Medicines have not only a therapeutic effect. Side effects are also an integral part of their effects on the body. The therapeutic effect of most drugs is based on chemical-physical interactions with the receptors of the body. Here is one example. Pressure decreases, swelling decreases, pain disappears, but diarrhea appears. This can be explained as follows. The drug reacts not only with receptors that recognize it, but also spreads throughout the body along with the blood and thereby participates in various chemical reactions. As a result, this leads to a change in its functions and the development of another pharmacological effect, which is not provided for when using this drug, which causes the formation of side effects. Therefore, any medication has a main effect - it is a therapeutic one, which is expected from its intake and a side, that is, an undesirable reaction.
general information
So, what is the side effect of the drug? This is any reaction that is undesirable or harmful to the body of an individual, which is formed when drugs are used to treat, diagnose, and also prevent pathological conditions.
In another way, we can say that this is a lot of nonspecific changes that appear in the body along with the pharmacological action that is expected when using the drug in acceptable doses. Side effects, according to reviews and experts, are more likely to occur in people who are self-medicating and who allow exceeding the permitted doses, as well as taking drugs that, when used simultaneously, enhance each other's effects, thereby contributing to an excessive pharmacological result.
Who is at risk?
- Pregnant women.
- Elderly and senile people.
- Persons with pathologies of the liver and kidneys. The latter are actively involved in the process of withdrawal of drugs, as well as their metabolites from the body. With kidney damage, excretion is difficult, and drugs accumulate, while their toxic effect is exacerbated. In case of malfunctions in the liver, the deactivation of drugs entering the body of the individual is violated.
- Patients who take several medications at the same time. In this case, the drugs can enhance each other's side reactions, and it is rather difficult to predict these effects.
Classification
All side effects are divided into:
- Predictable, i.e. with a specific clinic. For example, an adverse reaction of hormonal drugs is an increase in blood pressure. And symptoms such as weakness, headache, changes in heart rate are common to many groups of medicines.
- Unpredictable. They appear quite rarely and are often not associated with the effect of the drug.
Predicted side effects of pathogenesis are divided into the following categories:
- concomitant pharmacological undesirable;
- allergic
- drug dependent;
- drug resistant;
- not related to the drug.
Side effects of drugs by location can be systemic and local, by occurrence - indirect and direct. By severity:
- Lungs. In this case, a complete withdrawal of the drug or special therapy is not required. A positive effect is achieved by reducing the dosage of the drug.
- Moderate They carry out the treatment and select another medicine for the patient.
- Heavy. There is a threat to the life of the patient.
- Fatal.
Causes of adverse reactions
Factors leading to adverse effects:
- Not related to taking the drug. These include: the presence of an allergic history in a patient, some features of heredity, gender, age, bad habits, and environmental influences.
- Drug dependent. These are the routes of administration, drug interaction, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic signs.
Which organs are adversely affected by taking the drugs?
When using the drug inside or orally, the side effects are primarily felt by the digestive tract. They appear:
- Stomatitis.
- Destruction of tooth enamel.
- Gastrointestinal Disorders.
- Bloating.
- Nausea.
- Indigestion.
- Loss of appetite.
- Irritation of the mucous membranes. An ulcerogenic effect is noted when taking hormonal drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, some groups of antibiotics and other drugs.
Side effects in adults and children usually disappear after stopping the medication.
The following organs that are exposed are the kidneys and liver. The latter suffers first from the effects of drugs, as it is an obstacle between the general circulatory system and the intestinal vessels. In it, biotransformation of drugs and the formation of metabolites occur. Through the kidneys, both decay products and the preparations themselves, which remain unchanged, are withdrawn. As a result, they have a toxic effect.
Medicines that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier can disrupt the nervous system and cause the following side effects:
- retardation;
- dizziness;
- malfunctioning;
- headache.
