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Overview

This hub collects 5,220 side-effect pages covering medicine side effects. Each page sets out what is known about a specific product or method, how to tell an expected effect from a warning sign, and what to do next.

Everything here is written for people in South Africa, uses South African reporting routes, and is intended to be read alongside the approved leaflet that came with your product rather than instead of it.

Information only

This page gives general medicine-safety information for people in South Africa. It is not a diagnosis and not personalised medical advice. It cannot tell you whether a symptom you are having is caused by a particular product. Speak to a pharmacist or doctor about your own situation, and do not stop or change a prescribed treatment on the basis of a web page.

Most-searched topics

These are the topics people in South Africa look up most often in this section, ordered by search demand.

Browse by medicine or product

All 5,220 pages in this section, listed alphabetically.

Common side-effect questions

Questions that come up across most of the topics in this section are answered on the shared safety guides:

Serious warning signs

A small number of side effects are serious and need medical attention rather than watchful waiting. Some are specific to Medicine Side Effects and must be taken from its approved information. Others are general warning signs that matter with any medicine or health product.

General warning signs that apply to any product

Get medical help urgently if you develop any of the following after starting or changing a product — these can be signs of a severe allergic reaction, a severe skin reaction, or another serious problem:

Call for emergency help now if any of these happen

Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or tightness in the throat or chest
Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
A widespread rash with blistering or peeling skin, or sores in the mouth, eyes or genitals
Fainting, collapse, or a sudden severe drop in alertness
Chest pain, or sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
A fit (seizure), or confusion that comes on suddenly

In South Africa call 10177 for an ambulance, or 112 from a mobile phone. Go to your nearest emergency department if it is faster. Do not wait to see whether the symptom settles.

Warning signs specific to Medicine Side Effects

Evidence required before publish — source the following for Medicine Side Effects from the SAHPRA-approved patient information leaflet or professional information, and cite what you actually used.

Serious adverse reactions listed in the current SAHPRA-approved PIL/PI for Medicine Side Effects
The specific symptoms the source tells patients to watch for, in the source’s own terms
Any boxed, bolded or specially highlighted safety warning in the approved information
Any monitoring the source says is needed (bloods, blood pressure, and so on) and why
Any SAHPRA or manufacturer safety communication issued about this product

For how serious side effects are described and prioritised across this site, see serious side effects and warning signs.

What to do if you have side effects

If you think you are having a side effect, the response depends on how severe it is. Use the warning signs above first — if any of those apply, treat it as urgent.

If the symptom is severe or frightening

Get medical help immediately. Call 10177 for an ambulance, or 112 from a mobile phone, or go to the nearest emergency department. Take the product and its packaging with you if you can.

If the symptom is mild but bothering you

Write down what the symptom is, when it started, and how it relates to when you take the product
Check the leaflet that came with the product to see whether the symptom is listed
Speak to your pharmacist — for many questions this is the fastest route to a useful answer
Contact the prescriber if the symptom is affecting your daily life or is not settling

Do not stop a prescribed treatment on your own

Stopping some treatments suddenly causes its own problems, and the condition being treated may get worse. If you want to stop, ask a pharmacist or doctor how to do it safely — they can usually offer an alternative.

You can also report a suspected side effect in South Africa. Reporting does not replace getting medical advice, and you do not need to be certain the product was the cause.

When to seek urgent medical help

Some symptoms need medical attention straight away rather than an appointment in a few days. Do not wait to see whether they settle.

Call for emergency help now if any of these happen

Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or tightness in the throat or chest
Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
A widespread rash with blistering or peeling skin, or sores in the mouth, eyes or genitals
Fainting, collapse, or a sudden severe drop in alertness
Chest pain, or sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
A fit (seizure), or confusion that comes on suddenly

In South Africa call 10177 for an ambulance, or 112 from a mobile phone. Go to your nearest emergency department if it is faster. Do not wait to see whether the symptom settles.

Get same-day medical advice if you have

A high fever, or a rash together with feeling generally unwell
Yellowing of the eyes or skin, or unusually dark urine
Unusual bruising or bleeding that you cannot explain
Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, especially if you cannot keep fluids down
A sudden change in mood, or thoughts of harming yourself
Any symptom that is rapidly getting worse

If you are having thoughts of harming yourself

Help is available in South Africa. The SADAG helpline is 0800 567 567, or you can go to your nearest emergency department. You do not have to wait until it feels like an emergency.

How to report a suspected side effect in South Africa

South Africa has an official system for reporting suspected side effects, run by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). Reports from the public and from healthcare professionals are how safety signals get detected after a product is already in use.

Who can report

Anyone can report — you do not have to be a healthcare professional, and you do not need to prove that the product caused the problem. A suspicion is enough. Patients, caregivers and family members can all submit a report.

What to have ready

The name of the product, its strength and form, and the batch number if you have it
Why it was being used, and when it was started and stopped
What the suspected reaction was, when it began, and how long it lasted
Any other medicines, supplements or remedies being used at the same time
Basic details about the person affected — age and sex are usually enough

How to report

SAHPRA accepts adverse reaction reports through its e-Services reporting system and through the Med Safety mobile app. Healthcare professionals can also report through the same routes. Current forms and access points are published on the SAHPRA site.

SAHPRA Health Products Vigilance — the main vigilance and reporting hub
SAHPRA e-Services — current adverse reaction reporting access

Reporting is not a substitute for medical care

If someone is unwell now, get medical help first and report afterwards. Urgent symptoms always take precedence over paperwork.

For a fuller walkthrough see how to report an adverse drug reaction.

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Report a side effect

If you think you have had a side effect, you can report a suspected side effect in South Africa. Report a suspected side effect through the appropriate SAHPRA pathway where relevant.

Editorial status: draft — not for publication

Brief SE-00052 · build rank 52 · Phase 1 · Tier 1. Every evidence slot on this page must be completed from the SAHPRA-approved source and the page signed off by a qualified clinical or pharmacy reviewer before it is published. Target length 1,200–1,800 words.

Medicine Side Effects