Definition of Transient Side Effects

All drugs and medicines have the potential to cause unwanted side effects. They vary from person to person depending upon a number of factors, such as health, weight, age and ethnicity. Not everyone experiences side effects, and they might vary among those who do. Side effects may be mild or severe; they may be permanent, long-term or transient.

Benefit Versus Risk

• Physicians weigh the risks and benefits of medicines.

  Benefits and risks are associated with all medicines, whether prescribed or bought over the counter. They range from minor inconveniences such as a mild stomach upset to serious complications involving major organs such as the liver and kidneys.

  Drugs and medicines can be marketed only after approval from the FDA, which determines that the benefits outweigh any potential risk. The same judgment is made by a physician in consultation with a patient. In general, transient side effects are risks that are vastly outweighed by the benefits of the drugs.

Permanent, Serious and Transient Side Effects

• Involvement of major organs is a serious side effect.

  Permanent unwanted effects caused by drugs last throughout life and cannot be stopped or reversed.

  Serious side effects create complications sufficiently severe to warrant further medication to treat the side effect and possible cessation of the original drug that caused the effect. Involvement of major organs is a cause for concern and a serious side effect.

  Transient side effects may be unpleasant but are generally mild and temporary and will eventually cease as therapy progresses or the course of treatment ends.

Doxycycline

• Doxycyline causes permanent discoloration of teeth.

  Drugs that may have permanent side effects include doxycycline, an antibiotic used to treat gonorrhea, chlamydia, urinary tract infections and other bacterial infections including anthrax. A transient side effect of doxycycline is that it reduces the effects of birth control pills; on stopping doxycycline, the effectiveness of the pills is restored. If taken by pregnant women, however, doxycycline can cause permanent damage to the unborn child including permanent yellowing of the adult teeth. The FDA provides information on doxycycline and all other drugs.

Isotretinoin (Accutane)

• Accutane causes birth defects.

  Isotretinoin (Accutane) is a drug regularly used to treat acne vulgaris (acne). The FDA reports that it can cause permanent, serious, mild and transient side effects. Like doxycylcline,iIsotretinoin can damage an unborn fetus, causing severe birth defects even if taken prior to conception. People taking Accutane should not give blood. Permanent effects include acne fulminans, a very severe form of acne that results in permanent severe scarring. Serious effects include depression and suicidal thoughts. This type of serious effect requires immediate withdrawal of the drug and treatment with other medication to resolve the problem.

Transient Effects of Isotretinoin

• Transient effects of Isotretinoin include an initial worsening of acne, which will subside as treatment progresses. Initially, patients may experience headaches, but these too will subside. There may be some cracking of the lips as the skin dries, but this is easily resolved with lip balm. Transient side effects of drugs and medicines are mild, temporary and easily remedied.