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Women more likely to experience side effects from drugs

Women more likely to experience side effects from drugs

Do you always read the package insert for possible side effects before you swallow that pill? Research shows that women are more likely to experience side effects from drugs than men. The difference is greatest with medicines against cardiovascular diseases.

Hospital admission Every year, about 7,000 people end up in hospital because of side effects of drugs. Eline Rodenburg of Erasmus MC analyzed thousands of hospital admissions that were the result of side effects. She found that a third of these shots are due to side effects of cardiovascular drugs. Women have a greater chance of side effects than the male sex.

Cardiovascular disease
Half of the side effects of drugs against cardiovascular diseases are blood thinners. In a small group, it concerns drugs against certain heart rhythm disorders.
The research also shows that women run a four times higher risk of side effects when using water pills for high blood pressure. These can be so serious that hospitalization is necessary.

Have you ever experienced side effects?