The major side effects of drugs in practice

Side effects, also known as adverse events, are unwanted or unexpected events or reactions to a drug. A large number of people believe that drugs prescribed for ailments can cure them without any negative side effects. It is a common practice to pop tablets to ease our pain, or prevent or control symptoms of diseases.

As of late, medicines like Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Ofloxacin have been identified to produce side effects. These drugs are commonly prescribed to patients suffering from lung infections, sinus infections, abdominal infections and for tuberculosis to curb the infections. Recently, reports from the Federal food and Drugs Administration, United States (FDA) suggest that most commonly used drugs, prescription and over-the-counter, cause side effects.

Dr. C. Raghu MD, DM, FSCAI, FAPSIC, Interventional cardiologist of Aster Prime Hospital talks on various aspects related to this subject.

According to him, “The usage of fluoroquinolone can lead to psychological disturbances, attention problems and sometimes severe muscular weaknesses leading to a condition called fluoroquinolone associated disability.”  Hypoglycemia, and rupturing of tendons are additional side effects caused by this routine drug. These side effects are often misinterpreted and treated as separate clinical problems.

Proton-pump inhibitors like pantodac, pantoprazole, omeprazole, have been thought to have rare cases of side effects, even when taken for long periods of time. Pantoprazole is commonly used to combat gastritis. Recently, however, these drugs have been found to cause kidney failure. Dr. Raghu adds, “It is quite alarming because a physician uses these drugs thinking it is very innocuous with fewer side effects but suddenly we realize that these drugs have some side effects which can be harmful.”

It is advised to look for alternatives to the aforementioned drugs, to avoid neurological side effects like insomnia, hallucination, agitation and restlessness. For example, ranitidine tablets, although older, induce no dangerous side effects, and are used to reduce gastric acid secretion.

In conclusion, increased amounts of research can lead to more side effects being found, even if the prescribed drug has been used for more than a decade. Medicines should be taken only when required or prescribed.

For Appointments :  Dr. C. Raghu MD, DM, FSCAI, FAPSIC, Interventional cardiologist of Aster Prime Hospital