Problems to Watch for When You Take Medicine

Taking medicines can sometimes cause problems

Some medicines taken for one problem can affect other parts of your body. For example, a drug used to control hay fever may also make you sleepy.

When you are taking medicines, remember that:

• Many medicines are harmful if you take too much.
• If you take more than one medicine at a time, you may have problems you do not expect.
• As you get older and take more medicines, you may have more of these kinds of problems.

It's important to use medicines the right way. Talk to your healthcare provider about all the medicines you use. You can also ask your pharmacist about how to take your medicines.

Medicines you get on your own

Check with your healthcare provider before you use:

• Medicine you can buy at the drugstore or the grocery store without a prescription.
• Home remedies, herbs, or vitamins.
• Prescription medicine bought through the Internet.

It's important to check because:

• What works for someone else may be harmful to you.
• Some medicines do not work well together and can cause serious side effects.
• The dose of one drug may be too high when taken with another drug.
• Herbs and nonprescription medicines may not be safe for you. Just because something says "all natural" does not make it safe.
• You may cause a new medical problem when you take different medicines together.

Some common medicines that can cause a problem

Water pills

Water pills (diuretics) help take away any extra water from your body. They do this by making more urine. They can cause you to have less potassium in your blood. When you have low potassium, you may:

• Feel weak.
• Not eat well.
• Have trouble with your bowel movements.
• Have muscle cramps.
• Feel confused.

If you take water pills and have these problems, call your healthcare provider. He or she may suggest that you:

• Take a blood test to check your potassium.
• Take a different dose of your medicine.
• Stop your medicine and start taking a different one.
• Start taking potassium pills.

Vasodilators

Vasodilators relax the blood vessels. This helps lower the pressure in the blood vessels. They are used to treat high blood pressure. But they can make you feel:

• Flushed.
• Dizzy.
• Faint.

They can also cause:

• Headaches.
• Swollen ankles.

If you have any of these problems, your healthcare provider can:

• Change your dose.
• Change the medicine you use.

Digoxin

Digoxin makes the heart beat more slowly and with more force. It is used most often for treating heart failure and irregular heartbeat. It is important to have regular blood tests to see if you are getting too much digoxin. It can cause:

• Headaches.
• Loss of appetite.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Vision changes.

If you have these problems, your healthcare provider can:

• Change your dose.
• Tell you to stop taking it.

You need to have regular blood tests to check your digoxin level while you take this medicine. Keep all appointments for these tests.

Sleeping pills and other medicines to change how you feel

Medicines that help you sleep and help you feel less anxious or depressed can cause you to feel:

• Drowsy.
• Shaky or unsteady.
• Confused.

Many of these medicines can cause real problems in older adults. For example, medicines that contain diphenhydramine, such as Tylenol PM, can make you feel very drowsy when you wake up. This can make it more likely that an older adult will fall. Other types of sleep aids can be habit-forming.

If you have any of these problems, your healthcare provider can change the medicine you use.

Laxatives

Laxatives are sometimes used when you are having trouble with bowel movements (constipation). You can often manage constipation if you:

• Drink lots of water.
• Eat fruit and other high-fiber foods, like whole-grain or bran cereals.
• Exercise.

If you use too many laxatives, your body may depend on them for normal bowel movements. Talk to your healthcare provider if you often need laxatives.

Safety tips

Get all of your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy every time. This way your pharmacist can help watch for:

• Drug allergies.
• Drugs that don't work well together.

The pharmacist can also answer questions about nonprescription drugs.

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

• Are having problems with the way your medicine makes you feel.
• Are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose.
• Plan to stop taking a medicine.
• Take it differently from the way the label tells you to.
• Cannot afford to buy your medicine or take it the way it was prescribed.