What drug overdose? Stages of overdose with sleeping pills and tranquilizers

Modern medicine has remedies for almost all diseases. But, as you know, the medicine can both cure and kill. It depends on many factors, including dosage. An overdose of one or another drug can lead to serious complications or even death.

What drugs are the most dangerous? What are the symptoms of an overdose? And what to do in a critical situation? Read more…

List of drugs from which you can die

What pills are the most dangerous? Pretty much everything, but to varying degrees. The greatest danger is fraught with drugs that are taken systematically. Firstly, because addiction is taking place and the effect of the drug is weakening. Secondly, a person can simply forget or mix up the dosage.

The most dangerous medicines:

cardiac drugs.
Sleeping pills.
Tranquilizers.
Antidepressants.
Medications that lower blood pressure.

In this case, the elderly and patients suffering from chronic diseases are at risk.

Reference! Even such "harmless" drugs as paracetamol, analgin and aspirin in case of overdose can cause serious consequences.

Sleeping pills and tranquilizers

Tranquilizers and sedatives are drugs that depress the central nervous system (CNS).

These include:

Benzodiazepines.
Barbiturates.
Glutethimides.
Sodium oxybate, etc.

Most of these drugs increase the activity of GABA (the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the CNS). From an overdose, euphoria sets in, gradually turning into inhibition, speech slows down, movements become inhibited, then the victim loses consciousness.

Important! With a severe overdose, arterial hypotension occurs, breathing becomes more rare, blood circulation stops and the person dies. The patient can be saved only when he entered the intensive care unit no later than 40-60 minutes after the overdose.

The most popular psychotropic drugs are described below.

Donormil

It has a sedative effect, the daily dose is 1 tablet, and the course of treatment is 5 days.

It is impossible to predict how many pills will be needed for a fatal outcome. It all depends on the state of the body, weight, age, the presence or absence of chronic diseases.

Important! It is believed that the lethal dose of Donormil is 10 tablets at a time.

When alcohol interacts with Donormil, 3 tablets are enough to cause death.

Another danger is addiction.. If the patient regularly takes the drug, then the effect of the drug weakens. Often this is the cause of an overdose.

Melaxen

A sleeping pill with a calming effect is used for depression, panic attacks, long flights with jet lag.

According to doctors, Melaxen is not dangerous to health and life, since in principle there can be no lethal dose of Melaxen.

It is believed that the body absorbs only the required amount of the active substance, and the excess is quickly excreted.

Phenazepam

It is considered a strong tranquilizer, addictive. Daily dose - no more than 7-9 mg. It is used for phobias, panic attacks, convulsive syndrome, insomnia.

Important! The drug should be taken only under the supervision of a doctor, self-medication is absolutely not allowed here!

The lethal dose is 10 mg at a time. With a significant excess of the dosage, the likelihood of death increases significantly. Preceding symptoms: confusion, cardiovascular, renal failure, coma.

What are the side effects of taking Phenazepam and signs of an overdose are described in the video:

Zoloft

An effective antidepressant that relieves panic conditions, depression, post-traumatic disorders. The drug is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, acts gently.

Overdose-related deaths have not been recorded. One of the most severe consequences of an overdose is serotonin syndrome. It manifests itself in mental disorders, inappropriate behavior, neuromuscular disorders.

Common symptoms of an overdose of psychotropic drugs:

Uncharacteristic unreasonable anxiety.
Increased drowsiness, lethargy.
Mood swings.
Inappropriate behaviour.
Violation of coordination of movements.
Tremor.
Hyperthermia.
Severe allergic reactions.
hallucinations.

If any of these symptoms are observed, medical attention should be sought immediately.

Attention! The toxic effect of psychotropic drugs is enhanced and rapid death occurs if taken with alcohol.

Stages of poisoning

Drug overdose is divided into 4 stages depending on the severity of the condition. If help is not provided in time, the stages will quickly follow each other, leading the patient to death.

What's happening:

The pulse slows down, drowsiness appears, active salivation occurs.
The patient loses consciousness, the pupils react poorly to light, the pulse is weak, thready.
Coma occurs in the third stage. It is characterized by: a barely noticeable pulse, lack of pupillary response to light, shallow breathing, low blood pressure. In the future, the failure of internal organs occurs, the person falls into a coma.
The thermal stage (agony) is characterized by the extinction of the function of internal organs (heart, brain), often resuscitation is unsuccessful.

