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Medicine vocabulary · Prescriptions and Medication

Side effect

Meaning in medicine, with examples

/ˈsaɪd ɪˌfekt/nounCore term

In medicine, side effect means: An effect of a medicine or treatment that is not the main one intended, and is often unwanted, such as drowsiness or an upset stomach.

In Turkish: yan etki

How it is used

Doctors explain common and serious side effects when prescribing and ask about them at follow-up. Formal reports use 'adverse effect' or 'adverse drug reaction'.

Example sentences

  1. The most common side effects are headache and mild nausea.

  2. Have you noticed any side effects since you started the new tablets?

Common collocations

  • common side effects
  • serious side effects
  • experience side effects
  • side effect profile
  • prescribeTo officially decide on and write down a medicine or treatment for a patient, so that they can get it from a pharmacy.
  • doseThe amount of a medicine taken or given at one time, for example 500 mg, often stated together with how often it is taken.
  • allergyA harmful reaction of the immune system to something that is normally harmless, such as a medicine, a food or pollen.
  • contraindicationA condition or situation that makes a particular drug, test or procedure unsafe or unsuitable for a patient.
  • nauseaAn unpleasant feeling in the stomach that you might vomit. It may or may not be followed by actually being sick.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Prescriptions and Medication

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.