Medicine purposes and side effects Ace inhibitors Purpose: Relaxes blood vessels and decreases blood volume, which lowers blood pressure and decreases oxygen demand from the heart Side effects: Low blood pressure, headache, dizziness, cough, nausea, rash, abnormal taste (salty or metallic) PRECAUTIONS: Rapid swelling (angioedema), hyperkalemia (too much potassium). Use caution when taking with potassium supplements. Adrenergic blocker (beta blocker/heart medicine) Purpose: Makes heart muscles work more efficiently Side effects: Nausea and vomiting, heart palpitations (flutters), fast pulse PRECAUTIONS: Glaucoma, high blood pressure Adrenocortical steroid (anti-inflammatory medicine) Purpose: Decreases swelling Side effects: Seizures, hypersensitivity, fluid retention PRECAUTIONS: IV administration Analgesic/antipyretic (pain/fever reducing medicine) Purpose: Relieves pain and reduces fever Side effects: Nausea and vomiting, dry mouth, constipation, flushing, dizziness, sedation, headaches PRECAUTIONS: Epilepsy, asthma, hepatic disease, gastrointestinal disorders, pregnancy. DON T USE WITH ALCOHOL, MAO inhibitors, antidepressants, or anticoagulants. Antacid Purpose: Relieves indigestion (heart burn) Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, constipation, anemia, loss of appetite, tiredness PRECAUTIONS: Allergic reaction, salt restriction, stomach bleeding, heart disease. Use cautiously if you have kidney disease or a history of congestive heart failure. Antianginal (heart medicine) Purpose: Relieves chest pain, opens heart arteries Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, rash, itching, abdominal pain, headaches, dizziness, weakness PRECAUTIONS: Use cautiously in patients with irregular heart rate. Antianxiety Purpose: Treats anxiety disorders, tension, agitation and drug withdrawal Side effects: Drowsiness, lightheadedness, hangover, phlebitis, dry mouth PRECAUTIONS: Avoid alcohol, other tranquilizers, sedatives, MAO inhibitors. Don t stop taking suddenly. Use cautiously with patients who have kidney and/or liver disorders, glaucoma or depressive neuroses. Avoid activities that require alertness. Antiarrhythmic (heart rhythm medicine) Purpose: Treats abnormal heart rhythms Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increased weakness, heart rate changes, lowers blood pressure PRECAUTIONS: Monitor blood pressure and pulse.
Antibiotic/antibacterial Purpose: Treats infection caused by bacteria and prevents further growth of bacteria Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rash PRECAUTIONS: Use cautiously in patients with asthma, kidney and liver disease, myasthenia gravis and convulsive disorders. Antidiabetic (blood sugar medicine) Purpose: Decreases blood sugar Side effects: Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), nausea, rash, facial flushing PRECAUTIONS: Oral anticoagulant medicines can increase drug effects. Avoid alcohol. Take at the same time every day. Anticholinergic (anti muscle stimulant) Purpose: Decreases intestinal activity and relaxes specific abdominal muscles, prevents uncontrolled movements of the muscles Side effects: Dry mouth, urinary retention, drowsiness, blurred vision, constipation PRECAUTIONS: Notify your provider if you have glaucoma or ulcerative colitis Anticoagulants (blood thinner medicine) Purpose: Thins blood and helps prevent blood clots from forming Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blood in stool or urine, increased bruising or bleeding PRECAUTIONS: Notify your provider if you are taking aspirin with another blood thinner. Some anticoagulants may require routine blood work. Anticonvulsant (seizure medicine) Purpose: Decreases or prevents seizure activity Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, slurred speech, confusion, twitching, headaches PRECAUTIONS: Schedule regular provider follow-up. Some anticonvulsants may require blood work. Antidepressant (other than tricyclic/mao inhibitor) Purpose: Treats short-term depression Side effects: Nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, weight loss, decreased sexual drive PRECAUTIONS: Don t use with tricyclic or MAO inhibitors. Notify your provider before starting another antidepressant. Antidepressant (MAO inhibitors) Purpose: Helps decrease signs and symptoms of depression, increase concentration Side effects: Dizziness, insomnia, orthostatic hypotension PRECAUTIONS: Avoid use of alcohol, barbiturates, sedatives and tricyclic antidepressants. Use cautiously with antihistamines, levodopa, meperidine, phenylephrine, phenylproponalaine, insulin and oral hypoglycemics. Medicine may need adjusted. Follow a strict diet of no foods containing high levels of tryptophan, tyramine or excessive amounts of caffeine. Don t use if you have hypotension (low blood pressure), congestive heart failure or seizure disorders.
