Transcript MEDICATION SIDE EFFECTS

Medication Side Effects
MEDICATION SIDE
EFFECTS
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All medications can cause side effects
Contributing factors
– Age
– Weight
– Sex
– Overall health
– Ethnicity
– Severity of disease
Medication Side Effects
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Side Effect: an undesirable secondary effect of a
drug or other form of medical treatment
– Minimal to serious and harmful
– New medication
– Change in dosage
– Stops using medication
Team Member
– Seek medical help
– Document the side effect and medical
intervention and file Incident Report
COMMON MEDICATION
SIDE EFFECTS
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Nausea
Vomiting
Fatigue
Dizziness
Dry Mouth
Headache
Itching
Muscle Aches and Pains
NEED FOR MEDICAL
ATTENTION
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Abdominal Pain
Blurred Vision
Constipation
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Headaches
Loss of Appetite
Memory Loss
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Heart Palpitations
Coordination Problems
Ringing in the Ears
Skin Rashes or Hives
Swelling of Hands or
Feet
Loss of Consciousness
or Fainting
APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO
OBSERVED SIDE EFFECTS
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Previously unobserved side effect the person’s
physician should be contacted immediately.
Medication should NEVER be discontinued without
approval from the person’s physician.
If the side effect appears to be serious call the
nurse and physician and then get the person to the
emergency room as quickly as possible.
COMMON MEDICATIONS FOR
PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL
DISABILITIES
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Intellectually Disabled have greater
incidences
– Epilepsy or other seizure disorders
– Mental illness
– Behavior disorders
Anti-Seizure Medications
Psychotropic or Antipsychotic Medications
ANTI-SEIZURE MEDICATIONS AND
THEIR SIDE EFFECTS
BRAND NAME
(generic name)
SIDE EFFECTS
ATIVAN
(lorazepam)
Dizziness, drowsiness, blurred or double vision,
nausea, skin rashes, abnormal blood counts (rare)
DEPAKENE
(valproate)
Upset stomach, altered bleeding time, liver toxicity,
hair loss, weight gain, tremor
DEPAKOTE
(divalproex sodium)
Upset stomach, altered bleeding time, liver toxicity,
hair loss, weight gain, tremor
DIAMOX
(acetazolamide)
Appetite loss, frequent urination, drowsiness,
confusion, extremity numbness, kidney stones
KEPPRA
(levetiracetam)
Sleepiness, fatigue, poor coordination, loss of
strength, dizziness
KLONOPIN
(clonazepam)
Drowsiness, sleepiness, fatigue, poor
coordination, unsteadiness, behavior changes
LAMICTAL
(lamotrigine)
Dizziness, headache, blurred vision, clumsiness,
sleepiness, nausea, skin rash
MYSOLINE
(primidone)
Clumsiness, dizziness, appetite loss, fatigue,
drowsiness, hyperirritability, insomnia,
depression, hyperactivity
NEURONTIN
(gabapentin)
Sleepiness, dizziness, clumsiness, fatigue,
twitching
PHENOBARBITAL
(phenobarbital)
Drowsiness, irritability, hyperactivity (children),
behavioral problems, difficulty concentrating,
depression
PHENYTEK
(extended phenytoin sodium)
Clumsiness, insomnia, motor twitching, nausea, rash,
gum overgrowth, hairiness
TEGRETOL
(carbamazepine)
Dizziness, drowsiness, blurred or double vision,
nausea, skin rashes, abnormal blood counts (rare)
TEGRETOL XR
(extended release
carbamazepine)
Dizziness, drowsiness, blurred or double vision,
nausea, skin rashes, abnormal blood counts (rare)
TOPAMAX
(topiramate)
Confusion, sleepiness, dizziness, clumsiness, difficulty
thinking or talking, tingling sensation of the skin,
nausea, decreased appetite
TRANXENE
(clorazepate)
Drowsiness, sleepiness, fatigue, poor coordination,
unsteadiness, behavior change
TRILEPTAL
(oxcarbazepine)
Difficulty concentrating, sleepiness, fatigue, dizziness,
double vision, nausea, unsteadiness, rash
ZARONTIN
(ethosuximide)
Appetite loss, nausea, drowsiness,
headache, dizziness, fatigue, rash,
abnormal blood counts (rare)
ZONEGRAN
(zonisamide)
Sleepiness, dizziness, loss of
appetite, headache, nausea,
irritability, difficulty concentrating,
unsteadiness, fever, kidney stones,
rash
NOTE: It is not necessary to memorize this or any chart in the training. It is,
however, necessary to have this and other information on medication side
effects readily available when working with persons with intellectual
disabilities who may not be able to tell you that they are having these
effects. The team member must recognize the side effects and respond
appropriately.
