Side effect

How it is used

The everyday word that both patients and pharmacists use. Medicines have or cause side effects, which can be common, rare, mild or serious. Patient leaflets list possible side effects by how often they happen. Scientific and regulatory texts prefer 'adverse effect' or 'adverse drug reaction'.

Example sentences

1. The most common side effect of this medicine is a dry mouth, and it often gets better after a week or two.

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

Common collocations

• cause side effects
• common side effect
• serious side effect
• report a side effect
• experience side effects

Related terms

• adverse drug reactionA harmful and unintended response to a medicine used at normal doses, ranging from a mild rash to serious damage to the liver, kidneys or blood.
• allergic reactionA response of the immune system to a medicine or other substance that it wrongly treats as harmful, causing signs such as a rash, itching, swelling or difficulty breathing.
• toxicityThe harmful effects a drug or chemical has on the body, especially at high doses or blood levels, or the degree to which a substance is poisonous.
• patient information leafletThe printed leaflet inside a medicine pack that explains in plain language what the medicine is for, how to take it, its possible side effects and how to store it.

This word in other fields

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

• side effect · Medicine
• side effect · Nursing
• side effect · Veterinary Medicine

More terms: Side Effects and Interactions

• drug interaction
• contraindication
• overdose
• anaphylaxis
• polypharmacy
• dependence