Attention! The situation is aggravated by the fact that with an overdose of drugs, the patient is often unconscious. If there is no one nearby, then death occurs in 90% of cases. Be careful when taking medication!

What happens to a person from an overdose of pills is described in the video:

Remedies for cardiovascular disease

The principle of action of such drugs is to influence the arterioles and myocardium. These funds slow down the flow of calcium ions into myocardial cells, reduce peripheral vascular resistance and stroke volume of the heart.

Means are absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, accumulate in the liver, excreted by the kidneys. The lethal dose is about 100 mg.

Reference! Such drugs are often used by older people without consulting a doctor. Usually they do not take into account the dosage and side effects.

Typical symptoms of an overdose:

A sharp decrease or jump in blood pressure.
Violation of the patency of the ventricles of the heart.
Circulatory disorders.
Toxigenic collapse.
Paresis of the intestine.
Heart failure.
Myocardial infarction.
Seizures.
Coma.

To reduce pressure

Drugs that lower blood pressure (blood pressure) are prescribed to patients with hypertension (high blood pressure).

The required dosage is not more than 150 mg per day.

What is the danger? Often such funds are used urgently with a sharp increase in blood pressure. At this point, the person seeks to reduce pressure as quickly as possible, significantly increasing the dose. The result is a sharp drop in blood pressure.

This is fraught with:

Renal insufficiency.
Brain damage
Myocardial infarction.

With a severe overdose, death occurs in about half an hour.

Heart drugs

The most popular of them:

Beta-blockers - reduce blood pressure and heart rate.
Statins lower the level of bad cholesterol in the blood and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.
Antiplatelet agent - prevents the formation of blood clots.
Nitrates - help with angina pectoris, dilate blood vessels.
Calcium channel blockers - reduce blood pressure.
Diuretics - remove excess fluid, reduce pressure, relieve swelling and shortness of breath.
Cardiac glycosides - slow down the heart rate, while increasing their strength.
Anticoagulants - affect blood clotting, prevent blood clots.
Potassium and magnesium - support the work of the heart and the whole body, are trace elements.
Metabolic agents - improve the metabolism in the cells of the heart, prevent the lack of oxygen in the heart muscle.

All of these remedies are very effective when used correctly and the dosage is observed.

But the problem is that almost all patients start taking medications on their own, often without even reading the instructions. The result is a severe overdose.

Signs of an overdose of cardiac drugs:

Nausea and vomiting.
Violation of the heart.
Suffocation.
Seizures.
Dry mouth.
Vision problems.
Loss of consciousness.
Very severe headache.
Intracranial pressure.
BP jumps.

First aid to help avoid death

If the patient is conscious, you need:

Rinse the stomach. The victim is given to drink about 1.5 liters of water and induce vomiting.
Make the victim drink sorbents (Smecta, Atoxil, Polysorb, activated carbon).
Give the person sweet tea to drink.
Call an ambulance .

Attention! It is very important to find a package of medicines that a person has suffered from.

This will help doctors choose an antidote and increase the effectiveness of rehabilitation.

If the patient is unconscious:

Lay the victim on his right side, if possible, fix it so that he remains in this position.
If vomiting begins, carefully monitor the patient so that he does not choke on vomit.
Watch the victim's breathing, he should breathe freely.
If there is no pulse, be sure to do chest compressions.

Reference! In the hospital, the victim is prescribed antidotes and droppers, if necessary, they are connected to special devices to maintain life.

What first aid to provide for drug poisoning is described in the video:

Drug overdose is a preventable problem. However, it is one of the most common causes of emergency hospitalization and death.

A huge role here is played by the speed of assistance and the professionalism of doctors. But the most important thing is the consciousness of the patients themselves.

Not everyone knows that even seemingly harmless pills can cause death in case of overdose.

According to statistics, the largest number of deaths from the use of drugs that were prescribed by prescription to relieve pain with a significant excess of the dosage of the pharmacy drug.

Pharmaceutical preparations are antidepressants that are prescribed to calm or get rid of neuroses, which can lead to severe dry skin, anxiety and hallucinations with an increase in the required dose. It is not uncommon for patients to commit suicide after an overdose of such drugs.

