Medication Side Effects and Interactions

Print the article here! You can also find a list of common medications here.

Understanding medication and its impact is important.

• Medication handling requires great responsibility.
• Improper handling of medication is a threat to an individual’s health and safety.
• This presentation will help you to properly identify and react to medication side effects and interactions.

What is medication?

• Medication helps people become or stay healthy.
• People take medication daily if they have an ongoing or chronic health condition.
• For example, if an individual has:
  • Seizures,
  • Diabetes, or
  • High Blood Pressure.

Why is medication taken?

• The individual you support may take medication to:
  • Be cured of an illness.
  • Heal faster when injured.
  • Feel better due to a chronic health condition.
• The “intended effect” is WHY someone takes a certain medication.

What is a medication side effect?

• A side effect is any change the medication causes, other than the intended effect.
• A side effect may make the individual feel bad or uncomfortable.
• A side effect can be dangerous or life threatening.

What are common side effects?

• Common side effects of medication include:
  • Headaches
  • Feeling tired or sleepy
  • Feeling dizzy
  • Upset stomach
  • Redness on your skin
  • Feeling nervous
  • Gaining weight
  • Dry mouth

How side effects impact the individual you support.

• Side effects can occur any time after taking medication.
• Side effects can disappear shortly after taking the medication. Others can last a long time.
• Side effects can cause physical and/or behavioral changes.
• Side effects can be life-threatening.

Your responsibilities as a supporter include:

• Understanding the medication’s intended effects and side effects.
• Documenting any physical and/or behavioral changes you see in the individual you support.
• Reporting the changes you see to their doctor.
• Following the doctor’s directions.

Ask the doctor about side effects.

• Talk to the doctor about side effects when the doctor orders or changes the medication of the individual you support.
• Make sure the doctor:
  • Knows about all other medications, vitamins, herbs or other remedies the individual you support takes.
  • Knows about any allergies the individual you support has.

What are medication interactions?

• Sometimes medication interacts with other things. This means something causes the medicine to work in a different way. This can be harmful to the individual you support.
• Medications interact with:
  • Other medications
  • Foods
  • Drinks
  • Activities

Identifying medication interactions is critical to an individual’s health and safety.

• Medication interactions can occur between drugs and many common foods and drinks.
• Adverse reactions can be dangerous.

Ask the doctor about medication interactions.

• What does this medication interact with?
• What should the individual I support avoid?

Call the doctor if you suspect the individual you support is experiencing an adverse drug reaction.

Ask the pharmacist.

• About all prescribed medications.
• What the side effects of the medication are.
• If the medication interacts with other medications, foods, drinks, or activities.
• To review the medication information sheet with you and the individual you support.

Follow these simple rules to keep the individual you support healthy.

• Learn about all the medications they are taking.
• Help them to follow the medication’s directions.
• Ask the doctor and pharmacist about the medications and any potential side effects.
• Look for signs of physical and/or behavioral changes in the individual you support.

Get help if you need it.

• Call the doctor or pharmacist if:
  • You have health questions or concerns.
  • You notice any negative physical and/or behavioral effects after administering a medication.

Resources

• Please check our Common Medications Profile tools to:
  • Browse the most commonly prescribed medications.
  • Search for information by medication name, use, and type.
  • Learn about side effects of specific medications.
  • Protect the individual you support from harmful drug interactions.
• Consult these online tools for more information on medication side effects and interactions:
  • Drugs.com
  • Healthline.com

References

• Drug Side Effects
  • Drugs.com
• Medication Safety
  • California Department of Developmental Services
• Medication Management
  • California Department of Developmental Services
  • DSP Year 2 Student Guide