Health Library
The Health Library is a collection of health and wellness resources created for learning and accessibility. Select a topic below for related health information or search for a topic in the search bar for more information on other medical conditions.
Medication Side Effects
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause constipation. Examples include: Antacids. Antidepressants. Some blood pressure medicines. Cold medicines (antihistamines). Calcium and iron supplements. Opioid pain medicines. If you think...
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Many medicines can cause changes in how we feel. Some can cause symptoms of depression. These include: Blood pressure medicines, such as clonidine (Catapres). Barbiturates. Some examples are pentobarbital (Nembutal), phenobarbital, and secobarbital...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines may reduce your blood's ability to clot and cause bruising or bleeding under the skin. A few examples are: Medicines (called blood thinners) that prevent blood clots. Also, taking a nonprescription medicine with a blood thinner may increase your risk of bruising and...
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Learn which medicines could make your heart failure worse.
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Find out which types of medicines require a regular blood test and why.
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Learn how to deal with common side effects of depression medicines.
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Many medicines and drugs can affect the rate and rhythm of the heart. A few examples are: Asthma medicines. Decongestants and cold medicines. Illegal drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines. Some heart and blood pressure medicines. Some medicines for depression and anxiety. Thyroid medicine. Illegal drugs, such as...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause confusion or make you less alert. A few examples are: Antidepressants. Antihistamines. Opioid pain medicines. Sedatives and tranquilizers. Medicines for bladder control problems (anticholinergics). Contact your doctor before you stop taking or reduce the...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause sleep problems. A few examples of these medicines are: Antidepressants. Cold medicines. Steroid medicines. Nonprescription diet aids. Other substances Other substances that may cause sleep problems include: Alcohol. At first, drinking alcohol may cause...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause ringing in the ears (tinnitus). A few examples are: Aspirin, ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), and naproxen (such as Aleve). Some blood pressure and heart medicines. Some antidepressants. Some cancer medicines. If ringing in the ears occurs after you...
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Some medicines for conditions other than diabetes can raise your blood sugar level. This is a concern when you have diabetes. Make sure every doctor you see knows about all of the medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements you take. This means...
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Many medicines change how well your body can stay cool. They include: Some antidepressants. Antihistamines. Some blood pressure medicines. Some sedative medicines. Thyroid medicine. Alcohol and illegal drugs such as methamphetamines, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, PCP (phencyclidine hydrochloride), and LSD...
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Between 1948 and 1971, millions of women took a drug called diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriage. Daughters born to women who took DES while pregnant have a slightly higher risk of developing: Abnormal cervical cells that cause an...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause a rash. A few common examples are: Antibiotics. Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve). Pain medicines, such as codeine. Seizure medicines. If a rash occurs after your child has begun a new medicine: Stop giving the medicine to your...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause urinary symptoms. A few examples include: Antihistamines. Decongestants. Opioid pain medicines. Tricyclic antidepressants. If you develop a urinary problem after taking a medicine: Call the doctor who prescribed the medicine to determine whether you...
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Some medicines can cause leg problems. A few examples are: Birth control pills and estrogen. These can increase the risk of blood clots in the leg, which may cause pain or swelling. Calcium channel blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure. These can cause leg swelling. Diuretics. These can cause leg...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause mouth problems. A few examples are: Antibiotics. Some seizure medicines. Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy). Steroid medicines. Medicines used after organ transplant. Antibiotics may cause many mouth problems. If you have recently started an...
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Many prescription and nonprescription drugs can cause weakness and fatigue. A few examples are: Antianxiety medicines. Antidepressants. High blood pressure medicines. Statin medicines for high cholesterol. If you think a prescription or nonprescription medicine may be causing your weakness or fatigue, call your...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can make you feel lightheaded or affect your balance. A few examples are: Antibiotics. Blood pressure medicines. Medicines used to treat depression or anxiety. Pain medicines. Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy). If you think a prescription or...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause belly pain or cramping. A few examples are: Aspirin, ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), and naproxen (such as Aleve). Antibiotics. Antidiarrheals. Laxatives. Iron supplements. Your health professional may be able to prescribe other medicines if you are...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause heartburn. A few examples are: Aspirin, ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), and naproxen (such as Aleve). Antibiotics. Steroids, such as prednisone. Some heart medicines. Caffeine and alcohol also can cause heartburn. If you think that your heartburn may...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause symptoms related to the nervous system. A few examples are: Antipsychotic medicines. Medicines taken to control nausea. Medicines used to treat Parkinson's disease, restless legs syndrome, and other nervous system problems. Nervous system problems are often...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines and supplements can cause headaches. A few examples are: Medicines that contain hormones, such as birth control pills and hormone therapy for menopause. Medicines for erection problems. Caffeine (because of caffeine withdrawal). Some heart and blood pressure...
