How to deal with side effects of your medication

Before you skip a dose or stop cold turkey, read this.

Women looking at device while holding pill bottle

There’s no denying that prescription medications can work wonders. They help fight off infections. They lower blood pressure, ease pain, and so much more. They can also cause side effects.    

Side effects are unwanted or unexpected reactions to a medicine. They can vary from person to person. Common ones can include:  

  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Drowsiness
  • Diarrhea  

They’re the reason many people stop taking their meds. One poll asked Americans why they stopped taking their prescription drug without telling their doctor. Nearly 30% blamed side effects.   

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.” Here are some strategies to ask about.  

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 it, Dr. Steinman says.  
  
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.   

A woman taking her blood pressure in a kitchen

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Make a change or tweak.  

Say you think you’re having side effects from one brand of a 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   

Make a list and check it twice.  

Not all medicines play nicely together. Keep a list of everything you take. Be sure to include:  

  • Prescription drugs
  • 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    

The bottom line  

The best treatment results happen when people take their medicine the right way at least 80% of the time. 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.     

Sources  

  1. “Finding and Learning about Side Effects (Adverse Reactions).” Food and Drug Administration. August 8, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/find-information-about-drug/finding-and-learning-about-side-effects-adverse-reactions
  2. Arowojolu AO, Gallo MF, Lopez LM, et al. “Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills for Treatment of Acne.” Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews. July 13, 2020. https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004425.pub5/full
  3. Roshan MHK, Shing YK, and Pace NP. “Metformin as an Adjuvant in Breast Cancer Treatment.” SAGE Open Medicine. July 16, 2019; vol. 9. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6637843/
  4.  “Why Do People Stop Taking Their Meds? Cost Is Just One Reason.” NPR. September 8, 2017. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/09/08/549414152/why-do-people-stop-taking-their-meds-cost-is-just-one-reason 
  5. “Medication Adherence: The Elephant in the Room.” U.S. Pharmacist. January 19, 2018. https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/medication-adherence-the-elephant-in-the-room