Drug Symptoms
There's a saying that the cure can be worse than the illness itself. If you're taking medication, some of symptoms you feel may actually be due to adverse reactions to the drugs, rather than to the underlying health condition. It's important that you talk to your doctor as well as your pharmacist if you notice any changes after taking your medication so that the dosage can be properly readjusted for you.
Symptoms associated with drugs:
Abnormal heart rate: Aldomet, Apresoline, Catapres, Dilantin, Elavil, Lanoxin, Lopressor, Pronestyl, Serpasil, Slow-K, Synthroid, Theo-Dur
Agitation and irritability: alcohol, tricyclic antidepressants, caffeine, Phenobarbital
Confusion and disorientation: alcohol, antihistamines, atropine, Bactirum, codeine, Dalmane, Demerol, Dilantin, Elavil, Haldol, Indocin, Mellaril, Prednisone, Theo-Dur, Valium
Constipation: aluminum-containing antacids, Apresoline, atropine, codeine, Dialantin, Elavil, high-fiber laxatives, iron, phenytoin
Depression: Aldomet, Inderal, Lanoxin, Lopressor, Pronestyl
Drowsiness: alcohol, Aldomet, Catapres, Dalmane, Haldol, Mellaril, Nembutal, Restoril, Valium
Gastrointestinal distress: alcohol, aspirin, ibuprofen, Indocin, laxatives, Lopressor, Prednisone, Persantine, Theo-Dur
Hypotension and falling: catapres, Elavil, Hydrodiuril, Hygroton, Inderal, Lasix, Sinemet
Loss of appetite and anorexia: alcohol, Lanoxin, laxatives, Theo-Dur
Nausea and vomiting: alcohol, ampicillin, Apresoline, Carbolith, Lopressor, Theo-Dur, Slow-K
Urinary problems: alcohol, Apresoline, Elavil, Lasix, Sinemet, Thorazine
Vision disturbances: alcohol, Carbolith, digoxin, Dilantin, Isopto Carpine, Lanoxin, nitroglycerine
Next page: types of drugs and related symptoms.
Taken from the Los Angeles County ADPA and Behavioral Health Service, Inc.'s Medicine Education Program, which was adapted from Lesage, J. and Zwygart-Stauffacher, M. (1988). Detection of Medication Misuse in Elders. Alcohol and Drugs Generations.
Disclaimer:
Please note that though educational in nature, this website does not substitute for professional medical advice and should not be used as a sole guide for making decisions. Medications are constantly being developed and tested for their long term effects, so the information provided here should not be assumed to be the most current. When in doubt, always talk to your doctor or pharmacist. If you or a loved one are experiencing a health emergency, call 911. I avow all legal responsibility for your outcome.
