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Adverse Effects

Meaning

An adverse effect represents an unintended, undesirable response to a clinical intervention, such as a pharmaceutical agent or hormone therapy, occurring at normal therapeutic doses. These reactions differ from expected side effects in their severity and clinical significance, often necessitating a modification or cessation of the treatment plan. Clinicians carefully monitor patients for these negative physiological manifestations to ensure patient safety and optimize the therapeutic index. Understanding the spectrum of potential adverse effects is fundamental to responsible endocrinology practice.