Side effects


Problems that occur when treatment goes beyond the desired effect. Or problems that occur in addition to the desired therapeutic effect.

Example — A hemorrhage from the use of too much anticoagulant (such as heparin) is a side effect caused by treatment going beyond the desired effect.

Example — The common side effects of cancer treatment including fatigue, nausea, vomiting, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss, and mouth sores are instances of side effects that occur in addition to the desired therapeutic effect.

Drug manufacturers are required to list all known side effects of their products. When side effects of necessary medication are severe, sometimes a second medication, lifestyle change, dietary change, or other measure may help to minimize them.

Read Also:

  • SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)

    The sudden and unexpected death of a baby with no known illness, typically affecting sleeping infants between the ages of two weeks to six months. Infants with a brother or sister who died of SIDS; babies whose mothers used heroin, methadone, or cocaine during pregnancy; infants born weighing less than 4.4 pounds; children with an […]

  • Sight, day

    Night blindness. Listed in medical dictionaries under “Nyctalopia” from the Greek “nyct’ (night) + “aloas” (obscure or blind) + “opsis” (vision), the condition involves impaired vision in dim light and in the dark (but normal sight in bright light), due to impaired function of specific vision cells (the “rods”) in the retina. Day sight (night […]

  • Sigma Theta Tau

    The international honor society for nursing. Membership is by invitation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students, who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, and to community leaders exhibiting exceptional achievements in nursing. More than a quarter million nurse scholars have been inducted into Sigma Theta Tau. Sixty percent of the currently active 120,000 members in Sigma Theta […]

  • Sigmoid

    In human anatomy, the lower colon (the lower portion of the large bowel). Sigmoid is short for sigmoid colon. From the Greek letter sigma, which is shaped like a C. Sigmoid also means curved in two directions like the letter S. For example, a sigmoid curve is an S-shaped curve.

  • Sigmoidoscope

    A lighted instrument that is used to view the inside of the lower colon.


Disclaimer: Side effects definition / meaning should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website is for informational purposes only.