The children’s story If You Give A Mouse A Cookie teaches kids about results and unintended consequences that stretch on forever. I could write my own patient story in that regard as well. If you give a patient a sleeping pill they might be tired in the morning. If they are tired in the morning they might ask for some energy medicines or supplements. If they can’t wake up they may be unable to hold a job. If they become disabled they may need a lawyer to get their benefits, once they get their benefits if the insurance company reevaluates their claim they may need another lawyer to fight their appeal. This is how it often goes. Lets say someone has 

Rheumatoid arthritis. If they take immunosuppresants to control their disease they may get infections. If they take antibiotics they may get a yeast infection. That may upset their irritable bowel. Then they take their pain medicine which helps their diarrhea but then results in constipation. The bloating makes them feel miserable and adds to their depression. The antidepressant and prilosec they take put them at risk for osteoporosis. If they need an osteoporosis medicine they can lead to osteonecrosis of the jaw.  So it goes. My point is that we deal with these risks and benefits of medicine everyday with our patients. The goal in medicine is to optimize the benefits and make certain the good outweighs the bad.