercise regularly Diarrhoea: Drink lots of water to replace lost fluids; if symptoms last for longer than three days, consult your doctor Dizziness: Avoid operating machinery or driving a car Drowsiness: Avoid operating machinery or driving a car Dry mouth: Suck on candy or ice chips Headache: Remain tranquil; take aspirin or paracetamol Insomnia: Take the last dose of the drug earlier in the day; drink a glass of warm milk at bedtime; request your doctor to draw up in exercise programme Itching: Take frequent baths or showers, or use wet soaks; also calamine lotion or antihistamines may help Nasal congestion: If necessary, use nose drops Upset stomach: Take the drug with milk or food On the other hand, if you experience any major side-effects, contact your doctor immediately. Your dosage may need adjustment, or you may have developed an allergy to the drug. Consequently, your doctor may want you to switch over to a different medicine to treat your disorder. Never stop taking a prescribed medicine without first consulting your doctor! TOP |
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