Side effect explained

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.[1] For instance, X-rays were historically (and are currently) used as an imaging technique; the discovery of their oncolytic capability led to their employ in radiotherapy (ablation of malignant tumours).

Frequency of side effects

The World Health Organization and other health organisations characterise the probability of experiencing side effects as:[2] [3]

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)".[4] That is, the frequency describes how often symptoms appear after taking the drug, not caused by the drug. Both health care providers[5] and lay people[6] misinterpret the frequency of side effects as describing the increase in frequency caused by the drug.

Examples of therapeutic side effects

See also: Serendipity.

Examples of adverse effects

See main article: Adverse effect.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Due A . What are side effects? . European Journal for Philosophy of Science . 13 . 1 . 16 . 2023 . 36936702 . 10006551 . 10.1007/s13194-023-00519-8.
  2. Web site: Common and Rare Side Effects for misoprostol oral.
  3. Web site: Definitions . 2016-04-29 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304222413/http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/quality_safety/safety_efficacy/trainingcourses/definitions.pdf . 2016-03-04.
  4. Web site: 2009-09-01. A Guideline on Summary of Product Characteristics. European commission.
  5. Mühlbauer V, Mühlhauser I . Understanding adverse drug reactions in package leaflets - an exploratory survey among health care professionals . BMC Health Services Research . 15 . 1 . 505 . November 2015 . 26554666 . 4641349 . 10.1186/s12913-015-1160-1 . free .
  6. Mühlbauer V, Prinz R, Mühlhauser I, Wegwarth O . Alternative package leaflets improve people's understanding of drug side effects-A randomized controlled exploratory survey . PLOS ONE . 13 . 9 . e0203800 . 2018-09-13 . 30212555 . 6136776 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0203800 . 2018PLoSO..1303800M . free .
  7. News: Drugs firm blocks cheap blindness cure . The Guardian . London . Boseley S . 17 June 2006 . 2010-05-20.
  8. Web site: Gracer R . The Buprenorphine Effect on Depression . naabt.org . National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment . February 2007 . 19 September 2015.
  9. Bodkin JA, Zornberg GL, Lukas SE, Cole JO . Buprenorphine treatment of refractory depression . Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology . 15 . 1 . 49–57 . February 1995 . 7714228 . 10.1097/00004714-199502000-00008 .
  10. Web site: Leehey K . Mood Stabilizers for Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depressive) . https://web.archive.org/web/20111113183807/http://www.leeheymd.com/charts/dep4_1.html . 13 November 2011 . Leeheymd.com . 1 August 2003 . 17 August 2011 .
  11. Wing DA, Powers B, Hickok D . U.S. Food and Drug Administration drug approval: slow advances in obstetric care in the United States . Obstetrics and Gynecology . 115 . 4 . 825–833 . April 2010 . 20308845 . 10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181d53843 .
  12. Shen WW, Mahadevan J, Hofstatter L, Sata LS . Doxepin as a potent H2 and H2 antihistamine for epigastric distress . The American Journal of Psychiatry . 140 . 7 . 957–8 . July 1983 . 6859336 . 10.1176/ajp.140.7.957 . live . http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110904040738/http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/reprint/140/7/957 . 2011-09-04 .
  13. Web site: Off-label Use of Gabapentin . https://web.archive.org/web/20070809235342/http://idahodur.isu.edu/leaflets/2004/GABAPENTIN%20EDU%20LEAFLET%202004.pdf . 9 August 2007 . Idaho Drug Utilization Review, educational leaflet. 2004 .
  14. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20081011183525/http://drugs.nmihi.com/whd/pregnancy.html . Pregnancy . 11 October 2008 . drugs.nmihi.com . (New Medical Information and Health Information).
  15. Web site: Deem SG . Premature Ejaculation . Emedicine.com . 2011-08-17 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20081201091923/http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic643.htm . 2008-12-01.
  16. Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder. 3 . Gelenberg AJ, Freeman MP, Markowitz JC, Rosenbaum JF, Thase ME, Trivedi MH, Silbersweig DA . Am J Psychiatry . 2010 . 167 . Suppl 10 . 9–118.
  17. Cheshire WP, Fealey RD . Drug-induced hyperhidrosis and hypohidrosis: incidence, prevention and management . Drug Safety . 31 . 2 . 109–26 . 2008 . 18217788 . 10.2165/00002018-200831020-00002 . 23041000 .
  18. Web site: Echinacea - side effects . Drugs.com . 28 June 2023 . 3 April 2023.
  19. Wells RE, Turner DP, Lee M, Bishop L, Strauss L . Managing Migraine During Pregnancy and Lactation . Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports . 16 . 4 . 40 . April 2016 . 27002079 . 10.1007/s11910-016-0634-9 . 10098257 .