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==Overview==
'''Therapy''' (in Greek: '''θεραπεία''') is the attempted remediation of a health problem, usually following a [[diagnosis]].  In the medical field, it is synonomous with the word "treatment".

A '''supportive therapy''' is one that does not treat or improve the underlying condition, but instead increases the patient's comfort.<ref>[http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands_split.jsp?pg=/ppdocs/us/common/dorlands/dorland/nine/000951141.htm#000951141 Dorland's Medical Dictionary]</ref>  Supportive treatment may be [[palliative care]].

== Therapeutic effects ==
{{main|Therapeutic effect}}

A ''therapeutic effect'' is a consequence of a medical treatment, of any kind, the results of which are judged to be desirable and beneficial. This is true whether the result was expected, unexpected, or even an unintended consequence of the treatment.

What constitutes a therapeutic effect vs. a side effect is a matter of both the nature of the situation in which a treatment is used and the goals of treatment.

== Adverse effects ==
: ''Main articles: [[Adverse drug reaction]] and [[Adverse effect (medicine)|Adverse effect]]''

In addition to (or in place of) the intended therapeutic effect of a treatment, a therapy may cause undesired (adverse) effects as well.  When an adverse effect is weaker than the therapeutic effect, it is commonly referred to as a "side effect".  An adverse effect may result from an unsuitable or incorrect dosage or procedure (which could be due to [[medical error]]). Some adverse effects occur only when starting, increasing or discontinuing a treatment. Using a drug or other medical intervention which is [[contraindication|contraindicated]] may increase the [[risk]] of adverse effects.  Patients sometimes [[compliance (medicine)|quit a therapy]] because of its adverse effects.  The severity of adverse effects ranges from nausea to death.
Common adverse effects include alteration in [[body weight]], change in [[enzyme]] levels, loss of function, or [[pathology|pathological]] change detected at the microscopic, macroscopic or physiological level. 

Adverse effects may cause a reversible or irreversible change, including an increase or decrease in the susceptibility of the individual to other chemicals, foods, or procedures (e.g. [[drug interaction]]).

==See also==

* [[List of therapies]]
* [[Medicine]]
* [[Medication]]
* [[Nutraceutical]]



[[Category:Therapy]]

[[bg:Терапия]]
[[da:Terapi]]
[[de:Therapie]]
[[es:Tratamiento (medicina)]]
[[eo:Terapio]]
[[eu:Tratamendu]]
[[fr:Thérapie]]
[[it:Terapia]]
[[lv:Terapija]]
[[hu:Terápia]]
[[nl:Therapie]]
[[ja:治療]]
[[nn:Terapi]]
[[pl:Terapia]]
[[pt:Terapia]]
[[ru:Терапия]]
[[sk:Terapia]]
[[sr:Терапија]]
[[fi:Terapia]]
[[th:การบำบัด]]
[[vi:Điều trị]]
[[tr:Tedavi]]

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