Adverse effects of some common drugs

Adverse effects of the most important drugs

 

• Phenytoin :

  1. Gingival hyperplasia
     Gingival hyperplasia
  2. Confusion
     Confusion
  3. Slurred speech
     Slurred speech
  4. Double vision
     Double vision
  5. Ataxia
     Ataxia
  6. Sedation
     Sedation
  7. Dizziness
     Dizziness
  8. Hirsutism
     Hirsutism
  9. Steven-Johnson syndrome
     Steven-Johnson syndrome
  
  
  

• Quinidine :

  1. Development of arrhythmia
  2. SA and AV block or asystole
  3. Ventricular tachycardia ( at toxic doses )
  4. Nausea , vomiting and diarrhea
  5. Symptoms of cinchonism ( blurred vision, tinnitus, headache, disorientation and psychosis )
  6. Increased risk of digoxin toxicity

• Propranolol :

  1. Bronchoconstriction
  2. Arrhythmias ( upon abrupt withdrawal )
  3. Sexual dysfunction
  4. Metabolic disturbances : fasting hypoglycemia and hyperlipidemia
  5. CNS disturbances : depression, dizziness, lethargy, fatigue, weakness, visual disturbances, hallucinations, short-term memory loss, emotional lability, vivid dreams (nightmares) , decreased performance and depression manifested by insomnia.
  6. CVS disturbances : Bradycardia, heart block, hypotension and heart failure
  7. GIT disturbances : nausea and disrupted motility
  8. Allergic reactions : skin rash and drug fever

• Chlorpromazine :

  1. Extrapyramidal effects : Dystonia, akathisia, bradykinesia, rigidity, tremors and tardive dyskinesia.
  2. Weight gain
  3. Orthostasis
  4. Sedation
  5. Neurolept-malignant syndrome
  6. Opacities of cornea and lens
  7. Dry mouth
  8. Allergy : Dermatitis, photosensitivity and agranulocytosis
  9. Tachycardia
  10. Endocrine disturbances : Gynecomastia and galactorrhea
  11. Allergic obstructive cholestatic jaundice
  12. Postural hypotension 

•   Corticosteroids :

  1. Osteoporosis ( negative calcium balance )
  2. Glaucoma
  3. Decreased growth in children
  4. Centripetal distribution of body fat
  5. Increased risk of infection ( impaired wound healing )
  6. Hirsutism
  7. Increased appetite
  8. Emotional disturbances
  9. Peptic ulcers
  10. Hypertension
  11. Peripheral edema
  12. Hypokalemia

• Oral contraceptives :

  1. Breast fullness
  2. Depression
  3. Fluid retention
  4. Headache, nausea and vomiting
  5. CVS disturbances : thrombo-embolism, thrombo-phlebitis, hypertension, myocardial infarction and cerebral and coronary thrombosis.
  6. Metabolic disturbances : Abnormal glucose tolerance and weight gain
  7. Increased incidence for cervical cancer

• Propylthiouracil :

  1. Agranulocytosis
  2. Rash
  3. Edema
  4. Liver toxicity ( failure )

• Barbiturates :

  1. Potential for addiction
  2. Withdrawal effects : tremors, anxiety, weakness, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, seizures, delirium, cardiac arrest and can result in death.
  3. CNS disturbances : Drowsiness, impaired concentrations, mental and physical sluggishness.
  4. Drug hangover : tiredness after wakening up.
  5. Poisoning : lead to death from over-dose.

• Calcium channel blockers :

  1. Constipation
  2. Dizziness
  3. Headache
  4. Feeling of fatigue
  5. Hypotension
  6. Flushing
  7. Gingival enlargement
  8. Ankle edema

• Furosemide :

  1. Ototoxicity
  2. Hyperuricemia > Exacerbating gouty attacks
  3. Acute hypovolemia > hypotension, shock, cardiac arrhythmia and hypercalcemia.
  4. Hypokalemia
  5. Hypomagnesemia

• Chloramphenicol :

  1. Anemias : Hemolytic anemia in patients with G6PD deficiency, reversible anemia and aplastic anemia.
  2. Gray baby syndrome : Poor feeding, depressed breathing, cardivascular collapse and death.
  3. GIT upsets and over-growth of candida albicans.

• Hyoscine :

  1. Blurred vision
  2. May precipitate glaucoma in susceptible patients
  3. Dry mouth
  4. Flushed skin
  5. Tachycardia
  6. Constipation
  7. Urine retention
  8. CNS disturbances : Restlessness, confusion and hallucinations.

• Cephalosporins :

  1. Allergy
  2. Anaphylactic response
  3. Stevens-Johnson syndrome
  4. Toxic epidermal necrolysis
  5. Cross-reactivity with penicillins

• Thiazide diuretics :

  1. Hypokalemia > causes ventricular arrhythmias in patients taking digoxin
  2. Hyponatremia
  3. Hyperuricemia > predispose to gouty attacks
  4. Hypovolemia > causes orthostatic hypotension and light-headedness
  5. Hypercalcemia
  6. Hyperglycemia
  7. Hyperlipidemia
  8. Hypersensitivity >bone marrow suppression, dermatitis, necrotizing vasculitis and interstitial nephritis.

• Fluoroquinolones :

  1. GIT disturbances : Nausea , vomiting and diarrhea
  2. CNS disturbances : Headache, dizziness and light-headedness
  3. Phototoxicity
  4. Connective tissue problems > arthropathy, tendinitis and tendor rupture.
  5. Nephrotoxicity

• Captopril :

  1. Postural hypotension
  2. Renal insufficiency
  3. Hyperkalemia
  4. Angioedema
  5. Persistent dry cough
  6. Symptomatic hypotension

• Imipramine :

  1. Blurred vision
  2. Dry mouth
  3. Urinary retention
  4. Sinus tachycardia and reflex tachycardia
  5. Constipation
  6. Aggravation of narrow-angle glaucoma
  7. Arrhythmias
  8. Orthostatic hypotension
  9. Dizziness
  10. Sedation
  11. Weight gain
  12. Sexual dysfunction : erectile dysfunction in males and anorgasmia in females

• Diazepam :

  1. Drowsiness and confusion
  2. Ataxia
  3. Amnesia
  4. Cognitive impairment
  5. Development of tolerance and addiction
  6. Early-morning insomnia
  7. Day-time anxiety

• Succinylcholine :

  1. Apnea : in patients genetically deficient in plasma cholinestrase.
  2. Malignant hyperthermia : in patients taking halothane anesthetic.( include muscular rigidity, metabolic acidosis, tachycardia and hyperpyrexia).
  3. Hyperkalemia
  4. Increased intraocular pressure.
  5. Post-operative muscle pain
  6. Increased intragastric pressure

• Cimetidine :

  1. Headache
  2. Dizziness
  3. Diarrhea
  4. Muscular pain
  5. Confusion and hallucinations
  6. Gynecomastia and galactorrhea