Benefits and Risks of Medical Drugs — Transcript

Full transcript

1. 0:02[Music]
2. 0:05these days
3. 0:06many diseases can be effectively
4. 0:08alleviated or even cured
5. 0:09by taking the appropriate medication
6. 0:12there are drugs available which for
7. 0:14example
8. 0:15lower blood pressure reduce blood
9. 0:17glucose or treat cancer
10. 0:20in the usa patients are prescribed an
11. 0:23average of 12 different drugs a year
12. 0:25those over the age of 65 as many as 28.
13. 0:31since all drugs can cause side effects
14. 0:33physicians individually weigh up the
15. 0:35expected benefits
16. 0:37against the possible risks for every
17. 0:39patient
18. 0:41side effects can vary greatly they range
19. 0:44from minor symptoms
20. 0:45such as nausea headaches or skin rashes
21. 0:49to more serious side effects like heart
22. 0:51rhythm disorders
23. 0:52or liver damage in worst cases they can
24. 0:55even be
25. 0:56fatal it is often impossible to predict
26. 0:59whether side effects will occur
27. 1:01they can be caused for example by
28. 1:04individual genetic factors
29. 1:06interactions with other drugs or
30. 1:08foodstuffs can also trigger side effects
31. 1:11unfortunately side effects can never be
32. 1:14completely ruled out
33. 1:17fortunately serious side effects tend to
34. 1:19be quite uncommon in most patients
35. 1:21in other words more people benefit from
36. 1:24a therapy
37. 1:25than suffer from serious side effects in
38. 1:28any case
39. 1:29patients should be aware of the benefits
40. 1:31and potential risks
41. 1:32before taking a drug so always read the
42. 1:35information leaflet to find out about
43. 1:38possible side effects
44. 1:39and ask your doctor or pharmacist
45. 1:41whenever needed
46. 1:43[Music]
47. 1:44when talking to a doctor don't forget to
48. 1:46mention any
49. 1:47other medicines you might be taking you
50. 1:49should also consider whether other
51. 1:51diseases have occurred in your family's
52. 1:53history
53. 1:54and only take drugs that have been
54. 1:56prescribed for you
55. 1:57personally all approved drugs benefit
56. 2:01from the fact that data about their
57. 2:03wanted and unwanted effects has been
58. 2:05evaluated
59. 2:06such important data collection continues
60. 2:09also after a drug has been introduced
61. 2:12this information is incorporated into
62. 2:14the information leaflet
63. 2:16and helps you to understand the benefits
64. 2:18and the risks of taking the medicine
65. 2:20and again don't forget to ask your
66. 2:23doctor or pharmacist about the benefits
67. 2:25and risks
68. 2:26when a drug is prescribed to you
69. 2:29if you have questions you can find
70. 2:31information on the internet websites of
71. 2:33health authorities or medicine
72. 2:35regulators in your country
73. 2:37the physician or pharmacist can also
74. 2:39answer your questions
75. 2:41don't be afraid to ask if you need more
76. 2:43information
77. 2:44it's important that you understand why
78. 2:47you are taking the medicines prescribed
79. 2:49to you how they work
80. 2:51and the risk of side effects
81. 2:54bare science for a better life