Side Effects & You

The medication that we have on offer to us these days is truly staggering in what it can achieve. Just think; diseases that would have killed an entire town only a few hundred years ago can now be dealt with by popping antibiotics for a couple of days. The advances that have been made are truly staggering to behold and every year, they get a little bit better and more impressive still.

However, there is never a good without a bad just hiding around the corner – or so it feels, anyway. Precious few modern medications are without their own downside; we all tend to call them the side effects. It’s the acknowledgement that for all the good that they may do, there’s going to be a price to pay.

The Cost

Mostly, that price will usually be mild, tolerable, far better than coping with the condition you’re taking the medication for in the first instance. It’s not fun to have an upset stomach when you’re on antibiotics, for example, but it’s preferable to not being able to talk thanks to a dose of strep.

It’s not just prescription medication that can demand a price from its users, either. Even supplements can have their downside. For example, anyone who has ever made the mistake of taking too much magnesium will know just how quickly it will make you nauseous. It’s always a good idea to research the potential for these problems prior to purchasing. For example, for calcium supplements you should look for AlgaeCal plant calcium side effects, beware your magnesium dosage as it relates to nausea, while people with bleeding disorders should be careful when taking cod liver oil.

Is It Worth It To You?

So whether it be prescribed or a supplement, it’s up to you to decide if the price is something you’re happy to pay. Do the benefits outweigh the side effects, or are you just exchanging one problem for another?

If you’re struggling with side effects, bear in mind these three points that should help you decide what your next steps should be.

1. Have you tried other options? Talk to your doctor to see if there is an alternative you could be taking, which may have fewer side effects. You don’t have to just put up with unpleasant effects of medications; speak up and ask for more information. If your problem is with supplements, then talk to a herbalist or a naturopath to see if they have further advice.
2. Is it the medication / supplement itself, or the dose? Sometimes it’s not a problem of the actual thing you are taking, but the amount that you’re taking. This is something to bring up with a medical professional for further advice, too.
3. Give it time. Many side effects will peak for a couple of weeks and then taper off to the point you don’t even notice them. It’s worth trying to ride out those couple of weeks so you can get the benefits. If you’re still having problems after a month, then a change might be in order.

Side effects – the price we pay for health and knowledge that our ancestors could only have dreamed of. That’s fair enough, but don’t just accept them – utilize the options above to make sure you get the best from anything that you take.