But when medicines have to be taken for years to control a chronic problem, even minor side effects can become very significant. And when the condition is something which doesn't even cause any symptoms on its own, such as high blood pressure, the side effects of medication may seem intolerable. Many people stop talking blood pressure medication because of side effects such as depression, lethargy or impotence, leaving themselves at risk of life threatening complications such as a stroke. Persist until you find a treatment which suits you Top Tips 1. Know your medicines.
Some people are more at risk.
The elderly and pregnant women should be particularly cautious with medicines and always check with their doctor first. Treat all complementary medicines seriously and get informed about them. But with persistence and some effort to switch between the dozens of different medications available most people can find some combination of treatment which they can tolerate. The same is true for most conditions. As more and more powerful medicines are released from prescription-only status to be freely sold in the chemists shop, there is a growing risk from side effects.