Patients and their relatives should be aware that when taking medications prescribed by a doctor, it is imperative to observe the dosage without exceeding it.

Drugs purchased without a prescription

Not everyone knows that you can get poisoned from an overdose of drugs sold without a prescription in pharmacies. The use of tablets together with drinks containing alcohol has a particularly negative effect on the body.

Patients should be especially careful with the following medicines:

Aspirin. This medicine can be fatal if the patient suffers from intestinal, stomach or peptic ulcer disease. As for children, such a remedy is not recommended for them, since it can lead to the occurrence of a rare but dangerous Ray's syndrome, as well as asthma.
. An outwardly safe drug that is given to both adults and children, with an increase in dose, can cause general poisoning of the body and destruction of brain cells.
Loperamide. A remedy that is purchased at a pharmacy for diarrhea attacks can be addictive, which can later lead to a large number of side effects.
Vitamin E. Can cause a stroke and even bleeding of the internal organs, if the allowable dosage is exceeded several times.
Vitamin C. A large amount of vitamin C taken can provoke the occurrence of cancerous tumors. Therefore, do not exceed the recommended daily dose of 45 mg. With particular care, vitamin C should be given to children.
Iodine, drotaverine () with an increase in dosage can cause a fatal outcome in a patient.

You should be aware that all drugs (even the most harmless ones) must be stored out of the reach of children.

Pills affecting the heart

Patients should be aware that any increase in the dose of drugs that affect the cardiovascular system can cause unpleasant symptoms. These drugs include cardiac glycosides. Taking these drugs on a regular basis improves blood circulation. In addition, they help to cope with a weak or rapid heart.

However, positive aspects will appear only if the patient complies with the dose of drugs prescribed by the doctor. If it is exceeded, then this can lead to unpleasant consequences in the form of a decrease in blood pressure, the occurrence of headaches, the onset of nausea, sometimes vomiting, difficulty breathing and stool disorders.

In addition, they can cause negative changes during the conduct.

No less dangerous are drugs that have a hypnotic effect. As a rule, if the patient cannot fall asleep from one pill, he takes another one, naively believing that he will not harm his body. But an increase in the dosage of sleeping pills can cause apathy, drowsiness and depression of the respiratory and nervous systems. In addition, drugs of this action provoke the appearance of serious disturbances in the work of the heart, which can lead to serious damage to internal organs and put a person in a coma.

Doctors recommend that patients taking pills on an ongoing basis record when and how much medication was taken. Such a rule will protect the patient from the appearance of dangerous side effects due to an overdose. Also, you should know that before using any medication, it is better to consult a doctor.

Watch educational video:

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Rules for taking medicines

Follow the dosages and rules for taking pills and medicines

In most cases, preventing an overdose is simple: it is enough to follow certain rules while taking medication.

Some useful tips:

The most important point is that writing a prescription is the doctor's job. It is forbidden to engage in treatment on your own, to replace one drug with another. It is also impossible to rely on the knowledge of a pharmacist, sometimes the mistake of an inexperienced specialist can cost you your life.
Be sure to listen to medical advice. Buy special medicines for children, it is strictly forbidden to give a child an adult pill divided into several parts. There are a huge number of children's medicines on sale, they are convenient to use, designed for a specific purpose.
Respect the prescribed intake time. Violation of this aspect leads to improper absorption of the drug into the blood, a violation of its pharmacological action.
A full course of treatment is a prerequisite. This is especially true of antibiotics, often patients, feeling better, stop taking the medicine. The disease returns, which leads to repeated therapy, which can adversely affect the body.
Before use, be sure to read the instructions for the drug, side effects, contraindications. Sometimes the doctor may not take into account important aspects or he simply does not have enough time to explain the necessary recommendations.
Observe the terms and rules for storing medicines. Any violations in this area are a reason to refuse to use the medicine. Expired drugs, counterfeit products are very dangerous for human health.
Drink medicines only with clean water. Juices, milk, coffee neutralize or interact with the active components of drugs, which negatively affects the therapeutic effect, can lead to unforeseen consequences.

Note! Many medicines are forbidden to use with alcohol. The combination of substances is fraught with respiratory arrest, problems with the cardiovascular system, and the gastrointestinal tract. In some cases, complications lead to the death of the patient. Nicotine does not have such a strong effect on the body, but reduces the therapeutic effect of medicinal products.

