Medication Side Effects Guide Reason for Medicine Medicine Names: Generic (Brand) Common Side Effects Pain Relief Examples: May Cause: • Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) Confusion • Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen (Norco®, Vicodin®) Constipation Mild: 0-3 Moderate: 4-6 Severe: 7-10 • Hydromorphone (Dilaudid®) Dizziness • Morphine Drowsiness 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 • Oxycodone/Acetaminophen (Percocet®) Rash • Oxycodone Vomiting • Oxycodone ER (Oxycontin®) Upset Stomach • Tramadol (Ultram®) Nausea or Vomiting Examples: May Cause: • Ondansetron (Zofran®) Constipation Drowsiness Fatigue Headache Constipation Relief or Laxative Examples: May Cause: • Bisacodyl (Dulcolax®) Diarrhea • Docusate (Colace®) Upset Stomach • Senna (Sennokot®) • Polyethylene glycol (Miralax®) Heartburn or Acid Reflux Examples: May Cause: • Esomeprazole (Nexium®) Constipation • Pantoprazole (Protonix®) Diarrhea • Ranitidine (Zantac®) Dizziness Headache Lowers Cholesterol Examples: May Cause: • Atorvastatin (Lipitor®) Muscle weakness/pain • Pravastatin (Pravachol®) Trouble sleeping • Rosuvastatin (Crestor®) Upset stomach • Simvastatin (Zocor®) Helps with Sleep Examples: May Cause: • Trazodone (Desyrel®) Confusion • Zolpidem (Ambien®) Dizziness Drowsiness Dry mouth Headache Helps with Inflammation Examples: May Cause: • Dexamethasone (Decadron®) Diarrhea • Methylprednisolone (Medrol®) Increased appetite • Prednisone (Deltasone®) High blood sugar Mood changes Trouble sleeping Upset stomach Blood Thinner/Blood Clot Treatment Examples: May Cause: • Apixaban (Eliquis®) Bruising • Aspirin Risk of bleeding • Clopidogrel (Plavix®) Upset stomach • Enoxaparin (Lovenox®) • Heparin • Warfarin Reason for Medicine Medicine Names: Generic (Brand) Common Side Effects Heart Rhythm Problems Examples: May Cause: • Amiodarone (Cordarone®, Pacerone®) Dizziness • Digoxin (Lanoxin®) Headache Lowers Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Examples: May Cause: Beta-Blockers Dizziness • Carvedilol (Coreg®) Drowsiness • Metoprolol (Lopressor®, Toprol XL®) Headache
Calcium Channel Blockers • Amlodipine (Norvasc®) • Diltiazem (Cardizem®) Lowers Blood Pressure Examples: May Cause: ACE Inhibitors Coughing • Benazepril (Lotensin®) Dizziness • Enalapril (Vasotec®) High potassium • Lisinopril (Prinivil®, Zestril®)
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers • Irbesartan (Avapro®) Diuretics May Cause: • Hydrochlorothiazide (Maxide®) Dizziness • Furosemide (Lasix®) Dry mouth Increased urination Low potassium Antibiotic to Treat or Prevent Bacterial Examples: May Cause: Infections • Ceftriaxone (Rocephin®) Diarrhea • Metronidazole (Flagyl®) Headache • Moxifloxacin (Avelox®) Rash/flushing • Piperacillin/tazobactam (Zosyn®) Upset stomach • Vancomycin (Vancocin®) Improve Mood Examples: May Cause: • Citalopram (Celexa®) Drowsiness • Mirtazapine (Remeron®) Dry mouth • Sertraline (Zoloft®) Headache Controls Blood Sugar Examples: May Cause: • Insulin glargine (Lantus®) Dizziness • Insulin aspart (NovoLOG®) Low blood sugar • Insulin regular human (NovoLIN R®, HumuLIN R) Slurred speech Sweating Weight gain Large Prostate or Passing Urine Easier Examples: May Cause: • Tamsulosin (Flomax®) Dizziness • Doxazosin (Cardura®) Headache Fatigue Urinary urgency
*Chronic use of some of these medications may increase the risk of falls and delirium in people age 65 and older.