All drugs go through extensive testing before they are licensed for general prescribing. All drugs have side effects but that depends on the person, but they are predominantly safe otherwise they wouldn't be approved. Unless there are reasons why your gp needs to take extra care with you, a health condition for example, then they are just making excuses. My gp was limited because of the immunosuppressant that I'm on but they were still able to prescribe 8 different medications.