Long-term use of drugs that have an inhibitory effect on the central nervous system can be a predisposing factor to the development of parkinsonism and depression. Medicines that relieve tension and fear can disrupt the individual’s gait. Some groups of antibiotics affect the vestibular apparatus, as well as the organs of hearing. A dangerous complication is anemia and leukopenia. The development of these pathologies is provoked by anti-tuberculosis drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and some antibacterial drugs.
Allergy as a side effect of drugs
In this case, the duration of administration or dosage does not matter. In some patients, even the smallest amount of the drug can lead to severe forms of allergic manifestations, while in others, taking the same drug in the maximum permitted daily dose will not cause any reactions or they will be insignificant. The severity of allergic effects is influenced by many factors, here are some of them:
- individual intolerance to the components that make up the drug;
- sensitivity to a specific group or specific drug;
- route of administration;
- taking large doses of drugs;
- the use of medicines for a long time;
- simultaneous use of several drugs.
Types of Allergic Reactions
The same drug can cause different allergic responses, and the same symptom can be caused by different drugs. The following types of allergic reactions are noted:
- Reagin. A side effect is manifested in the form of an instant reaction: urticaria, anaphylactic shock, an attack of bronchial asthma. It is formed upon repeated administration of certain groups of antibiotics, medical immunobiological preparations (vaccines or serums), and vitamins of group B.
- Cytotoxic. As a result of the interaction of the drug or its metabolite with blood components, thrombocytopenia, anemia, agranulocytosis develop.
- Immunocomplex. Various toxic complexes are formed, leading to skin pathologies, nephritis, anaphylactic shock, and serum sickness.
- Delayed hypersensitivity. After the next administration of the drug in 24–48 hours, an allergic action develops according to the type of tuberculin test. By the speed of reactions to the drug administered, they are distinguished: acute, subacute and delayed. The first occur rather quickly or within 60 minutes after administration of the drug and appear in the form of urticaria, anaphylactic shock, an attack of bronchospasm. The second and third develop several hours or days after the use of the drug and are expressed in lesions of the skin, mucous membranes, blood, impaired liver, kidney, cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
The most common allergic reactions
What side effects relate to them? First of all, this is Quincke's edema or angioedema and urticaria. The first is manifested by edema of the mucous membranes, dermis and subcutaneous tissue. With the latter, itching occurs on some skin areas of the body, and then blisters form in their place, subsequently they merge and form an extensive inflamed area.
One of the most common side effects of taking medications is an allergic reaction to the dermis. The rash can be single, and in rare cases, Lyell syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis, a life-threatening individual of the disease, is possible. Manifestations of the rash are local or common throughout the body.
Toxic effects of drugs
Their appearance is influenced by several factors:
- Overdose. When prescribing the drug, it is very important to choose the right dose. For example, in children's practice, it is calculated depending on the body weight of the baby. For adults, the dose indicated in the instructions for medical use is usually designed for an average weight of 60–70 kg. Therefore, if necessary, it should be recounted. In some pathological conditions, the doctor prescribes the maximum allowable daily dose to the patient. Side effects of the drug in this case are covered with the use of other drugs.
- Chronic diseases As a result of various organ damage, drugs accumulate in the body and, as a result, their concentration increases, which further leads to the development of a toxic effect. To prevent this phenomenon, the doctor prescribes a medicine in a lower dosage.
- The age of the patient. For all age categories, a careful selection of a therapeutic dose of the drug is required.
- Pregnancy. In this situation, all prescribed medications must be approved for use in accordance with the instructions, otherwise there is a high risk of toxicity to the fetus.
- The regimen of taking medications. It is important to observe the time of taking the medicine. Incorrect intake increases their concentration and provokes a toxic effect, i.e., intoxication of the body.
- Synergist drugs. Joint use of drugs that enhance each other's action leads to the development of adverse effects. In addition, alcohol-containing drinks in conjunction with taking drugs at times increases the risk of serious complications. Some foods and sunlight are also provocative factors when taking certain groups of drugs. For example, smoked, meat, fish, legumes, cheese products and alcohol should be excluded during treatment with Furazolidone. When taking antibiotics of the fluoroquinolone and tetracycline series, as well as sulfonamides, sunlight is contraindicated.
