What are drug side effects?

What are drug side effects?

• A. The primary therapeutic effect
• B. Any effect of a drug other than the one for which it is given
• C. The drug's price
• D. The drug's mechanism

Answer: (B)

Drug side effects are any effect of a drug other than the one for which it is given. This means medicines can produce responses beyond the intended therapeutic benefit. For example, a drug used to relieve allergy symptoms might also cause drowsiness, or a medication to treat infection might upset the stomach. These unintended effects can be mild or more serious and can vary from person to person or change with dose. The primary therapeutic effect is the specific benefit the medicine is meant to provide. The drug’s price is about cost, not a biological effect. The drug’s mechanism describes how the drug works to produce its effects, not the extra, unintended responses.

Drug side effects are any effect of a drug other than the one for which it is given. This means medicines can produce responses beyond the intended therapeutic benefit. For example, a drug used to relieve allergy symptoms might also cause drowsiness, or a medication to treat infection might upset the stomach. These unintended effects can be mild or more serious and can vary from person to person or change with dose. The primary therapeutic effect is the specific benefit the medicine is meant to provide. The drug’s price is about cost, not a biological effect. The drug’s mechanism describes how the drug works to produce its effects, not the extra, unintended responses.