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How to deal with side effects of your medication
Before you skip a dose or stop cold turkey, read this.
Prescription medications can work wonders. They help fight off infections. They lower blood pressure, ease pain, and so much more. But they can also cause unwanted side effects.
Side effects are unwelcome or unexpected reactions to medicine. Common ones include:
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Rash
Fear of side effects is one big reason many people stop taking their meds. Maybe they’ve been on the same drug or a similar one in the past and had unpleasant side effects. Or they’ve seen a family member deal with side effects on the same drug.
But skipping doses or stopping on your own can cause major problems. Half of treatment failures and 25% of hospital visits happen because people weren’t correctly taking their medication.
Suddenly stopping a medicine can also cause withdrawal symptoms. For example, stopping an antidepressant abruptly can cause:
- Trouble sleeping
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- A relapse in depression
For all these reasons, it’s important to talk to your provider about any side effects you’re having. There’s a good chance they can help, says Michael Steinman, MD. He’s a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.
“Some people make the mistake of suffering in silence,” Dr. Steinman says. “Don’t be one of them! If you have concerns, make sure to speak up.” These tips are good ones to consider and talk about with your doctor.
Give it time
Starting a new medicine or changing the dosage of a current one might cause short-term side effects. These may clear up in a few days or weeks as your body gets used to the medication.
Are your symptoms mild? Think about waiting it out. Are they still there a month or two later? Talk to your provider. But if your side effects are severe or dangerous, don’t wait. Tell your provider right away if you have thoughts of suicide or an abnormal heartbeat.
Make a change or tweak
If you have side effects from one brand of medicine, that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. Your provider might:
- Suggest a different brand that works the same
- Lower or raise the dose
- Suggest taking it at different times of the day or with food
Keep a medication list
Not all medicines play nicely together. Keep a list of everything you take. Be sure to include:
- Prescription drugs
- Vitamins and supplements
- Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines
Make sure your provider has the list too. Before you stop taking a medication or start a new one, go over the list together.
Change your diet
Are your side effects kicking in at the same time each day? Or after eating certain foods? Take note. There can be reactions between some medicines and foods. For example, you don’t want to wash down a statin (cholesterol medicine) with grapefruit juice. It can cause muscle pain.
Skip alcohol
Some medicines don’t work well with alcohol. Those that treat the common cold, anxiety, high blood pressure, and allergies are on that list. Combined with alcohol, they can cause symptoms such as:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Headaches
- Fainting
What’s the bottom line?
The best treatment results happen when people take their medicine the right way. So, if you’re dealing with side effects, work with your provider. They can help you find a way to make taking your meds more pleasant. And before making any changes or stopping your medications, talk with your provider. It’s best to decide together.
Article sources:
Side effects basics: Food and Drug Administration
Fear of side effects: American Medical Association
Prescription drug adherence statistics: U.S. Pharmacist
Antidepressant withdrawal: Cleveland Clinic
Best treatment results statistic: Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