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Many nonprescription and prescription medicines can cause nausea or vomiting. A few examples are: Antibiotics. Antidepressants. Aspirin, ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), and naproxen (such as Aleve). Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy). Opioid pain medicines. Vitamins and mineral supplements, such...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause diarrhea. A few examples are: Antibiotics. Antidepressants. Antacids. Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid). Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy). Many antibiotics cause diarrhea. Usually the diarrhea...
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Discusses dealing with side effects of antidepressants. Links to more info on medicines, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants. Explains reasons to take medicine. Includes a warning to watch for serious side effects.
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause a rash. A few common examples are: Antibiotics. Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve). Pain medicines, such as codeine. Seizure medicines. If a rash occurs after you have begun a new medicine: Call the doctor who prescribed the medicine...
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Many nonprescription and prescription medicines and supplements can cause gas and bloating. A few examples are: Aspirin. Antacids. Diarrhea medicines, such as Imodium, Kaopectate, and Lomotil. Opioid pain medicines. Fiber supplements and bulking agents, such as Citrucel, Fiberall, and Metamucil. Multivitamins and...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines, including some that you put directly on the skin, may cause blisters. A few examples are: Antibiotics. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (for example, Advil or Motrin), naproxen (for example, Aleve), or piroxicam (for example, Feldene)...
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How does grapefruit juice affect medicines? Grapefruit juice contains chemicals that can cause problems with enzymes that break down certain types of medicines in your intestines. When a medicine does not get broken down properly in the intestines, you can have too much medicine in your blood. Having too much...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can affect the menstrual cycle. A few examples are: Aspirin and other medicines (called blood thinners) that prevent blood clots. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (for example, Advil or Motrin) and naproxen (for example, Aleve). Hormonal...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause dehydration. A few examples are: Antihistamines. Blood pressure medicines. Chemotherapy. Diuretics. Laxatives. If you think that your dehydration is caused by a medicine: Call the doctor who prescribed the medicine to find out if you should stop taking...
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Skin changes are a common side effect of many prescription and nonprescription medicines. Common side effects include: Rash. Any medicine can cause a rash. Two examples are aspirin and antibiotics. Color changes in the skin. A few examples of medicines that can cause this are: Birth control...
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Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause vaginal symptoms. A few examples are: Antibiotics. Birth control pills. Hormone therapy. Chemotherapy for cancer. Vaginal sprays, douches, and spermicides. Vaginal symptoms may clear up on their own once you stop taking a medicine. A yeast infection can be...
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Some medicines may cause your skin to sunburn more easily. Medicines used for treatment on the skin (topical) or for the whole body (systemic) can cause two types of reactions: Phototoxicity. Medicines react with proteins in the skin and sunlight and cause a more severe sunburn reaction with increased...
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If you take a medicine that might cause bleeding as a side effect, watch for signs of internal or abnormal bleeding. This medicine might be a blood thinner. Call or other emergency services right away if you have: A sudden, severe headache that is different from past headaches. (It may be a...
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Medicines and medical treatments can cause hair loss. Medicines Many medicines that can cause hair loss include: Medicines used to treat cancer ( chemotherapy). Birth control pills. Women who lose hair while taking birth control pills usually have an inherited tendency toward hair thinning. If hair thinning...
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Medicines are a big part of treatment for many health problems. They fight harmful bacteria, relieve pain, and save lives. Medicines have helped cure diseases that used to have no cure. But there is a downside to medicines. Medicines work in a delicate balance with your body and with each other. Sometimes the balance...
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FDA advisories. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued advisories to patients, families, and health professionals to closely monitor for warning signs of suicidal behavior in children and adults younger than 25 who take antidepressants. This is especially important at the beginning of treatment or when...