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Top 50 Medicines and Side Effects!
May 15th, 2020
Introduction
Many questions on the PTCB exam focus on side effects. Here, we have put together the complete range of side effects from the most common medicines; a must-know guide to succeed at the pharmacology component of the exam.
Side effects are important to know.
As a pharmacy technician, you will meet patients discussing their concerns about the medicines they have been prescribed. Technicians should have a working knowledge of the most common side effects. Of course, it is worth pointing out that technicians should understand medical terms for each effect.
For example – some of the most common medical prefixes include hypo and hyper.
- Hypo – refers to under the normal range.
- Hyper – refers to an excess above the normal range.
Hypotension is low blood pressure and hypertension is high blood pressure. There are many more examples. During your PTCB exam preparation, you will come across many such terms. It is important that you take the time to study these prefixes and suffixes and commit the relevant side effects of medicines to memory.
Side Effects or Adverse Effects!?
You may also come across the terms: side effects and adverse effects.
Are they the same?
No, they are different.
Side effects are the expected effects of a drug – which may have a positive clinical effect or a negative clinical effect. Most side effects are negative and cause problems for patients. However, some side effects can be positive. Side effects is a broad term that covers the expected effects of a drug.
In contrast, adverse effects are always negative clinical outcomes. Some adverse effects are unexpected and highly damaging and may not have been foreseen by healthcare professionals.
This is a small but necessary distinction – and the pharmacy technician should understand these differences in nomenclature.
Top 50 Side Effects of Medicines!
Pharmacy technicians are not expected to know all side effects of all medicines.
That is not necessary, and it is not required under the 2020 PTCB syllabus. However, students should have a working knowledge of side effects from the most handled drugs.
Below, we have put together the side effects that you, as a healthcare professional, will encounter when working with patients. Of course, you will not memorize all side effects in one sitting. It takes time. But, come back to this article in time and test your knowledge.
If you are a registered member of PTCB Test Prep, you already have access to our side effects practice exams.
| Drug / Drug Class | Side Effects |
| Tetracyclines Minocycline Tetracycline | Enamel hypoplasia Photosensitivity Tooth discoloration |
| Fluoroquinolones Ciprofloxacin Moxifloxacin | Tendon damage / rupture |
| Macrolides Clarithromycin Erythromycin | QT prolongation |
| Penicillins Ampicillin Amoxicillin | Hypersensitivity reactions |
| Warfarin Heparin | Increased risk of bleeding |
| Corticosteroids Prednisolone Dexamethasone | Weight gain Increased risk of infection Diabetes mellitus Osteoporosis |
| Beta-2 agonists Albuterol Salmeterol | Tachycardia Palpitations Anxiety Tremor |
| Beta-blockers Metoprolol Bisoprolol Atenolol | Vivid dreams / nightmares Hypoglycemia Cold extremities Impotence in men |
| Calcium channel blockers Nifedipine Amlodipine Verapamil Diltiazem | Constipation Ankle swelling Gum overgrowth Flushing Palpitations |
| Nitrates | Hypotension Flushing Headache Light-headedness |
| PDE5 inhibitors Sildenafil Tadalafil Vardenafil | Hypotension Headache Flushing Nasal congestion |
| Benzodiazepines Midazolam Diazepam Oxazepam | Drowsiness Sedation Dependence |
| Aspirin | Reye syndrome (in children) Tinnitus (at high doses) Bronchospasm GI irritation / risk of bleeding |
