Side effects of hormone drugs
Hormone drugs are a type of commonly used drugs, including steroids, steroid hormones, thyroid hormones, etc. These drugs regulate the internal functions of the body, but they are also accompanied by certain side effects. The following will introduce the side effects of hormone drugs from common aspects in clinical applications to help patients understand the risks and precautions of hormone drugs.
Immune system side effects
Hormone drugs suppress the function of the immune system, making the body less resistant to pathogens and prone to infection. In addition, long-term use of hormone drugs will increase the content of glucocorticoids in the body, causing the immune system to become more aggressive against its own tissues, thereby triggering various autoimmune diseases. Therefore, caution should be used when using hormone drugs, and when necessary, targeted prevention of infection and measures to prevent and treat autoimmune diseases should be carried out.
Cardiovascular side effects
Long-term use of hormone drugs will affect physiological indicators such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids, and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. For example, patients often develop high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, elevated blood sugar, etc. when taking steroid drugs. These factors will put a greater load on the heart and increase the risk of heart disease. Therefore, when using hormone drugs, attention should be paid to monitoring cardiovascular-related indicators to reduce the risk of disease.
Sex hormone side effects
There are many types of hormonal drugs, some of which are sex hormones, such as birth control pills and estrogen replacement drugs. These drugs can alter the body\’s internal hormone levels, leading to side effects such as irregular menstruation, loss of libido, and breast enlargement. In addition, long-term use of oral estrogen replacement therapy can increase the risk of breast and uterine cancer. Therefore, when using this type of hormone drugs, you should strictly follow the doctor\’s prescriptions and instructions, and pay attention to relevant health monitoring.
Nervous system side effects
Hormone drugs also have a certain impact on the human nervous system. For example, the therapeutic effects of hormone drugs may cause side effects such as ADHD, depression, and anxiety. At the same time, hormone drugs may also affect the body\’s sleep and waste excretion functions. Some recent studies have found that patients who use hormone drugs for a long time are prone to brain atrophy and accelerated cognitive and memory decline. Therefore, hormone drugs must be used under the guidance of a doctor, and relevant physiological and psychological evaluations must be received regularly.
To sum up, hormonal drugs have a wide range of side effects, and the occurrence rate and severity of various side effects will be affected by factors such as the patient\’s age, medical history, dosage and duration of medication. When using hormone drugs, it must be done under strict medical supervision. The dosage and medication period must be customized according to one\’s own symptoms, medical history, age and health status. Necessary physiological and psychological monitoring must be carried out according to the actual situation, and the medication plan can be adjusted in a timely manner. Similarly, for patients who may have drug interactions and drug abuse, attention should be paid to avoiding possible problems and ensuring the safe and effective use of hormone drugs.
