When do we speak of adverse drug reactions?
Along with its beneficial curative or preventive, the drug may have harmful effects more or less serious. These side effects called "undesirables" are undesired reactions occur when taking a drug at the recommended dose.
Each treatment decision is dictated by the risk / benefit ratio. The proper management of adverse effects begins with an analysis of the advantages and potential drawbacks. When side effects create too much inconvenience to the patient in relation to the relief of his illness, it is a side effect that requires an adjustment of treatment. Any medicine can have side effects causing unpleasant symptoms even dangerous, different people.
What are the main causes of adverse effects?
Inadequate drug dosage and / or poor adherence to prescribed treatment are also responsible for adverse effects.
How to take the drug also affects. For example, anti-inflammatory does not have the same impact on the stomach if taken without food. Corticosteroids are exciting, they prescribe so in the morning.
Medical conditions, genetic or allergic individual to the patient also create side effects.
Are also implicated the possible interaction of drugs taken simultaneously or in parallel, and of course self-medication.
What to do if side effects?
When drugs affect "secondary" apparently Benin, their use still requires special precautions (for example drowsiness for drivers). When side effects are important (nausea, rash, dizziness, palpitations), must quickly consult your doctor or pharmacist. Stopping the medication may be necessary, but not always. For example, an anticoagulant for heart disease does not stop no matter how, as well as hypertension. The major risk is inadvertent interruption of treatment with the patient.
How to prevent side effects?
First regular reassessment of the treatment the doctor in case of chronic illness, then the correct observance of the prescription by the health of its food (alcohol) and lifestyle (exercise, rest, sleep ...).
To better anticipate, we also report these side effects to the pharmacist and doctor. The first may advise the latter may change the treatment. Most importantly, they transmit the regional pharmacovigilance network that monitors their appearance. These include digestive disorders, behavioral disorders, rash, dizziness, fatigue, headache (headache), dyslipidemia (abnormal elevation of triglycerides and / or cholesterol antiretroviral), or pain (cancer) ...
This information is used to re-medication, and by the manufacturing laboratory which thus evolve the product.
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