Medication - possible side effects

[Coldicote]

I was prescribed some pills to relieve backache. When I read about possible side effects, including being more susceptible to heart attack, I found them so scary that I abandoned the medication. Now I'm using Paracetamol. How do you feel about possible side effects? Is enough publicity given to 'natural remedies' and where is the best place to find out about them?

[237SJ]

Side effects don`t bother me. If you read all the possible side effects, you would never take any drugs at all. Natural remedies could have side effects too (particularly their interaction with conventional drugs) and you could argue that not enough research has been done into the risks or effectiveness of natural remedies

[Sqad]

I agree totally with 237SJ

[China Doll]

I only read side effects so that I would recognise a reaction if I had one. Generally they don't bother me.

[ummmm]

They are also very unlikely.

[jackthehat]

They have to consider the smallest, tiniest possibility that someone *might* suffer a side-effect because of their medication.
Again, it's usually to guard against litigation.

[gingejbee]

Presumably, you've read the possible side-effects of paracetamol and you're still taking them? Don't forget that "natural remedies" also have side-effects!

[jackthehat]

I was on very strong pain-killers for my back problems. One of the side-effects was to give me a headache ! Go figure........!?!

So, painkillers for the back (they worked, too) and Ibuprofen for the headache......

[Sqad]

JTH it has been known for decades that one of the side effects of the constant use of Paracetamol and other pain killers, has been headaches, particularly with people who had migraine and took the tablets although it was their medication that was causing their problems. I do not know what pain killers you were taking for your backache, but the headache could well have been a side effect.

[Coldicote]

Quite a lot of comment here and thank you everyone. It seems you can't win hoping for medication that doesn't risk side effects. Jack TH is no doubt right about guarding againt litigation. Perhaps there is no 'natural remedy' for aches and pains? If anyone knows of one I would be interested to explore.

[ethandron]

at what point does a natural remedy become a medication? most (all?) medications are made from something which occurs naturally in the plant/mineral world so when does the switch from 'medication' to 'natural remedy' or vice versa happen?
what about aspirin for instance:
http://inventors.abou...ventors/blaspirin.htm

[Sqad]

Ethandron

<<<<at what point does a natural remedy become a medication?<<<

I have just made up this definition ;-)......give it a try...

"When the medical profession has investigated the substance through properly conducted therapeutic trials in well recognized departments and has been shown to be efficacious in certain aspects of disease."

How doe that suit, eth...;-)

[ethandron]

very interesting my dear watson, very interesting :o)