Antidepressant (tricyclic) Purpose: Helps decrease signs and symptoms of depression, increase concentration Side effects: Dizziness, orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia, blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, difficulty in urinating PRECAUTIONS: Don t use with MAO inhibitors. Use caution with use of epinephrine. May cause hypertension (high blood pressure) or seizures. Death can occur when used with MAO antidepressant. Use cautiously in patients with cardiovascular disease, intraocular pressure or seizure disorders. Antiemetic (nausea medicine) Purpose: Controls nausea and vomiting Side effects: Dry mouth, sedation, low blood pressure, blurred vision PRECAUTIONS: Avoid alcohol. Use cautiously if you have asthma. Antifungal Purpose: Treats infections caused by fungus and prevents further growth of fungus Side effects: Irregular heart rate PRECAUTIONS: Use with physician discretion in patients with kidney disease. Antiglaucoma agent Purpose: Decreases internal eye pressure, used to treat glaucoma Side effects: Dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, constipation, headaches, minor eye irritation PRECAUTIONS: Avoid alcohol. Use cautiously if you have asthma. Antigout Purpose: Reduces higher levels of uric acid in blood, which causes gout Side effects: Rash, anemia, drowsiness, headache PRECAUTIONS: Use cautiously in cataract, liver or kidney disease. Antihistamine (allergy medicine) Purpose: Relieves symptoms of different types of allergies, including seasonal (hay fever), indoor and food allergies Side effects: Dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, diarrhea, increased appetite PRECAUTIONS: Tell your provider if you are taking a large amount of aspirin. Don t drive while taking certain antihistamines because it may cause drowsiness. Antihypertensive (blood pressure medicine) Purpose: Treats high blood pressure Side effects: Fatigue, low blood pressure, lowers heart rate, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea PRECAUTIONS: Bronchospasm Anti-inflammatory without steroid (NSAIDs) Purpose: Decreases swelling and stiffness in joints and bones, relieves pain Side effects: Dizziness, nausea, headaches, stomach irritation and/or bleeding, dry mouth, rash PRECAUTIONS: Don t mix with alcohol or sleeping pills. Avoid hazardous activities or activities needing concentration.
Antiparkinson Purpose: Treats tremors and symptoms caused by Parkinson s disease Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headaches, hand tremors, numbness, confusion, insomnia, low blood pressure PRECAUTIONS: Caution use in glaucoma, melanoma, psychosis and lactation Antipsychotic Purpose: Helps keep patient calm, stabilizes moods, dementia in geriatric patients, schizophrenia, mild alcohol withdrawal Side effects: Tremors, slurred speech, hypotension (low blood pressure), blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, sensitivity to light/sun, facial grimacing, repetitive chewing, tongue thrusting PRECAUTIONS: Avoid use with alcohol, central nervous system depressants, MAO inhibitors, anticholinergics, barbiturates and lithium. May cause bone marrow suppression, blood dyscrasia or coma Antiulcer Purpose: Decreases stomach acid, treats duodenal ulcers, decreases stomach pain Side effects: Constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, dizziness, headaches PRECAUTIONS: Wait 30 minutes after taking antacid. Alcohol decreases drug effect. Bronchodilator (inhaler or nebulizer-breathing medicine) Purpose: Relaxes muscles used for breathing Side effects: Tremors, nervousness, fast heart rate, nausea, vomiting PRECAUTIONS: Check with provider before using with over-the-counter cold remedies. Don t dissolve or crush long-acting tablets. Cardiac glycoside Purpose: Treats low-functioning heart by increasing the force of the heart muscle and increasing the resting period of the heart Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, headaches, cramps, drowsiness, confusion, muscular weakness, heart irregularities, visual disturbances PRECAUTIONS: Fast pulse and irregularities. Don t use with antihistamines, anticonvulsants, barbiturates, hypoglycemic agents or phenylbutazine. Cholinergic (muscle stimulant) Purpose: Causes constriction of blood vessels, fall in blood pressure, slowing of heart rate, salivation, sweating and increased gastrointestinai and genitourinary tone and movement Side effects: Muscle cramps and pain, blurred vision, headaches, slow heartbeat, dizziness, rash PRECAUTIONS: Use cautiously in asthma. Diuretic (water pill) Purpose: Decreases water retention, swelling Side effects: Blood in urine, pain with urination, reduces potassium levels, diarrhea, vomiting, decreases appetite, confusion, headaches, nervousness, rash, dizziness after getting out of bed PRECAUTIONS: Inability to urinate, liver or kidney disease, electrolyte imbalances, may increase lithium levels
