A
side effect is an effect of a drug
other than that which is intended or desired. Usually, a side
effect refers to an undesirable effect such as nausea, headache,
insomnia, or other symptom, which occurs when an individual
takes a drug intended to relieve some other condition. Side
effects can range in severity, and in some cases side effects
may be severe enough that drug treatment should be stopped
or dosage reduced. Side effects can also occur when two or
more medications, each safe enough in isolation, interact
to produce undesirable consequences (see: drug
interaction).
by Catherine E. Myers. Copyright © 2006 Memory Loss and the Brain |