top of page

Why Do Drugs have Side Effects?

Sarah Reidwan

Updated: Feb 20, 2023

Translated Version:


Many times, we get unwanted effects from taking a drug and these undesirable effects can vary from drug to drug. These effects are called adverse reactions or most referred to as side effects. Almost all drugs have side effects.

The reason why almost all drugs have side effects is because it is not possible to make a drug that targets one part of the body only and that doesn't affect other parts. For example, if you have a stomach-ache and take a painkiller. The painkiller will affect all parts of the body, even the parts other than your stomach. So, developing drugs is not a simple process .

Some other factors like dosing and chemical reactions can also be the reason. Many times, the time of the day, an on empty stomach or a filled one matters too It is not necessary that the drug will always ONLY kill the unwanted cells, many times it can also kill the normal healthy cells which will result in loss

Types of Effects:

The type of effects can vary .Also note that some effects are more likely than others.

  • Abnormal heart rhythms

  • Constipation

  • Skin rash

  • Dizziness

  • Change in Mental state

  • Drowsiness

  • Headache

  • Hair growth (rare and for some specific drugs) or opposite

  • Nausea

  • Diarrhoea

  • Stomach-ache

  • Feeling of tiredness

  • Weight loss

  • Liver failure

  • Sweatiness

  • Disturbed menstrual cycle

  • Appetite

  • Dehydration

  • Change in sleep habits

  • And even many more!


Reduce the Risk:

We can reduce the risk by taking only prescribed drugs , by asking healthcare professionals , by taking prescribed dosages and learning more about what you are taking.

How Long and When:

The symptoms of side effects may remain for some time. It depends on the medication and what kind of side effect has developed. Side effects can happen at any time. They can occur when you first take a drug, with dosage, or if you stop taking the drugs too soon. If you are taking more than one drug sometimes those drugs may cause a reaction due to their interaction.

 

Citation:

(Cover image source: Anna Shvets from Pexels.com)


"All about side effects." Medical News Today, 31 Mar. 2017, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/196135.


"Finding and Learning about Side Effects (adverse reactions)." U.S. Food & Drug Administration, 8 Aug. 2022, www.fda.gov/drugs/information-consumers-and-patients-drugs/finding-and-learning-about-side-effects-adverse-reactions#:~:text=Side%20effects%2C%20also%20known%20as,heart%20attack%20or%20liver%20damage.


Morelli, Jim MPH. "Drug Side Effects Explained." WebMD, 7 Mar. 2022, www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/drug-side-effects-explained.


"What are side effects and why do they occur?" i-base.info, 1 Nov. 2021, i-base.info/guides/side/what-are-side-effects#:~:text=Why%20do%20side%20effects%20occur,people%20are%20exactly%20the%20same.

コメント


bottom of page