Electrolytes (supplements and vitamins) Purpose: Replaces the vitamins or minerals lost from using diuretics or excess fluid loss through sweating Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, palpitations, edema, rash, itching PRECAUTIONS: Dehydration, severe burns, hyperkalemia (too much potassium), ulcer, colitis or lung disease Expectorant/antitussive (mucus-reducer cough medicine) Purpose: Promotes drainage of mucus from the lungs by thinning the mucus, reduces coughing Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, vertigo, drowsiness, sedation, headaches, constipation, rash PRECAUTIONS: Skin rash. Reaction may require stopping drug. Hematinic (blood builders) Purpose: Treats anemia Side effect: Black tarry stools, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal cramps PRECAUTIONS: Use caution if you have peptic ulcer disease or colitis. Dairy foods, eggs, whole-grain bread and cereal may decrease the effect. Insulin (diabetes medicine) Purpose: Controls amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood stream Side effects: Low blood sugar symptoms such as cold sweats, excessive hunger, headache or shakiness; irritation at injection site PRECAUTIONS: Keep in cool dry place. Don t shake; roll to mix. Don t use if discolored or particles in insulin. Avoid alcohol. Check expiration date. Double-check dose before giving. If signs of low blood sugar occur, take a form of sugar as soon as possible. Call provider if symptoms persist. Laxative/stool softener (bowel medicine) Purpose: Prevents and treats constipation by helping move bowels Side effects: Nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea PRECAUTIONS: None significant Muscle relaxant Purpose: Relaxes muscles and prevents muscle spasms Side effects: Headaches, dizziness, lethargy, coordination difficulties, nausea, vomiting, hypotension, thrombophlebitis, bradycardia (slow heart beat), blurred vision, diplopia PRECAUTIONS: Use cautiously with alcohol, nervous system depressants and psychotropics Narcotics and opioids (pain medicine) Purpose: Relieves pain, diarrhea, and suppresses cough Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness, sedation, headaches, slow breathing, dry mouth, rash, jerking, twitching PRECAUTIONS: Don t mix with alcohol or sleeping pills unless instructed to do so. Avoid hazardous activities or activities needing concentration.
Sedatives-hypnotics (sleeping medicine) Purpose: Treats sleeplessness Side effects: Indigestion, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, blurred vision, dizziness, weakness PRECAUTIONS: AVOID ALCOHOL OR NARCOTICS unless instructed otherwise. Avoid hazardous activities or those requiring concentration. Don t take for long periods of time unless advised. Spasmolytic (muscle relaxer) Purpose: Relaxes muscles for breathing and urination Side effects: Restlessness, rapid heart rate, nausea, vomiting, less perspiration, constipation, dry ears, nose and throat PRECAUTIONS: Use caution if you have glaucoma, colitis or enlarged prostate. Statins Purpose: Lowers cholesterol Side Effects: Muscle aches, weakness, nausea, vomiting, flushed skin, headache, bloating, gas or diarrhea PRECAUTIONS: Use cautiously in patients with liver disease. Don t take with grapefruit. Thyroid hormone Purpose: Replace thyroid hormones Side effects: Palpitations, headaches, tremors, nervousness, loss of appetite, irregular heartbeat, weight loss, unusual sweating PRECAUTIONS: May decrease effects of insulin or oral diabetic medicine, may increase effects of blood thinners. Take at the same time each day. Vasodilator (blood vessel widening medicine) Purpose: Improves blood flow to heart, arms and legs. Relaxes and expands arteries. Side effects: Low blood pressure, dizziness, headaches, flushing, tingling in face, fingers and toes; weakness. PRECAUTIONS: Use with caution if you have glaucoma, heart disease or stroke. Other Purpose: Side Effects: PRECAUTIONS: