side effect (medicine)

Question

How would you translate "side effect"...(in reference to medicine)

Hi littlemama...Great context for you question. I edited your title to reflect forum guidelines (Avoid phrases like "translation please", "how do I say this", "I'm new" and similar expressions.) Thanks - Izanoni1, Nov 30, 2009

Answer 1

Efecto secundario

Answer 2

I think that Carlos is correct that the more common term is "efecto secundario". The only problem that I see with the Wiki article cited in Mokay's answer is that it is unsubstantiated (as is often quite common of Wikipedia articles). There is no reference listed for the information in the article for the portion that makes the claim against the use of "efecto secundario."

Side effects usually refer to adverse reactions to a medication, and are more commonly referred to as "efecto secundario." They can also be called "eventos adversos," or "reacción adversa."

The National Institute of Health (NIH) has this to say about it:

Efectos secundarios de las medicinas

Un efecto secundario es un problema causado por una medicina. Por ejemplo, algunas medicinas para la diabetes pueden provocar náuseas o malestar del estómago cuando una persona empieza a tomarlas. Antes de empezar a tomar una nueva medicina, hable con su médico sobre los posibles efectos secundarios y cómo se pueden prevenir. Si los efectos secundarios de las medicinas le molestan, informe a su médico.

Major pharmaceutical companies refer to the side effects of their products as efectos secundarios as well: Crestor/AstraZeneca,

The drug company Pfizer has published an article (see web address below) on side effects of drugs and contend that efectos secundarios is the more common term:

La seguridad de los medicamentos y usted:

Comprender los “efectos secundarios”

Cuando los científicos estudian un medicamento nuevo en un ensayo clínico, usan el término “eventos adversos” para describir cualquier problema observado en la persona que toma el medicamento. Dichos “eventos adversos” pueden o no haber sido causados por el medicamento, pero es importante registrar estos eventos y tratar de averiguar si existe una relación. Los especialistas en seguridad de los medicamentos llaman con frecuencia a un problema que se conoce como asociado con un medicamento en particular “efecto adverso” o “reacción adversa”. El término común para dichos problemas es “efectos secundarios” y son una preocupación clave para médicos y pacientes.

Pfizer Article (PDF): http://espanol.pfizer.com/onelink/pfizer/en2es/pdf/PDF 1-1 Medicine Safety and You.pdf

"secundario" also sounds more beingn than "adverso" (which would be important for an advertisement). - samdie, Nov 30, 2009

oops, "benign". - samdie, Nov 30, 2009

Answer 3

Mokay, by your link I would think reacción adversa would be the most correct term

yeah, that could work fine. - Mokay, Nov 30, 2009

Answer 4

Efecto colateral is the right translation.