| Opioids Tramadol Codeine Morphine Meperidine | Constipation Miosis Nausea Dizziness Respiratory depression |
| Proton-pump inhibitors Omeprazole Pantoprazole Lansoprazole | Hypomagnesemia Headache Gastrointestinal disturbances |
| Prostaglandin Eye Drops Bimatoprost Latanoprost | Blurred vision Conjunctival reddening Permanent eye color change |
| Metronidazole | Gastrointestinal upset Hypersensitivity reactions Taste disturbances |
| Metformin | Lactic acidosis GI upset Weight loss Metallic taste |
| Methotrexate | Mouth ulcers Bone marrow suppression Pulmonary fibrosis |
| Allopurinol | Skin rash |
| SSRI Antidepressants Paroxetine Fluoxetine Sertraline Fluvoxamine | GI upset Weight disturbances Increased risk of bleeding Serotonin syndrome Suicidal ideation Hyponatremia |
| ACE inhibitors | Hyperkalemia Persistent, dry cough Hypotension |
| Spironolactone | Hyperkalemia Gynecomastia |
| Loop diuretics Furosemide Bumetanide | Hypotension Hyperkalemia Dehydration Low electrolyte state Hearing loss / tinnitus Increased risk of gout |
| Antipsychotic drugs Olanzapine Haloperidol Chlorpromazine Risperidone Aripiprazole Quetiapine Clozapine | Extrapyramidal effects Sedation Weight gain Lipid abnormalities Increased risk of diabetes QT interval prolongation Sexual dysfunction Agranulocytosis (particularly clozapine) |
| Carbamazepine Antiepileptic drug | GI upset Dizziness Ataxia Hyponatremia |
| Cephalosporins Ceftriaxone Ceftazidime Cefoperazone | GI upset Antibiotic-associated colitis Increased risk of seizures Hypersensitivity reactions |
| Clopidogrel Antiplatelet drug | Increased risk of bleeding GI upset Thrombocytopenia |
| H2 receptor antagonists Ranitidine | Bowel disturbances Headache Dizziness |
| H1 receptor antagonists First Generation Cyclizine Promethazine | Sedation Dizziness GI upset |
| Insulin | Hypoglycemia |
| Laxatives Lactulose Senna Bisacodyl | Abdominal pain/cramps Diarrhea Flatulence |
| Nitrofurantoin | Brown urine GI upset Hypersensitivity reactions Peripheral neuropathy |
| Phenazopyridine | Orange urine |
| NSAIDs Naproxen Ibuprofen Etoricoxib | Increased risk of bleeding Increased risk of CV events Hypersensitivity reactions Fluid retention |
| Estrogens / Progestogens | Irregular bleeding Mood disturbances Venous thromboembolism Increased risk of cervical cancer Increased risk of breast cancer |
| Oxygen | Discomfort from mask use Dry throat |
| Phenytoin Antiepileptic drug | Gum overgrowth Nystagmus Hematological disorders Hypersensitivity reactions Skin coarsening Excessive hair growth |
| Quinine Antimalarial drug | Tinnitus Deafness Cinchonism Hypoglycemia Blindness |
| Statins Simvastatin Atorvastatin Pravastatin | Headache GI disturbances Myopathies Rhabdomyolysis Elevated liver enzymes Increased risk of diabetes |
| Sulfonylureas Gliclazide | GI upset Hypoglycemia |
| Thiazolidinediones Pioglitazone | Increased risk of bladder cancer Edema Dizziness Headache Hypoglycemia Bone fractures Anemia |
| Levothyroxine | GI disturbances Palpitations Arrhythmias Tremor Insomnia |
| Trimethoprim | GI upset Skin rash Hyperkalemia Megaloblastic anemia |
| Valproate Antiepileptic drug | Gastrointestinal disturbances Tremor Behavioral disturbances Hair loss Pancreatitis Thrombocytopenia |
| Vancomycin | Red man syndrome Ototoxicity Nephrotoxicity Thrombophlebitis Neutropenia |
| Aminoglycosides Gentamicin Amikacin | Ototoxicity Nephrotoxicity |
| Z-drugs Zopiclone Zolpidem Zaleplon | Daytime sleepiness Rebound insomnia CNS effects: confusion GI disturbances Taste disturbances |
| 5-alpha reductase inhibitors Finasteride Dutasteride | Impotence Reduced libido Gynecomastia |
| Bisphosphonates Alendronic acid Pamidronate Zoledronic acid | Esophagitis Hypophosphatemia Osteonecrosis of the jaw Atypical femoral fracture |
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