Contents:
- Medical Video: Side Effects of Stopping Thyroid Medication Abruptly (& Why you Shouldn't do it)
- Do all drugs have side effects?
- When do you need to see a doctor if you experience side effects?
- If this is the case, do you have to stop taking medicine?
Medical Video: Side Effects of Stopping Thyroid Medication Abruptly (& Why you Shouldn't do it)
All drugs have different side effects for each person. Along with the desired results, the drug can also cause unwanted side effects. Drug side effects can occur when you start a new treatment, reduce or increase the dose of the drug, or when you stop using it. Common side effects of drugs such as nausea, vomiting, feeling tired, dizziness, dry mouth, headaches, hives, and muscle aches. If this is what should be done? Continue treatment or stop?
Do all drugs have side effects?
All drugs used to treat all types of health conditions can cause side effects. However, indeed not all drugs will cause these side effects. In fact, most people who take certain medications do not experience side effects or may only experience mild effects.
The appearance of side effects of a drug depends on your age, weight, gender, and overall health condition. In addition, the severity of your illness can increase the chances of these side effects appearing.
The reason is, the more severe your health problems are, the more and various drugs consumed. This then makes drug side effects appear.
When do you need to see a doctor if you experience side effects?
It is important for you to understand the potential side effects of your medication and what to do if symptoms appear. If indeed you start feeling symptoms of side effects, immediately tell this to the doctor, even though the symptoms that are felt are still relatively mild.
Maybe these conditions do not endanger health, but the appearance of mild side effects indicates that the drug does not react properly.
Visit your doctor immediately if you have any of these side effects:
- Stomach ache
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Dizzy
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Missing appetite
- Palpitations
- Problems with coordination
- Ears ringing
- Skin rashes or hives
- Swelling of hands or feet
- Loss of consciousness or fainting
Some side effects may not make you feel sick, so the doctor will usually ask you to do routine laboratory tests to detect any problems early on.
For example, if you take medication for high cholesterol, such as Lipitor (Atorvastatin), your doctor will most likely recommend you undergo liver function tests before starting the drug, which is 12 weeks after you start therapy, and thereafter periodically.
If this is the case, do you have to stop taking medicine?
All drugs have benefits and risks. The risk is the possibility of serious side effects of the drug you are taking. This risk can be mild to severe. However, even a few minor side effects can sometimes interfere with your activities.
Some side effects may be severe and require medical treatment, while others may be mild. Severe or severe side effects are sometimes one of the main reasons why people stop using recommended drugs.
However, do not stop taking medication without talking to your doctor first. If you think you have serious side effects that are harmful to your health, immediately see a doctor or come to the nearest hospital.
If you have worrisome side effects, your doctor may change the dosage, try different drugs in the same drug class, or recommend some type of diet or lifestyle changes.
Some severe side effects may be life threatening, such as liver damage. Therefore, understand well what the benefits and side effects that might occur before you take the medicine. Ask your doctor or nurse to explain.
