Last updated November 18, 2022
Are you experiencing new ailments from medication? When do you know what are side effects of the medication and what are symptoms of the illness?
Most of us are aware that side effects can occur with prescription drugs, and usually remember to skim the package insert if we get medication we haven’t taken before. What many forget is that over-the-counter and alternative medicines can also cause side effects.
What should you be aware of?
If you take several different medications at the same time, unexpected effects can occur, and it is important to remember that. A medication you have taken before without experiencing side effects may react differently in combination with one or more other medications.
- What can be a challenge for the patient is when the side effects of the medication resemble the symptoms of the disease being treated. Examples of this can be a rash after antibiotic treatment for pneumonia, or medications that are supposed to treat depression can have side effects that resemble the symptoms of depression, says general practitioner Theresa Frank in Eyr.
How common are side effects?
All medications can have a side effect, and there are no medications that can guarantee that no patients will experience any degree of side effect.
- For more serious diseases, a higher degree of serious side effects will be accepted than, for example, medications sold in grocery stores or over-the-counter. As mentioned, side effects can occur when combining dietary supplements and/or other medications, so it is important to inform your doctor about which over-the-counter supplements you are taking, which the doctor does not have an overview of, she says.
What should you do if you experience bothersome or painful side effects?
It is completely natural that many people wonder if it is safe to continue taking the medication if they experience sudden and unexplained symptoms that they suspect are side effects. It is a good idea to consider what other medications you are taking and to read the package insert of the new medication carefully.
-In the case of mild side effects, it may be more inappropriate to stop the medication than to continue. If you are in doubt about whether the discomfort you are experiencing is a symptom of the disease or a side effect, and whether you should stop the treatment or not, it is important to talk to a doctor. Eyr’s doctors can assist with advice if you have questions or are unsure about the source of your discomfort, says Frank.