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Letter: Don't linger over the list of side effects

Published 12 March 2025

From Geoff Harding, Sydney, Australia

Such is the power of the nocebo effect, it is arguably a mistake to read a list of possible negative side effects when you have to take a medication. When I had a covid-19 vaccine, I saw a wall poster listing possible side effects and advised the nurses it wasn’t necessarily a good idea to encourage people to read it. Of course, should side effects strike, seek medical advice (22 February, p 38).

Issue no. 3534 published 15 March 2025

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