Prescription drug overdose

Even harmless sleeping pills can be fatal.

Prescription drugs have the highest percentage of deaths. The patient, having received the medicine, sometimes unable to stop, begins to increase the dosage, which leads to sad consequences. There are several main groups of medicinal products from prescription medicines, they can provoke a fatal outcome:

Sleeping pills. This group includes barbiturates, non-barbituric drugs. Recently, it has become more and more popular to visit psychologists, doctors are allowed to prescribe potent substances. Exceeding the dosage or an incorrectly selected medication can cause confusion, disturbances in the work of the respiratory, circulatory system. A lethal dose is ten times the amount of the drug.
Narcotic analgesics (opiates). Oxycodone, morphine, codeine, methadone and others lead to altered patient consciousness, nausea, vomiting, cardiac arrest. Complications are observed when the dosage is excessively increased intentionally or not on purpose. In any case, helping a person is quite difficult.
monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Phenelzine, parnate, marplan. Failure to comply with the correct dosage leads to an improvement in the patient's mood, a person feels psycho-emotional arousal, which in some cases leads to disturbances in the activity of the heart muscle, and there is a high probability of coma. The drugs are insidious - the first symptoms are noticeable only a day after use, which prevents the timely diagnosis of an overdose.
Hallucinogens. Medicines from this group can lead to seizures, hallucinations, disorientation, coma. Taking medications from this group has a sharply negative effect on the psycho-emotional state of a person, a person is unable to help himself in the event of an unforeseen situation.
CNS stimulants. Cocaine, amphetamine and their derivatives in case of overdose lead to overexcitation, hallucinations, severe coma, psychosis. Deaths are directly related to cardiac arrhythmia.
Antidepressants. Medicinal products are designed to calm patients, restore mental health. An overdose entails an absolutely opposite effect - there is anxiety, dry skin, hallucinations. Often patients in such conditions commit suicide.

It's important to know! When using medicines prescribed by a doctor, be sure to follow his instructions, do not take large doses of medicines.

Overdose with non-prescription drugs

Common Aspirin tablets can also lead to death if the patient has a number of health problems.

You can get poisoned by medicines that are sold without a prescription, and deaths from taking freely sold medicines are recorded as often as from prescribed drugs. In most cases, the use of painkillers along with alcohol becomes fatal. List of unsafe drugs:

Aspirin. A frequently used medication, few people know that the drug can lead to the death of patients who have problems with the stomach, intestines, especially peptic ulcer. For children, the drug is fraught with another danger - the active ingredients increase the risk of an asthma attack, Reye's syndrome.
Paracetamol in large doses leads to the destruction of brain cells, general intoxication of the body.
Loperamide. It is used for diarrhea, it is not recommended to use it, it is addictive, after its use there is a wide range of side effects.
Vitamin C. In high doses, it causes cancer. Changes occur due to the production of a certain substance that damages DNA and contributes to the development of tumors. The maximum allowable daily dose for humans is 45 mg.
Vitamin E. Exceeding the dosage increases the risk of internal bleeding, can lead to a stroke.

No-shpa, drotaverine, iodine can also cause death when consumed in large quantities.

Note! Keep medicinal products away from children. Drug overdose is one of the leading causes of death among children under 5 years of age.

Any increase in the dosage of drugs that affect the cardiovascular system leads to the appearance of unpleasant symptoms.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system are the main cause of death among the world's population. Doctors are trying to cope with the problem with the help of cardiac glycosides, they are of natural origin, help reduce the load on the muscular organ.

Regular use of prescribed medications improve blood circulation, cope with a rapid or weak heart rate, and have a mild diuretic effect. The positive aspects of the drug appear only if the dosage is observed, any excess of the norm or rhythm disturbance (ventricular tachycardia) leads to the appearance of unpleasant symptoms:

blood pressure drops, headaches, breathing problems appear;
nausea, vomiting, stool disorders;
when conducting a cardiogram, negative changes are noticeable.

Sleeping pills

Medicines are designed to improve the patient's sleep. In most cases, the person himself is to blame for the overdose: if one tablet does not help to fall asleep, the hand reaches for a new dose, provoking depression of the nervous and respiratory systems. Drowsiness, apathy, frivolous disturbances in the work of the heart develop into a full-fledged coma with lesions of internal organs.

