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Systemic Side Effects

Meaning

Systemic side effects are adverse reactions to a therapeutic agent that manifest throughout the entire body, affecting multiple organ systems, rather than being confined to the local site of administration. These effects arise because the drug is absorbed into the general circulation and interacts with receptors or metabolic pathways in distant, unintended tissues. In hormonal therapy, minimizing systemic side effects is a primary goal to ensure patient safety and long-term adherence to treatment.