Yes. Anyone can develop side effects, but this does not mean that you will. It depends upon a number of factors, including the medicine, the dose you are taking, the duration of your treatment, whether you are taking other medicines and personal factors such as your age, general health and how sensitive you are to certain medicines. Back to top Generally, the higher your dose of medicine, the more likely you are to experience one or more side effects with it. However, it is sometimes necessary for you to take a high dose in order for you to achieve the maximum benefits from your medicine. You may decide with your doctor to start on a lower dose and gradually increase the dosage over a period of time in order to try to reduce this risk. However, this should not be done with all medicines. Sometimes lower doses cannot provide the benefits you need and so you should never change your dose without discussing this with your doctor or pharmacist first. Remember, if you feel unwell, particularly after your dose has been increased, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Back to top This will depend upon the medicine you are taking and your own response to it. Sometimes side effects will develop immediately upon first use of a new medicine. Others may develop over time and may not start for days, weeks or even longer after a medicine has been taken. Back to top This will depend upon the type of side effect you have. Mild effects will usually disappear once your body gets used to the medicine, whilst more troublesome effects may require a change in the dose or for your medicine to be stopped. You should always consult your doctor before making any change to your treatment. Back to top No. Side effects tend to be described as mild, moderate or serious.
Mild symptoms can often be tolerated and do not usually require treatment or for your medicine to be stopped. However, with some medicines, even mild symptoms, such as bleeding gums or aching muscles, can be the first sign of something more serious and so you should always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any symptoms you notice.
Effects that are described as moderate would not necessarily require you to stop taking the medicine, however, lowering the dose or increasing the time between doses can usually help to reduce their severity and frequency. Treatment with another medicine may be required to reduce or stop the side effect(s). Again, always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any action.
Serious side effects include those that are potentially life threatening, but these are relatively rare. In most cases, the medicine must be stopped and the reaction may have to be treated in hospital. Back to top
It can sometimes be difficult to know whether your symptoms are a direct result of taking your medicine or if they are related to your underlying health condition. It may be that they are totally unrelated and could be the first signs of a new condition (e.g. a viral infection). You should be aware of any changes to your body and how you feel. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any new symptoms you develop and when they started. He/she will then advise you on how to proceed.
Back to top Dose-related side effects can be linked to the way the medicine is working. They may therefore be unavoidable, but can be predicted from the ways in which the medicine acts within the body. For example, beta-blockers can be taken for heart problems and at this dose they act by slowing down the heart. This can cause unwanted effects such as tiredness. Sometimes, changing to a different, but similar, medicine can make a big difference. Talk to your doctor about alternative medicines available to you. Back to top Allergic reactions occur if you are sensitive to a particular medicine and even a small amount of that medicine can bring about a reaction. They are largely unpredictable, but are far less common than dose-related side effects. Usually they are minor effects, such as skin rashes and itching, although very rarely some medicines can cause a life-threatening reaction, known as anaphylaxis, which causes difficulty in breathing, a drop in blood pressure, and/or loss of consciousness. This is like the reaction that can occur in people with nut allergies. If you do have an allergic reaction, your doctor may advise you to stop taking your medicine and avoid taking it in the future. Remember, always inform your doctor of any known allergies before any medicine is prescribed for you and always read the Patient Information Leaflet, if one is provided. Back to top
Many people do not experience any side effects with their medicine. The following may help to reduce your risk of developing side effects:
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist about any other medicines you are taking or about any allergies you have before he/she prescribes any treatment for you.
- Follow the instructions given to you by your doctor and carefully read the Patient Information Leaflet, if one is provided with your medicine.
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether you should avoid any foods, alcohol or certain activities that may interact with or affect your medicine.
- Take the dose recommended for you and at the correct time. If in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Also make sure you know what to do if you miss a dose.
- Check whether you should take your medicine on an empty stomach or with meals.
- If you need to take other medicines, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Remember that all types of medicines may interact with each other — that includes medicines you get without a prescription, as well as herbal and other alternative remedies. Your ability to drive or operate machinery may be affected by medicines that affect your sight or make you sleepy (e.g. some antihistamine medicines)
You may need to avoid alcohol or certain foods (e.g. grapefruit with some cholesterol-lowering medicines)
Nursing mothers may need to avoid breastfeeding, as there are many medicines that can pass into breast milk.
Sometimes a medicine can make you feel tired or lacking in energy.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how your medicine may affect your lifestyle and ask whether there is anything you need to avoid as a result. This information will also be included in the Patient Information Leaflet, so do take the time to read it if you have one. Back to top If you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, always talk to your doctor or pharmacist. The Patient Information Leaflet can also provide some information. Some medicines should not be taken if you are pregnant because they may harm your baby. In other cases, your baby could be harmed if you stop taking your medicine(s). Back to top There is a lot of good-quality and helpful information about medicines on the Internet, but some information is unreliable and could be dangerous. Make sure you know who has written the information — information from the manufacturers of medicines, from the government regulatory agencies and from recognised medical and pharmaceutical societies is carefully checked and usually reliable. Some other sites are much less trustworthy. In particular, beware of sites that set out to scare people about the side effects of prescription medicines and offer to sell you ‘safer’ alternatives. Back to top If you have any questions or require any further information, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Back to top
Medicines can cause mild side effects, which are usually tolerable and may disappear once your body gets used to the medicine. For more troublesome or serious symptoms, your dose may need to be decreased or your medicine stopped. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any side effects you experience. The Patient Information Leaflet will also provide you with useful information and advice about what to do. Remember, never alter your prescribed dose or stop taking your medicine without first consulting your doctor.
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This will depend on how serious your side effect is. For less serious effects, your doctor may advise you to continue with the medicine as prescribed or may alter the amount of medicine you take or how often you take it. For more serious symptoms, and for non-dose-related side effects, like allergic reactions, your doctor may advise you to stop taking the medicine and may be able to prescribe a similar medicine that will suit you better. He/she may also prescribe another type of medicine to treat the side effects you are experiencing. If you experience serious side effects, you may need to go to hospital for treatment, but this is rare.
Back to top Most medicines will not affect the normal things you do each day. However, some can. Examples of how your lifestyle may be affected include: Back to top |