It is important to keep track of your sleeping pills, write down what and when you took. It is easy to forget about the use of the pill in a restless state, protect yourself and loved ones.

Medicines that affect the nervous system

Tranquilizers and antipsychotics are actively used in the treatment of mental disorders. The drugs dissolve easily in the stomach, are difficult to excrete by the kidneys and liver. The intake of potent drugs should be monitored by the medical staff and relatives of the patient. Lack of control most often leads to disturbances in the work of the cardiovascular system, breathing problems, convulsions, drowsiness, up to coma.

An important aspect is that many patients with nervous disorders are suicidal, often taking pills with alcohol. The combination of substances leads to problems with the physical and mental health of patients, the likelihood of death is high.

Consequences of an overdose

In cases of overdose, call an ambulance

The appearance of characteristic symptoms during drug intoxication depends on the specific drug. In most cases, there is apathy, airway obstruction, heart rhythm disturbances, kidney or liver failure.

Medical attention must be provided to avoid death. In order to do this correctly, try to find out from the victim what kind of remedy he took. Only when this aspect is clarified, proceed to medical manipulations.

First aid:

Call an ambulance immediately.
As mentioned earlier, find out what caused the poisoning.
Try to keep the patient conscious until the ambulance arrives.
In case of vomiting or nausea, tilt the head of the victim to one side, preventing the tongue from sinking, stopping breathing due to vomit.
Do not leave the person before the arrival of the doctors, try to cheer him up, if necessary, give the victim clean water to drink.

Prevention

Preventing drug intoxication is quite simple: follow the rules described at the beginning of the material, do not exceed the dosage, it is forbidden to use several drugs at the same time, without knowing about their interaction with each other.

Protect yourself and children from using unnecessary medicines, give preference to products based on natural ingredients. Before taking any remedy, consult a doctor, carefully study the annotation. Take care of your health, be vigilant!

Always remember that even the most harmless medicine can kill you, never self-medicate, many drugs have contraindications and cannot be taken if you have a particular disease, we recommend that you watch a video of what self-medication can lead to, and listen to the opinion of a doctor.

What pills can be poisoned?

You can get poisoned by any pills. It all depends on how much you drink. There are pills that you can get poisoned by if you drink a few pieces, and there are those that you need to drink several packs.

You can get poisoned by any pills. It depends not on the name of the drug, but on the number of pills you drink.

Any tablets have instructions for use and the exact dosage. This dosage must be observed. And preferably as directed by a doctor, and not self-medicate.

In general, any. As folk wisdom says What is too much is not healthy. Any medicine in excess is poison. It’s just that 2-3 tablets are enough for an overdose (over the norm), while others need to be consumed 10-20 more than expected. But in any case, poisoning will occur.

Any medicine that is taken incorrectly can cause poisoning. So with any pills you should be on the lookout. Although not any drug overdose leads to dire consequences, nausea, rash, drowsiness, or some other signs of poisoning can only be the tip of the iceberg and hide something more dangerous. So, if it so happened that you are taking medicine without the advice of a doctor, then carefully read the instructions.

First of all, you can get poisoned by expired pills.

Thirdly, poor quality, for example, a fake from China, purchased at the market, etc.

And fourthly, if you buy pills on your own, without a prescription.

In any case, consultation with a doctor is desirable.

You can get poisoned by absolutely any medication, even harmless vitamins. Therefore, on any medication they write the inscription: Keep away from childrenquot ;.

Once in the newspaper a case was described how one man wanted to be treated with carrot juice. He drank a big bag of it, he overdosed it and the man died.

Judging by medical statistics, most often overdose and poisoning occurs when taking such drugs (apparently, people consider these drugs to be quite harmless, so they do not follow the dosage, hence the consequences)

analgin
aspirin
other pain relievers and antipyretics
sleeping pills
antidepressants
tranquilizers, and
narcotic substances that are part of various drugs.

I want to warn you right away: it’s better not to poison yourself, there’s no sense in it, but a disgusting state and very poor health, as well as hugs of the basin are provided for a long time (depending on the state of the body).

