Side effect
In medicine, a side effect is an effect, whether therapeutic or adverse, that is unintended; although the term is predominantly employed to describe adverse effects, it can also apply to beneficial, but unintended, consequences of the use of a drug.
Occasionally, drugs are prescribed or procedures are performed for their side effects; in that case, said side effect ceases to be a side effect and is now an intended effect. For instance,
Frequency of side effects
The World Health Organization and other health organisations characterise the probability of experiencing side effects as:[1][2]
- Very common, ≥ 1⁄10
- Common (frequent), 1⁄10 to 1⁄100
- Uncommon (infrequent), 1⁄100 to 1⁄1000
- Rare, 1⁄1000 to 1⁄10000
- Very rare, < 1⁄10000
The European Commission recommends that the list should contain only effects where "at least a reasonable possibility" exists that it is caused by the drug and the frequency "should represent crude incidence rates (and not differences or relative risks calculated against placebo or other comparator)".[3] That is, the frequency describes how often symptoms appear after taking the drug, not caused by the drug. Both health care providers[4] and lay people[5] misinterpret the frequency of side effects as describing the increase in frequency caused by the drug.
Examples of therapeutic side effects
- Avastin), used to slow the growth of blood vessels, has been used against dry age-related macular degeneration, as well as macular edema from diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and central retinal vein occlusion.[8]
- Buprenorphine has been shown experimentally (1982–1995) to be effective against severe, refractory depression.[9][10]
- anti-depressant, is also used as a smoking cessation aid; this indication was later approved, and the name of the smoking cessation product is Zyban. In Ontario, Canada, smoking cessation drugs are not covered by provincial drug plans; elsewhere, Zyban is priced higher than Wellbutrin, despite being the same drug. Therefore, some physicians prescribe Wellbutrin for both indications.[citation needed]
- attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, phantom limb syndrome, paroxysmal extreme pain disorder, neuromyotonia, and post-traumatic stress disorder.[11]
- premature labor, to enhance pulmonary maturation of the fetus.[12]
- angioedema and severe allergic reactions due to its strong antihistamine properties.[13]
- restless leg syndrome.[14]
- Hydroxyzine, an antihistamine, is also used as an anxiolytic.[citation needed]
- preeclampsia.[12]
- Methotrexate (MTX), approved for the treatment of choriocarcinoma, is frequently used for the medical treatment of an unruptured ectopic pregnancy.[15]
- The SSRI medication sertraline is approved as an antidepressant but delays conjugal climax in men, and thus may be supplied to those in which climax is premature.[16]
- Sildenafil was originally intended for pulmonary hypertension; subsequently, it was discovered that it also produces erections, for which it was later marketed.[citation needed]
- Terazosin, an α1-adrenergic antagonist approved to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) and hypertension, is (one of several drugs) used off-label to treat drug induced diaphoresis and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).[17][18]
Examples of adverse effects
- allergic reactions, hives, swelling of the face, aching muscles and gastrointestinal discomfort.[19]
- Feverfew – pregnant women should avoid using this herb, as it can trigger uterine contractions which could lead to premature labour or miscarriage.[20]
- hay fever.[citation needed]
See also
- Adverse drug reaction (ADR), a harmful unintended result caused by taking medication
- Combined drug intoxication
- Conservative management
- Drug-drug interaction (DDI), an alteration of the action of a drug caused by the administration of other drugs
- Paradoxical reaction, an effect of a substance opposite to what would usually be expected
- Pharmacogenetics, the use of genetic information to determine which type of drugs will work best for a patient
- Unintended consequences
References
- ^ "Common and Rare Side Effects for misoprostol oral".
- ^ "Definitions" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- European commission. 1 September 2009.
- PMID 26554666.
- PMID 30212555.
- ^ "Nicotine Side Effects". Drugs.com.
- S2CID 43763340.
- ^ Boseley S (17 June 2006). "Drugs firm blocks cheap blindness cure". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
- ^ Gracer R (February 2007). "The Buprenorphine Effect on Depression" (PDF). naabt.org. National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- PMID 7714228.
- ^ Leehey K (1 August 2003). "Mood Stabilizers for Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depressive)". Leeheymd.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ PMID 20308845.
- from the original on 4 September 2011.
- ^ "Off-label Use of Gabapentin" (PDF). Idaho Drug Utilization Review, educational leaflet. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2007.
- ^ "Pregnancy". drugs.nmihi.com. (New Medical Information and Health Information). Archived from the original on 11 October 2008.
- ^ Deem SG. "Premature Ejaculation". Emedicine.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ Gelenberg AJ, Freeman MP, Markowitz JC, Rosenbaum JF, Thase ME, Trivedi MH, Silbersweig DA (2010). "Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder" (PDF). Am J Psychiatry. 167 (Suppl 10). American Psychiatric Association: 9–118.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - S2CID 23041000.
- ^ "Echinacea - side effects". Drugs.com. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- S2CID 10098257.
External links
- "MedEffect Canada". Health Canada. 13 July 2011.
- "Definitions" (PDF). World Health Organization.