EXTRAPYRAMIDAL SIDE EFFECTS
OF ANTI-PSYCHOTIC
MEDICATIONS
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Improper dosing
Unusual reactions to neuroleptic medications
Physical Symptoms
– Tremor
– Slurred speech
– Akathisia
 restlessness in body and muscles,
 move constantly
EXTRAPYRAMIDAL SIDE EFFECTS
OF ANTI-PSYCHOTIC
MEDICATIONS (2)
– Dystonia
 handwriting deterioration,
 foot cramps or foot pulls up or drags
 Neck turns or pulls involuntarily
 Rapid, uncontrolled blinking
– Paranoia
 Anxiety or fear
 Irrationality
 Delusion
– Bradyphrenia - Slow thought process
More Typical Side Effects of
Anti-Psychotic Medications
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Aggression
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Agitation
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Anger
Self-injurious behavior
Socially inappropriate
behavior
Depression
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Temper Tantrums
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Hostility
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Difficulties concentrating
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Hyperactivity
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Confusion
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Irritability
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Sedation
Destruction of Property
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Motor Uncoordination
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More Typical Side Effects of
Anti-Psychotic Medications
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Deterioration of teeth
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome – a sudden increase in
temperature to dangerous levels
Dysphoria – disquiet; restlessness; a vague sense of mental or
moral ill-being
Impotence
Tardive Dyskinesia – jerky, abnormal or delayed movements
in the face; head; trunk or extremities, such as rapid eye
blinking or repetitive lip sucking, rocking, or twisting
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Lethargy
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Intense dreams or nightmares
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF
MORE TYPICAL TYPES OF
MEDICATION
Types of Medications causing potential side
effects
Potential Side Effects
Pain relievers; anti inflammatory agents (such as
Ibuprofen); muscle relaxants; and sedatives
Agitation
Weight control; antidepressants; cholesterol
reducers; cold/cough medicines;
decongestants; and tranquilizers
Anxiety
Pain relievers, angina relief; arrhythmia
control; anticonvulsants; antidepressants;
antihistamines; anti-hypertension; antiinflammatory agents; cold/cough medicines;
steroids; decongestants; diuretics; muscle
relaxants; sedatives; tranquilizers
Confusion
Anti-depressants
Concentration Problems
Arrhythmia Control; Antidepressants
Delirium
Angina relief; arrhythmia control;
anticonvulsants; anti-inflammatory agents;
migraine relief; cancer treatments; diuretics;
hormones; muscle relaxants; birth control;
sedatives; and tranquilizers
Depression
Pain relievers; antidepressants; migraine
relief; nausea relief; cancer treatments;
Sedatives; and tranquilizers
Disorientation
Anticonvulsants (anti-seizure) and most
recreational drugs
Emotional Disturbances
Cold/cough medicines and tranquilizers
Giddiness
Arrhythmia control; antihistamines; antiitching drugs; cold/cough medicines;
decongestants; muscle relaxants; and
tranquilizers
Excitability
Pain relievers; weight control;
antidepressants; antihistamines; migraine
relief; anti-itching drugs; cold/cough
medicines; steroids; decongestants; and
tranquilizers
Euphoria (a sense of
emotional well-being)
Pain relievers; antidepressants; antiinflammatory agents; cold/cough
medicines; decongestants; sedatives; and
tranquilizers
Hallucinations
Tranquilizers
Hyperactivity
Antihistamines and anti-itching drugs
Hysteria
Anti-hypertension; diuretics; tranquilizers
Impotence
Arrhythmia control; antidepressants; antihistamines;
Insomnia
anti-hypertension; anti-inflammatory agents; migraine
relief; nausea relief; anti-itching drugs; antispasmodics;
bronchodilators; cholesterol reducers; cold/cough
medicines; decongestants; muscle relaxants; sedatives
and thyroid drugs
Anticonvulsants; antihistamines; bronchodilators;
cold/cough medicines; decongestants
Irritability
Anti-inflammatory agents; cancer treatments; and
tranquilizers
Lethargy
Weight control drugs
Overstimulation
Anticonvulsants; antihistamines; anti-hypertension;
nausea relief; anti-itching drugs; antispasmodics;
bronchodilators; cholesterol reducers; cold/cough
medicines; decongestants; diuretics; oral
contraceptives/birth control; sedatives; thyroid
medicines; tranquilizers; and vasodilators
Nervousness
Antidepressants; nausea relief;
sedatives; and tranquilizers
Nightmares
Cancer treatments; estrogens
(hormones); and oral contraceptives
Pre-menstrual
symptoms
Anti-nausea medicines; and tranquilizers; Psychotic symptoms
as well as allergies to drugs
Pain relievers; weight control; angina
relief; anti-hypertension; nausea relief;
bronchodilators; cold/cough drugs;
decongestants; diuretics; tranquilizers;
and vasodilators
Restlessness
Anti-Itch medicines and cold/cough
medicines
Weariness
SOURCES FOR RESEARCH
ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS
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Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR) – Physician
Drug and Health Information
PDR.NET – website for professional medical
information
MedlinePlus – offers patient-friendly information
on medications and herbs: medlineplus.gov
RXList – provides information on medications and
side effects: www.rxlist.com
PDR Health – Prescription Drug and Health
Information: www.pdrhealth.net