In fact, you can get poisoned with a completely harmless medicine if this medication is not used as prescribed by the attending physician, or is absorbed in unacceptable doses, it’s not for nothing that people say, what heals, it cripples, therefore, you need to be very selective and attentive when choosing medicines, it is also recommended that before taking any drug, read the annotation, which is usually always present in the box or packaging of a particular medical drug, which describes its purpose, as well as the medical effect on the body, primarily for children, and in addition, contraindications and side effects that may occur with its uncontrolled use.

Any pill can be a cause of poisoning. It all depends on how much you drink. It is not for nothing that doctors prescribe a scheme for the use of this or that drug, and not all the pills of one course at once. And in the packages of tablets it is clearly stated what norm must be adhered to during the day or month.

Everything that applies to medicines, the same applies to poison / poisons. So, you can poison yourself with any pills. An overdose can even be harmless vitamins. Of course, it is impossible to completely abandon drugs, but you need to treat them with complete seriousness.

A priori, you can get poisoned by any pills, even vitamins. That is why all medicines must be kept out of the reach of children. There is even an opinion that drugs, even in doses recommended by a doctor, poison the body, just at the time of appointment, the benefits outweigh the risks.

Overdose of medications is a rather dangerous condition and can cause serious consequences, including death. The most dangerous are intoxication with sleeping pills and painkillers, nootropics, antidepressants and drugs that increase blood pressure and affect the heart rhythm.

Today we will talk about what are the signs of honey poisoning. means are manifested, how to help the patient and how to avoid this states.

Signs of drug poisoning.

The manifestation of symptoms depends, first of all, on what drugs were taken by the person. If a poisoning was caused by sleeping pills, there is a thorough inhibition of the central nervous system. In this case, the dream switches to an unconscious state. A person's breathing becomes superficial, in some cases there are stops that turn into wheezing.

With intoxication drugs a person feels weak, he turns pale, constantly wants to sleep. Nausea, dizziness, vomiting, blue skin around the lips, shortness of breath, constriction of the pupils, and a coma are also possible.

If intoxication occurs as a result of excessive intake painkillers, as well as drugs that lower body temperature, there are disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system, and more precisely in the processes of excitation and inhibition. In addition, the capillaries expand, and there is an intensive release of heat from the body. The patient complains of weakness, lethargy, which flows into sleep or an unconscious state. In severe poisoning, respiratory or circulatory arrest may occur.

Providing first aid for intoxication.

First of all, you must immediately call ambulance! Before her arrival, the patient must wash the stomach, provoking vomiting. To do this, you can use a solution of water with salt or mustard. After washing, you should take activated charcoal.

In case of intoxication with sleeping pills or antidepressants, give the patient a glass of tea - it contains stimulants substances.

It is important to understand which drug caused the poisoning, as this will help to choose the effective one. treatment strategy and predict potential outcomes.

Typically, treatment is based on symptoms. The doctor prescribes drugs that reverse the action and drugs that support the functioning of the liver. For example, with excessive use of drugs that reduce blood pressure, it is recommended to use drugs that activate the work of the cardiac system.

How to avoid intoxication?

To reduce the risk of drug poisoning, the following must be observed: regulations:

various tablets it is necessary to drink separately, and not all at once;
be sure to pay attention to the expiration date of medicines;
read carefully before taking abstract and follow the doctor's orders;
if different specialists have prescribed different drugs, be sure to consult a therapist who will tell you which drugs are compatible and which are not;
never leave medicines in bathroom and do not freeze medicines that are in liquid form.

Consequences of drug overdose.

Drug overdose is a very common incident. For intoxication, it is enough to take a dose that is ten times the norm. And for young children and the elderly, this figure is less than half.

Some drugs can enhance the manifestation of many diseases, which quite often end in disability and even death. This phenomenon is called "drug disease". In most cases, this is the result of doctor's mistakes. For example, instead of eliminating the cause of pain in the back, the doctor prescribes a conventional pain medication. The person feels better and he thinks that he has recovered and returns to his normal lifestyle. As a result, there is a compression of the vertebrae or a herniated disc located between the vertebrae.

Remember that long-term medicines contributes to the accumulation of toxic elements that are subsequently difficult to remove from the body. Do not forget that different groups of medicines have their own side effects, which significantly worsen the state of human health.