Prescription Medicines
Medicine Problems
Several kinds of adverse medication reactions can occur. See the medication guidelines for tips on how to avoid common medicine problems.
Side effects. Side effects are predictable but unpleasant reactions to a medicine. They are usually mild but can be inconvenient. In some cases, they are more serious.
Allergies. Some people have severe, sometimes life-threatening reactions (called anaphylaxis) to certain medicines. For signs of an allergic reaction, see the topic Allergic Reaction.
Medicine interactions. These occur when two or more prescription or nonprescription medicines or herbal supplements mix in a person's body and cause an adverse reaction. The symptoms can be severe and may be improperly diagnosed as a new illness.
Medicine-food interactions. These occur when medicines react with food. Some medicines work best when taken with food, but others should be taken on an empty stomach. Some medicine-food reactions can cause serious symptoms.
Overmedication. Sometimes the full adult dose of a medicine is too much for people who weigh less than the average adult and for people over age 60. Taking too much of a medicine can be very dangerous.
Addiction. Long-term use of some medicines can lead to dependency, and severe reactions may occur if the medicines are withdrawn suddenly. Narcotics, tranquilizers, and barbiturates must be taken very carefully to prevent addiction. For more information, see the topic Alcohol and Drug Problems.
 Go to previous section |  Go to top of page |  Go to next section |
| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS | Last Updated: May 1, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine | |
 | ||
| Topic Contents | |
| Topic Overview | |
| Antibiotics | |
| Sleeping Pills | |
 | Medication Problems |
| How to Save Money | |
| Related Information | |
| Credits | |