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Understanding medication side effects

What causes medication side effects?
Most side effects are manageable, and serious side effects from cholesterol medication are rare. When side effects do happen, it’s because no medication is a magic bullet. In order to produce the desired effects (lowering cholesterol), the medication interacts with your body in a complex way, affecting a variety of different body systems, which can cause side effects (possible side effects include muscle soreness, headaches, headaches, bloating, or flushing).
What is the link between dosing and side effects?
In general, lower doses of medication cause fewer side effects. This is because at higher doses, there is more medication in the body, which increases all of the medication’s effects, both desirable (lowering cholesterol) and undesirable (causing side effects).
What can I do to reduce my risk of side effects?
Side effects are generally mild and not very common, and may go away on their own. Serious side effects are rare. However, it’s important to take these steps to reduce the chances that you’ll experience side effects:

• Ask your doctor if you’re on the most appropriate dose of your medication. Lower doses usually cause fewer side effects. Your doctor may also recommend that you switch to a different medication that is effective at a lower dose. Talk to your doctor to learn more.
• Know your risk. Ask your doctor which side effects to watch for and what to do if they occur.
• Use your medication exactly as directed. Accidentally taking a double dose (for example, taking an extra dose because you’re not sure if you remembered to take your medication) can increase your risk of side effects. If you often forget whether you took your medication, ask your pharmacist for ways to make it easier to remember (such as alarms or dosettes).
• Watch for side effects when starting a new medication or after your dose is increased. These are the times when side effects often start.

When should I worry about a side effect?
Many side effects are generally mild, not very common, and may go away on their own. Serious side effects are rare, but it’s important to know how to recognize them. You should be concerned if a side effect:

• is severe (such as a severe headache)
• is sudden (such as sudden face swelling or difficulty breathing)
• is unexpected (i.e., it was not one of the side effects that your doctor or pharmacist warned you about)
• could be a sign of a serious health problem (such as muscle pain, discoloured urine, or a general feeling of weakness) – ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain which side effects of your medication could be serious
• interferes with your daily activities

Check with your doctor if you notice any side effects like this. You should also contact your doctor about any side effects that worry you. Your doctor may recommend that you take a lower dose or switch to a different medication.
What should I do if I’m concerned about side effects?
When learning about the side effects your medication may cause, it’s important to keep a couple of things in mind. First, most side effects are mild, not very common, and may go away on their own. Serious side effects are usually rare.
Second, not all unwanted effects experienced by people taking a medication are actually due to the medication itself. Studies comparing cholesterol medications to a placebo (a “dummy pill” with no active ingredients) often find that people taking the placebo have unwanted effects, too. This shows that unwanted effects may be due to factors other than your medication, such as your medical conditions.
The Canadian Pharmacists Association reviewed side effect risks for some common cholesterol medications and found that the average risk of stomach-related side effects such as abdominal cramps and pain, constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, gas, heartburn, nausea, and taste changes was 0.8% to 4.5%, and the risk of other side effects such as dizziness, headache, trouble sleeping, rash, and unusual burning or prickling sensations on the body was 1.0% to 7.7%. It’s important to note that these are average values among many different medications. Some medications may have higher or lower risks of these side effects, and may cause other side effects not listed here.

Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about side effects. Cholesterol medication side effects can usually be managed. In most cases, reducing the medication dose can reduce side effects. But don’t change the dose on your own – check with your doctor first. Your doctor may also recommend that you switch to a different medication that is effective at a lower dose. Talk to your doctor to learn more.

Source: C-Health