Why do people take these medicines that seem to have extreme side effects? I know some medications may actually help some people, but when you are at risk to getting heart failure, cysts, possible death, etc. etc., I don't see the point in trying them in the first place. Maybe I'm wrong?
2007-12-12 01:25:57 · 5 answers · asked by ☆BB☆ 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
You got a point about taking medicines with bad side effects.However, there are circumstances when there is a DIRE need to take a certain medicine known as a good treatment to the existing illness.
Despite of the known side effects, the good effects are given more weight. The implied RULE is: "When the BENEFITS OUTWEIGH the RISKS" then the option is to take the medicine.
Afterall, medicines are being tested before the approval to make it available to the public. A person may become treated or at least improve by taking a certain medicine despite the bad side effects. On the other hand, condition may get worse if medicine is not taken.
The possible RISKS may possibly happen but probably not. So at the end, the choice is to take the medicine whatever the side effects are. Dealing with the current disease is the main priority. Side effects will be dealt with later ifever it happens.
2007-12-12 01:54:40 · answer #1 · answered by ♥ lani s 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You're not "wrong"--this is a consideration. But there are reasons to prescribe medicines anyway, even those that sometimes have bad side effects.
First, not everyone who takes a particular medication, as others have said, gets a particular side effect. It is part of the doctor's job to discuss the risks and benefits of the medication before starting it and to follow the patient carefully to make sure they're not suffering from them. If the side effects become intolerable, we would discontinue the drug or try a different one (it's strange, but sometimes even another drug in the same class as the one the patient can't take will be fine).
The other thing about drugs is, anything that can help you also has the potential to hurt you. If it can make a difference in the body, it COULD make a difference the wrong way. With most drugs, those 'extreme' side effects are very, very rare indeed. Most side effects are mild, and many times they go away after the person adjusts to the new medication (obviously, I'm generalizing here because I don't know what if any drug the OP may have had in mind). Also, the type of extreme side effect you're talking about usually doesn't happen all at once. You're not going to develop cysts overnight.
The last thing to remember is that even drugs with potential serious side effects may be helping the patient in the overall picture. Chemotherapy is a good example of this--yes, it's basically poison, it will make you throw up and your hair fall out. But it may keep you from dying of cancer, so we try and keep the side effects to a minimum and give it anyway. It's a tradeoff.
2007-12-12 06:02:17 · answer #2 · answered by Marie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are a number of reasons people take medicines that have possible nasty side effects. First, the medicine might be a last possible chance for relief or a cure. Second, not everyone reacts to a particular chemical combination in the same way. What produces really nasty side effects in one person may have no ill effect on the next.
People tend to see positive results and ignore negative factors when their health is concerned. The malady one currently has seems to be the worst possible case, and anything that promises to relieve that malady is seen as the answer to a prayer.
2007-12-12 01:41:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
yeah. you are wrong, in part. i agree that if a med is causing distress, can't there be alternatives? some people, however, have some med problem that the effect of the problem is so severe, they chance the affect. what puzzles me is in today's world, 2007, nearly 2008, and people are still doing fantasy meds, recreational drugs, etc., knowing that it is and can be harmful. back in the 1950s and 60s, little was known of these drugs so takers have a possible excuse for not knowing BUT today? whenever you put something into your mouth or wherever and it's not natural, you are taking chances that the body isn't going to react badly. maybe not now but what about later? the pharmaceutical companies don't know everything so why are we taking without asking "is this really necessary'? a puzzle to me!
2007-12-12 01:48:09 · answer #4 · answered by blackjack432001 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because not everyone suffers from the side effects listed. Most people only get one or two and they consider the benefits outweigh the discomfort of these.
2007-12-12 01:45:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