Medication Side Effects
Medications Are A Gift Of Modern Medicine, But There Are Side Effects
All medications have potential side effects, although not everyone who takes
a medication experiences them.
Drowsiness is a common effect of numerous medications. While this may be beneficial
at night, can cause problems during the day by complicating routine activities
such as driving to work. Drowsiness occurs mostly when a new medication is
started and will most often subside with continued use as the body accepts
the medication. Building up a tolerance occurs with many medication side effects.
The purpose of medications is to relieve unwanted physical or mental ailments
while producing a minimum of bad side effects. If the bad side effects outweigh
the postive effects, then what is the purpose?
What Can You Do About Medication Side Effects?
Understand what side effects to expect as normal for your medication and the
differance between a serious unexpected side effect and something that will
go away after a period of use and the body adapts.
Ask your physician about making a change in the dosage to minimize the side
effects. Minimizing medication side effects can be done by using the lowest
effective dose and avoiding interactions between one medicine and another.
Always have medication changes prescribed by your doctor. You do not have
the knowledge to do this on your own and may cause yourself serious harm.
Know that there are many medications with differant levels of side effects
that can be switched by your doctor and only switched by your doctor
as more serious problems can occur.
Ask your doctor if there are any methods to cope with the specific side effects
of a new medication. For example; should it be taken with food, late at night?
Ask your pharmacist to check for drug interactions every time you get a prescription
filled. Tell your pharmacist if you are taking any non-prescription or herbal
treatments. Some herbals can interact with your prescription. Ask and be safe!
Be informed! The best ways to deal with medication side effects is to ask
questions, learn the information, and to keep your doctor updated and informed.
By keeping the lines of communication open, your doctor will be able to make
your use of a new medication as side effect free as possible.
Minimize medication side effects with these safety tips.
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