Drug side effects are a reaction to unexpected and dangerous as a result of a treatment. Drug side effects, as well as the expected effects of the drug, are a performance of the dose or concentration of drug at the target organ.
Drug interactions are also one of the
causes of adverse effects. This occurs when health workers (doctors, pharmacists, nurses) negligent in checking drugs consumed by patients, resulting in certain effects are not expected in the patient's body. Increased severity of illness of patients that can lead to death is a condition that a lot happening around the world due to this drug interaction.
This interaction can occur between drugs or between drugs with food / beverage. Even the plants used in the treatment of presumed safe alternative by the majority of the public also may interact with other drugs. An example is the St. Plant. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), which is used for the treatment of moderate depression.
This led to an increase in plant cytochrome P450 enzymes that play a role in the metabolism and elimination of many drugs in the body, so patients taking St John's wort will experience a reduction in the blood levels of other drugs that are used together.
Here is common of a drug's side effects that typically occur:
1. Abortion or miscarriage, due Misoprostol, a drug used for prevention (gastric ulcer) gastric ulcers caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
2. Addiction, due to sedative drugs and analgesics such as diazepam and morphine.
3. Fetal damage, caused by Thalidomide and Accutane.
4. Intestinal bleeding, caused by aspirin.
5. Cardiovascular disease, due to COX-2 inhibitors.
6. Deafness and kidney failure, caused by the antibiotic gentamicin.
7. Death, caused by propofol.
8. Depression and injury to the liver, caused by Interferon.
9. Diabetes, which is caused by neuroleptic psychiatric drugs.
10. Diarrhea, caused by the use of Orlistat.
11. Erectile dysfunction, caused by antidepressants.
12. Fever, caused by vaccination.
13. Glaucoma, caused by corticosteroid eye drops.
14. Hair loss and anemia due to chemotherapy against cancer or leukemia.
15. Hypertension, due to the use of ephedrine. This makes the FDA revoked the status of the plant extract ephedra (ephedrine source) as a dietary supplement.
16. Liver damage caused by paracetamol.
17. Drowsiness and increased appetite due to antihistamine use.
18. Stroke or heart attack due to the use of Sildenafil (Viagra).
19. Suicide due to the use of Fluoxetine, an antidepressant.