About potential side effects of drugs
The high benefit factor of drugs is undisputed, but this fact also carries the risk that many patients are deceived by this status. In doing so, they forget to question things from time to time. Clear symptoms that occur on a daily basis are rarely associated with the use of medication. Instead, people quickly brush off the body's conspicuous signals as something normal and relegate them to the sidelines. But a more critical look beyond the end of one's nose is often very worthwhile. With various approaches, some phenomena can even be prevented completely. In this article, Alterix introduces you to some side effects of medications that you should definitely be aware of:
- Irritable cough
- Blackness in front of eyes
- Diarrhea
- muscle breakdown
- interaction with food
Persistent irritating cough
"It's just a little cold," is often the response when a persistent and troublesome cough occurs over a long period of time. The fact is, however, that especially patients with cardiovascular problems or high blood pressure suffer from this protracted phenomenon. This group of people is usually dependent on regular use of ACE inhibitors due to the symptoms. These drugs are effective in treating arterial hypertension, but also, among other things, chronic heart failure. If monotherapy is the goal, there is usually no way around ACE inhibitors. However, this drug is also used in combination with supportive medications. However, this important aid unfortunately also has a downside that is usually misinterpreted by those affected.
ACE inhibitors have the effect in the body that the enzyme angiotensin converting enzyme is inhibited, as the name already suggests. In this way, the production of the blood pressure-increasing hormone angiotensin is specifically reduced. At the same time, however, this also has the effect of putting cough receptors into a state of irritation. The substance bradykinin, which is responsible for vasodilatation, cannot be broken down by the inhibition of the hormone. The result is perceptible in the form of persistent coughing. A visit to the doctor can help you very quickly in this case. In most cases, doctors have the option of replacing ACE inhibitors with sartans. Although this is a different active ingredient, the mode of action is more or less the same as that of ACE inhibitors. There is no irritable cough with this alternative approach.
It becomes black before the eyes
Especially when it comes to fast and sudden movements into an upright posture, many people become "black in the face". With increasing age, the body has difficulty regulating blood pressure in many cases. If certain medications are added to this, the unsightly signs are not too long in coming. Especially with blood pressure-lowering ACE inhibitors, this can often be observed on the part of the patients. The effective and important relief of the heart is ensured by the blood pressure lowering characteristics of ACE inhibitors indeed first-class, however, this goes partly also with these unsightly signs of the blackness before eyes. Diuretics, beta-blockers, AT-II antagonists and psychotropic drugs can also bring these accompanying symptoms.
Since many of these said medications require long-term or even lifelong use to have a positive effect, they should not simply be discontinued. If the dim phases in front of the eyes occur too frequently, it is imperative to consult a doctor. Only an experienced specialist can make a goal-oriented assessment of whether it makes sense to change or stop the medication. Self-help is often a successful means of combating these dimness attacks:
- Regular exercise
- A diet rich in vitamins and minerals
- Wearing compression stockings
These are just some of the measures you can take yourself, but they certainly help.
Diarrhea due to medication
Even though diarrhea is one of the most common side effects of medications, many sufferers do not blame the pharmaceutical industry directly. Too often, such complaints are written off as stomach upsets and not discussed further. Diarrhea is the lonely front-runner in the statistics, accounting for around 7% of all known side effects. Around 700 active ingredients are said to be associated with the occurrence of diarrhea. This significant balance shows in a warning manner that one should react more critically to the signals of the body.
In the case of long-lasting problems, one should seek discussion with one's family doctor. It is usually a matter of determining the appropriate dosage for each patient individually. Frequent diarrhea can be a reflection of an unsuitable dosage, so that even small fine adjustments promise improvement. The mix of high potency and low side effects must always be a priority when determining dosage.
These side effects can be observed above all with acid blockers, antidementives, cancer drugs, antibiotics, but also antihypertensives. For example, acid blockers reduce the important disinfecting gastric acid, which in turn promotes infectious complications in the intestines. Anti-dementia drugs, on the other hand, affect the autonomic nervous system, resulting in a stimulation of digestion. Cancer drugs, meanwhile, are often associated with inflammatory changes. Antibiotics also have a detrimental effect on the intestinal flora when taken over a longer period of time.
Too often an underestimated risk: muscle loss
Muscle loss due to medication is also often not taken seriously or misinterpreted by those affected. Many see the decline of their own muscles as a logical consequence of too little sporting activity or advancing age. They do not think about how medications also set the tone in this area. It is true that sarcopenia, i.e. the decline of muscles in old age, is normal to a certain extent. However, if it occurs too quickly and especially during periods when the patient is taking medication, alarm bells should be ringing. ACE inhibitors, beta blockers and also laxatives can be associated with muscle loss or weakness. Potassium deficiency or excess can also be attributed to these drugs in many cases, which in turn also promotes weakness. Advice from a physician should always be sought in such cases. Regular muscle training can also counteract this process.
The interaction of food and drugs
Most people also do not focus strongly enough on the interaction of food and medications. Prescribed medications can often not work properly due to this lack of awareness of the issue, or the mode of action is largely overridden. Many asthmatics have to deal with exactly this described situation on a daily basis without knowing it. For this group of people, for example, it is highly recommended to avoid a combination of asthma medication and subsequent pepper and caffeine intake. The foods can negatively affect the way the anti-inflammatory and dilating asthma spray works. The breakdown of the inhaled drug no longer goes smoothly and slows down. The actual intended drug effect is brought into a dysbalance. This can result in a worsening of the asthma condition.
Other foods with potential negative drug interactions include the following:
- Grapefruits
- Leaf lettuce
- Whole grain products
- Foods containing fiber
Grapefruits dramatically increase the effects of many medications. Leaf lettuce and the vitamin K it contains have been shown to reduce the effect of anticoagulants. Whole grain products in combination with painkillers such as paracetamol make it much more difficult for the intestines to process them normally. The pain-reducing active ingredients of paracetamol are retained by the coating dietary fiber.
Conclusion
The list of interactions could certainly go on for pages. If you are not sure before taking medication which foods can be consumed without problems during such a phase, it is therefore essential to consult a doctor.
