why do medications cause side effects?

Answer 1

because the chemicals found in the concentrations required for medications are not natural to the human body. therefore, they have to be cleared from the body. the resultant compounds (metabolites) will thus have to be cleared by the liver and kidneys. if they can't be cleared quickly, you get side effects b/c the human body is a chemical factory on a cellular level, and these uncommon compounds can be like little molecular monkey wrenches thrown into the gears by interrupting or diverting subsequent chemical reactions needed by the body to function. strange crazy bad things can then happen. same thing with herbal supplements. they are often overlooked by the customer b/c they are "natural", but they aren't natural to YOUR body.

Answer 2

The cold remedy you take makes you sleepy. The antidepressant gives you a headache. The sinus decongestant makes your heart race. Why are side effects so common?

To understand this you need to realize that your body is an immensely complex structure built from chemicals that must be regulated in order to function smoothly. Chemicals such as hormones and other molecular messengers usually make these adjustments. Medicines often work by taking the place of one of the body’s regulating chemicals to readjust the balance. When this restores functioning it is seen as helpful.

However, two things complicate the picture. First, the body often uses the same chemical to regulate more than one process. This means that a medicine may retune not only the desired target but also others that don’t need readjustment. An example of this is that the drug prednisone turns off inflammation, but also causes thinning of bones. Secondly, medicines are not always as selective as we would wish. This means the medicine may alter a number of unrelated processes at the same time. For example, the antidepressant drug amitriptyline can help depression (by acting on serotonin receptors), can also lower blood pressure (by affecting norepinephrine receptors), cause blurred vision, dry mouth and constipation (by blocking acetylcholine receptors) and produce sleepiness and weight gain (by binding to histamine receptors).

One of the more surprising aspects of medications is how two people taking the same medicine can have such different experiences. One person may have severe or troublesome side effects that make the medicine intolerable, while another person finds that the medicine does only the good that it is intended to do. In fact when many thousands or millions of people use medicines, the list of observed side effects can become long indeed.

Side effects may be rare or common, serious or merely annoying. A medicine with frequent mild side effects may be tolerated by the majority of people and be regarded as relatively safe. On the other hand if a medicine has a less common but more serious side effect it can mean that the medicine should only be used when there is no alternative, and then with close monitoring. These considerations require doctors to assess the risk of side effects versus the expected benefit of any medication. In a life-threatening disease, even serious side effects may be worth the risk; but for a mild, transient illness, little risk or even discomfort should be tolerated.

As we learn more about the way our bodies are regulated, more medications are developed that allow us to intercede when diseases disrupt our functioning. It has been a prominent goal in the development of new medications to avoid more serious side effects. But it is likely that until we can foretell who is especially susceptible, at least some people may experience side effects from otherwise beneficial medications. Many of us may have to keep going back to our doctors to try a second or even a third medication before we find one with the strongest therapeutic effect and the fewest side effects.

Answer 3

there are different receptors in the body which may react to the medication therefore exerting different type of effects. one of them would be for the indication of the medicine, the reason why u are taking the medicine and the others would be side effects. although, not all side effects are bad. they might just act to ease other conditions which happens to be unrelated to whatever you are having.

Answer 4

Some medications cause side affects because there is something in it that is harmful to your body. They may be useful for one part of your body, but harmful to other parts.

Answer 5

well every medicinces are effective but every man is not having the same capability as the genes differ and his capabilities.

Answer 6

Because God who create us, knows better what is good for us and whenever we interfere, many disadvanteges come!

Answer 7

All medicine is poison.