9 Types of Medications That Can Lead to Chronic Fatigue

Could these drugs could be the cause of that tired feeling



Are your medications making you feel sleepy? - Getty Images
Do you feel weak or tired — sometimes to the point of exhaustion — much of the time? If so, you’re not alone. Chronic fatigue accounts for more than 10 million visits to family doctors every year.

Chronic fatigue has many causes, including illnesses such as anemia and multiple sclerosis as well as depression and other psychiatric disorders. 

But it’s also often a side effect of drugs previously prescribed for other conditions. (I’m not talking here of the complicated disorder known as chronic fatigue syndrome, whose cause is unknown. This condition is characterized by extreme fatigue that can’t be explained by any underlying medical condition.)

Could one or more of the medications you’re taking be making you feel listless or lethargic? Read below to learn about the major classes of drugs that can cause chronic fatigue. 

If you suspect that your symptoms might be linked to a medication you’re taking, talk to your doctor or health care provider right away. It’s important that you do not discontinue them on your own.

1. Blood pressure medications
2. Statins and fibrates
3. Proton pump inhibitors
4. Benzodiazepines
5. Antihistamines
6. Antidepressants
7. Antipsychotics
8. Antibiotics
9. Diuretics

Read full article at AARP to view how each of these medications cause fatigue

Truth About Expired Meds

There's certainly controversy about expiration dates on food, but as upsetting to your stomach as it can be to eat items that are no longer fresh, taking expired medications can be more complicated and, in certain cases, have far greater consequences.

"If the drug is an over-the-counter product for minor aches and pains, you may not get 100 percent of the benefits if the expiration date has passed, but it's not dangerous," explains Rabia Atayee, an associate clinical professor of pharmacy at the University of California, San Diego.

However, for people taking medications for chronic or life-threatening illnesses — such as heart conditions, seizures, COPD or severe allergies — a drug that's not completely effective can be downright dangerous, she says.

Here are some answers to common questions that may help you stay out of harm's way when it comes to ingesting and discarding expired medications.

1. "I have some five-year-old antibiotics I want to take on my vacation in case I get sick. Are they still good?"

They won't make you sick, but they may not be strong enough to fight off infection, which can be harmful. Over time, antibiotics stored at home can lose up to 50 percent or more of their strength, meaning they may not be able to halt a potentially life-threatening bug that's invading your system.

Plus, if you're taking leftover antibiotics from a past illness, you won't have a complete dose to knock out all the bacteria. As Amy Tiemeier, associate professor of pharmacy practice at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, points out, not taking a full dose allows the most drug-resistant bacteria to remain in your body. You then risk getting the same infection again and needing a stronger drug to knock it out, which could mean more side effects and pricier antibiotics.

2. "Are there any medications that I should never, ever use beyond their expiration dates?"

Yes, absolutely. Oral nitroglycerin (NTG), a medication used for angina (chest pain), may lose its potency quickly once the bottle is opened and should never be taken after the expiration date. Similarly, insulin, used to control blood sugar in those with diabetes, may stop working after its expiration date. Other drugs you need to be sure are full strength include anticonvulsants, warfarin, digoxin, thyroid preparations and oral contraceptives (see full list here).

Another must-toss once the expiration date has passed: inhalers. "They will lose potency after their expiration date," Tiemeier says. "If you're having an acute respiratory attack and your inhaler doesn't work, it could be a dangerous situation." Ditto for EpiPens; the epinephrine in auto-injectors loses its potency. As with inhalers, EpiPens are used in life-threatening situations like anaphylaxis, so using an expired one is a major health threat.

Lastly, using ophthalmic (eye) drops past their expiration date could be dangerous because of the high risk for bacterial growth. You could risk losing your vision from contaminated drops, Tiemeier says.

Get MORE answers to common questions that may help you stay out of harm's way when it comes to ingesting and discarding expired medications - 

• Is a drug's expiration date the same thing as the 'use-by' date I see on my prescription vials?
• I keep all my medications on the kitchen counter so I remember to take them, rather than in my medicine chest. Are they safe there?
• How can I safely dispose of expired medications?
• How often should I clean out my medications?

Continue reading article at AARP 

Top 7 Tips for Managing Diabetes

1. Healthy Diet: overall balance of all nutrients. Space meals evenly in order to not consume too much food at one time nor go for long periods without food.

2. Being Active: inactivity leads to insulin resistance. But, being physically active helps utilize food. Do aerobic exercises to help burn calories and anaerobic exercises to build muscle helps skeletal strength, more flexibility and use calories.

3. Monitoring: diabetes is a 24-7 disease. Patients need to make adjustments in what they do during the day depending of their level of blood glucose. If they are not monitoring their blood glucose they have no idea what the effect the meal they just ate may have on their blood glucose or how their medication is working to control blood glucose.

4. Medications: take medications as needed and properly, on time, consistently to keep blood glucose at a proper level.

5. Problem Solving: how to deal with hypoglycemia and ability to recognize signs and symptoms of low blood sugar. To properly treat low blood sugar take 15 grams of a carbohydrate source and check blood sugar before and after.

6. Reducing Risks: greatest risk for people with diabetes is smoking. Stop or reduce smoking as much as possible. Also, having constant and scheduled contact with health care provider: health with appropriate labs and feet checked, vision, and dental.

7. Healthy Coping: greater incidence of depression. Unclear whether precedes or occurs after diabetes diagnosis. Important to recognize that this is normal. Often occurs because of the daily regimen and wears on people. 

The American Association of Diabetes Educators caution that people with diabetes shouldn't feel that they need to do all 7 steps right away or perfectly. Instead choose those steps that you know you can be successful at and build from there.

Article Source: http://www.drdaveanddee.com/diabetestips.html