All of us rely on prescription or OTC drugs at some point in our lives. Whether it’s mild pain killers or strong antibiotics, we need these life-saving drugs at some point in our lives. However, all drugs have certain side effects and you should be fully aware of these before you start taking them frequently. Some drugs like Truvada and Zantac have been known to be problematic, creating the need for a Zantac attorney and more besides. In order to avoid any dangerous situations, you should know all about the different side effects of common drugs.
What are side effects?
Side effects are essentially unwanted or unpredictable medical problems that arise from consuming a drug that’s supposed to help you fight a different medical issue. Some side effects can be helpful, but this is rarely the case. Mostly adverse in nature, side effects can arise when you combine different types of treatments, drugs, or don’t exercise caution and restraint while taking a specific medicine. These effects can lead to further detrimental complications down the road.
If side effects get serious, these can lead to death, birth defects and complications, or even permanent damage to your vital organs.
Common side effects and how to address them
Here are some common side effects that you may experience if you take prescription or OTC drugs.
Constipation
To counter this, you should increase the amount of water you drink in a day. Many drugs can lead to upset stomachs and problems in digesting food. You should consume foods with more fiber content in order to relieve constipation.
Skin Rashes
Skin rashes can easily be treated with OTC ointments or things like calamine lotion. You should keep your skin covered and use sunblock to make sure you don’t make the rash worse with sun damage or burning.
Diarrhea
The opposite of constipation, diarrhea can result in a heavy loss of fluids from your body. You should counter this by consuming water and juices with electrolytes in them to replenish your body’s fluid content. If you have severe diarrhea, you could consider eating foods with fiber in order to help your digestive system regulate itself better.
Drowsiness
You shouldn’t attempt to fend off drowsiness because it does pass. However, you should be careful not to get behind the wheel of a car or attempt to operate any heavy machinery when you feel drowsy.
Nausea
This is one of the most common side effects of certain drugs and is often quite unpleasant. If you’re feeling nauseous, you can try taking deep breaths, inhaling a pleasant scent or eating foods that balance your digestive system. Try not to eat anything rich or spicy as this might just aggravate your symptoms.
There are other side effects that you may experience due to some common drugs, but these are the most common.
What should you do if you feel side effects
Immediately contact your doctor and let them know what’s happening to you. Side effects can often become worse with time if the treatment plan is unchanged or if you don’t address these issues. Consult your physician and come up with a plan to tackle unpleasant side effects right away.