Side effects of antibiotics
Adverse reactions are manifested in violation of the rules of admission, inadequate dosage, the use of antibacterial drugs without medical indications, as well as in cases of prolonged treatment.
The most common side effects are:
- Dysbacteriosis Its manifestation is facilitated by frequent and prolonged use of antibiotics. For the purpose of prevention, prebiotics in the form of drugs or products are prescribed simultaneously with these drugs. They protect the microflora of the body and contribute to the enhanced production of beneficial bacteria.
- Allergy. To protect against allergic reactions, antihistamines are prescribed, which are taken no earlier than thirty minutes before taking the antibiotic.
- Toxic lesions of internal organs. This effect is minimal in preparations of the penicillin group, as well as second and third generation cephalosporins. When taking other antibiotics, especially in patients suffering from liver disease, hepatoprotectors are prescribed to reduce the harmful effects on it. Reception of aminoglycosides can negatively affect the organs of hearing and vision, leading to impaired urination. During therapy with fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines and sulfonamides it is forbidden to sunbathe.
What side effects, in addition to the above, are still encountered? This is diarrhea or constipation, depression of immunity, irritation of the intestines and so on. For example, Levomycetin has a negative effect on blood formation, Gentamicin on the kidneys, and Tetracycline on the liver. With prolonged course treatment with antibacterial drugs, antifungal drugs are prescribed to prevent the development of fungal pathologies.
After antibiotic therapy, it is recommended to undergo treatment with probiotics to restore intestinal microflora, and enrich the diet with fermented milk products containing bifidobacteria.
Adverse reactions after taking antibiotics in children
Side effects when using antibiotics in babies are manifested in the following:
- Irritable intestines. Such a condition manifests itself by flatulence, which causes the baby pain in the abdomen, diarrhea in the form of liquid green with mucus feces or, conversely, constipation.
- Disturbance of microflora or dysbiosis. The process of digesting food is disturbed. Clinical manifestations are similar to the previous ones.
- Allergy. It is expressed by urticaria, fever, and in severe cases, Quincke's edema or Lyell's syndrome is possible.
- Decreased immunity. In this case, allergic reactions occur along with a violation of the gastrointestinal tract.
If a nursing mother takes antibacterial drugs, then side effects after taking them will affect the baby. The use of antibiotics for therapy is possible only as directed by a doctor who will assess all the risks and benefits of their use.
Prevention of adverse reactions
In order to prevent, it is recommended to observe some rules:
- Choose the optimal dose depending on the age of the patient. Explain to the patient the possibility of developing withdrawal syndrome when taking certain medications.
- When prescribing, take into account both its main property and the side effects of drugs.
- Consider possible drug interactions when prescribing combination therapy. Clearly maintain the interval between doses of the drug.
- Remember that polypharmacy significantly increases the risk of developing adverse reactions.
- If possible, exclude the injection route of drug administration, since after injections, side effects are more pronounced.
- Observe an individual approach when prescribing therapy, taking into account the patient's associated pathologies that affect the biotransformation of drugs.
- Warn patients about quitting smoking, drinking alcohol and coffee drinks during treatment.
- If necessary, prescribe cover preparations to prevent complications.
Finally
Side effects are in all drugs, but they are not manifested in every individual. Undesirable reactions are formed in the presence of individual sensitivity (greater or lesser) to the drugs. Their appearance is affected by gender, age, hormonal balance, genetics, lifestyle, bad habits, existing diseases and other factors. It is proved that the incidence of adverse effects in the elderly is two to three times higher than in the younger generation.
Their prevention is influenced by information received from a doctor or pharmacist, the patient’s medical culture, a responsible attitude to health, compliance with the instructions for use. Side effects are an integral part of pharmacotherapy. And their prevention is an important point in drug therapy. With a professional approach and caution when using drugs, you can avoid unwanted reactions in 70–80% of cases or minimize them.