What are common side effects of medications?

The choice of typical adverse reactions as a correct answer highlights that common side effects of medications often fall under the classification of adverse reactions. This term encapsulates a range of unintended effects that patients may experience when taking various medications. Common side effects can vary significantly depending on the specific medication, but they often include symptoms like nausea, dizziness, fatigue, or allergic reactions. Recognizing these typical adverse reactions is essential for healthcare providers to ensure patient safety and manage any potential complications effectively.

While gastrointestinal discomfort can indeed be a side effect of many medications, it is more specific rather than encompassing the broader spectrum of adverse reactions defined in the correct answer. Effective antiviral responses refer to positive outcomes from antiviral medications rather than side effects, and nasal membrane swelling might be a reaction specific to certain medications but is not universally recognized as a common side effect across multiple drug classes. Thus, typical adverse reactions serve as a more comprehensive descriptor for what patients may encounter when undergoing treatment with various medications.