According to estimates, more than 4.5 million Americans visit physicians or health clinics after experiencing side effects from prescription medicine every year. Encountering side effects after having medicines is not uncommon. However, in most of the cases, the side effects are mild. On the other hand, side effects could be adverse in some cases. In the following section, let us explore the commonest side effects of some prescribed medicines. Depending on the dosage, these side effects may go adverse from being mild.
1. Hallucinations
Hallucinations are common for people suffering from schizophrenia. At the same time, excessive alcohol intake can also lead to hallucinations. Nevertheless, people under the influence of substance addiction may also hallucinate. Hallucination could be a side effect of medicinal drugs. When drug dosage becomes high, the chance of hallucination can increase.
Hallucinations are caused by various types of medicinal drugs. However, sulfa and cephalosporins are the two antibiotics that cause hallucinations in case they have been prescribed at a higher dose. Therefore, optimizing the dosage before prescribing such antibiotics is crucial for physicians. Recommending a PGx test can be an excellent solution to understanding the right dosage of the medicinal drug.
2. Memory Loss
When it comes to adverse side effects of medicinal drugs, memory loss as a side effect should not go unnoticed. Some medications may cause amnesia, which may trigger unusual behaviors. People suffering from memory loss after consuming a medicine should consult a physician at the earliest. Typically, you may encounter a short-term memory loss. The memory loss condition may stay even after the medicine’s effect becomes void on your body.
3. Priapism
Priapism is an unwanted and painful erection after consuming certain types of medicinal drugs. Typically, the problem occurs among men, who consume Viagra or similar medicinal drugs to increase sexual drive. However, priapism may also happen due to the consumption of some other types of drugs.
4. Gastronomical Issues
Facing gastronomical issues after consuming a medicine is not uncommon. However, it can become a concern when the side effects become unbearable to your body. For example, frequent vomiting and diarrhea have been considered adverse side effects of the medicine. In such cases, you should consult a professional physician to deal with such gastronomical problems. Metformin side effects include adverse symptoms, including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and more.
5. Blood Clots
A blood clot is a dangerous side effect of vaccines and other types of medications on humans. Due to the blood clot, patients can also die. Therefore, this adverse side effect should be taken seriously before prescribing the drugs that can potentially lead to this side effect. With female oral contraceptives, there is a high chance of blood clots. Patients under various hormonal therapies may experience similar side effects.
Bottom Line
Side effects of the medicines are uncountable, and the adversity of these side effects depends on the dosage. Moreover, the side effects vary from one person to another, depending on the genetic profiles of the patients. Reading or understanding the genetic information of human beings is essential for this reason before prescribing a drug that may have fatal side effects.
Undergoing pharmacogenomics testing helps understand the signs your antidepressant dose is too low or high. The test gives the genetic insights of a patient so that the physician can understand the potential side effects of a medicinal drug on the person. Therefore, it eventually helps physicians to avoid drugs that may lead to adverse side effects. Nevertheless, physicians can optimize the dosage according to the patient’s genetic profile.
