Can Drug Side Effects Possibly Cause Chronic Fatigue Symptoms?
In this blog we will look into possible drug side effects and its relation to chronic fatigue symptoms, sleep symptoms, and fibromyalgia-type symptoms. Chronic fatigue symptoms are vague symptoms which are persistent vague symptoms affecting daily activity and quality of life. When a complete medical evaluation for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia and its causes is evaluated, and if one is still suffering from the symptom of fatigue, digestion issues, sleep problems, mood swings, etc., a drug side effect may be considered into ruling out any adverse drug effect or drug toxicity. The drug side effect or adverse reaction is a clinical diagnosis, meaning other possible medical etiologies have been evaluated and the symptoms still persist. Generally, it has a relation of onset to the above listed symptoms, or any other new symptoms which started after the drug had been started. A high suspicion for drug side effect is needed to see if the prescribed medication that one is taking has any relation. Further information about review of the drug side effect can be considered and evaluated. It would be good for someone taking any drug and to learn about the benefit and the possible common side effect or adverse reaction to the drug. Some drugs may take days or weeks or months for drug side effects to happen. Not every one gets a drug side effect but there are a portion of people taking drugs that undergo side effects of mild, moderate or severe degree and it varies from person-to-person. Many times symptoms are so vague that unless one don’t have high suspicious of the drug side effect that it can be missed. One may look into the drug and its list of different side effects and see if the person is experiencing any side effect, especially if it started after the drug has been started or not. Almost every prescribed drug has side effect but common classes of drugs that cause chronic fatigue symptoms like drug side effects are statins, anti-depressants, anti-seizer medications, and hypnotics to list a few categories. One may need to consider reviewing the drug information. It can be obtained from drug website and its list of side effects if the person is experiencing chronic fatigue symptoms. In some cases, if the drug is appropriate to stop or can be decreased by the healthcare provider and see in the coming months if the symptoms of fatigue improve or at least decrease to some degree. If that happens then possibly it could be a drug related side effect. If one feels that starting a drug has caused new symptoms, one may need to talk to the healthcare provider as soon as possible to see if the drug can be modified, changed or discontinued and with this change if the chronic fatigue symptoms improve.
Drug side effects are one of the least reported drug effects to the FDA. A drug side effect needs to be reported to the FDA, which may further help increase the safety of a drug, statistical analysis of risk benefits and for other research purpose. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/ucm053074.htm In summary one need to consider the possible drug side effect as a cause of chronic fatigue symptoms or fibromyalgia symptoms or new sleep symptoms specially started after a new prescribed drug is begin. A high index of suspicious by person taking the drug and ruling out other medical causes by your health care professional of the new symptoms would suggest towards the possible drug side effect. Educating oneself about the benefit of the drug and side effect may further help the safety of the medication taken and decreasing chances of long term drug side effect. In many cases it could be the drug that causes chronic fatigue symptoms and by decreasing or discontinuation of the drug, chronic fatigue symptoms improve. The common classes of drugs are statins and antidepressants or hypnotics. If someone interested in learning more about chronic fatigue program, may visit www.fatiguecare.com or feel free to may contact at [email protected] or call 717-338-9797.