Coping with the side-effects of medication

All drugs have unwanted effects.  These vary from individual to individual and depend on the type of drug and dose being given.  Sometimes the side effects disappear after a few days or weeks.   Other side effects are more troublesome and persistent.  It is very important to report any unwanted effects the drug seems to be having to your doctor.  The unpleasant effects can often be eliminated, reduced in severity or made more tolerable by a range of simple strategies.

Strategies your doctor may suggest include:
•	changing to a different medication
•	decreasing the dose
•	taking the drug in several, smaller doses spread through the day
•	taking the medication with appropriate food
•	taking extra medication to counteract the side effects.

In addition, strategies that you can adopt yourself to deal with side effects include:

Side-effect	Strategy for coping with it	
Appetite (increase)	Eat a diet that is low in fat and high in fibre
Avoid sugary or fatty foods
Drink low calorie soft drinks	
Constipation	Increase exercise
Increase fibre in diet
Increase fluid intake	
Dizziness	Get up slowly from lying or sitting
Avoid excessively hot showers or baths
Avoid alcohol, sedatives or other sedating drugs (eg marijuana)	
Drowsiness	Take medication in a single dose before bedtime (talk to the doctor about this first).  If you feel sleepy during the day, you should not drive or work with machinery.	
Dry mouth	Ensure regular fluid intake
Limit alcohol and caffeine (both enhance water loss)
Use sugarless gums, fruit pastilles and lollies (sugar will promote dental decay)
Suck on ice cubes
If it is very bad, ask your doctor about artificial saliva (Luborant)
	
Sensitivity to sunburn	Avoid the midday sun
Regularly use sunscreen and wear a hat, sunglasses and shirt
Ask your doctor for a prescription for sunscreen	

For more detailed information about individual drugs, see the drug information website for service users at www.nmhc.co.uk, read the book Your Medication — Any Questions, available from Norfolk Mental Health Care NHS Trust Pharmacy, Hellesdon Hospital, Norwich NR6 5BE, or telephone the Mental Health Drugs Helpline. This helpline is run by the UK Psychiatric Pharmacy Group, staffed by experienced mental health pharmacists and provides independent advice and information about drugs to patients and carers.  Tel: 020 7919 2999 11 am–5 pm Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays.