What Medications Can Cause Fatigue?

Most medications are designed to treat a specific problem. However, their effects frequently extend beyond the target tissue, causing unwanted side effects. Fatigue or tiredness is one of the most common side effects of medications. It can be a side effect of both prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines. Please continue reading to learn about some of the medicines that can cause fatigue symptoms.

Which drugs make you feel tired all the time?

A wide range of prescription medications and over-the-counter medicines list fatigue as a side effect. Some medications can cause extreme fatigue, while others can cause a mild tired feeling or related symptoms like lethargy and muscle weakness.

Fatigue caused by medications may be temporary. It could get better or even go away as your body adjusts to the drug. However, if the fatigue is severe, does not get better over time, or interferes with your ability to work or perform your daily activities, you should talk to your health care provider. They can examine you and provide medical advice about the possible causes of your tiredness.

Here are some common prescription and over-the-counter medicines that can leave you feeling sluggish and tired.

Allergy Medications

Antihistamines or allergy medications are used to treat symptoms of hay fever. First-generation antihistamines are sometimes used to treat the symptoms of the common cold such as nasal congestion. These over-the-counter medicines are also used to prevent nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness. Due to their sedating effects, over-the-counter antihistamines such as doxylamine (Unisom) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) are used as short-term sleep aids. Hydroxyzine (Atarax) is a prescription antihistamine that can be used to treat anxiety. This family of drugs works by blocking the effects of antihistamines in the central nervous system (CNS). By doing so, they can cause fatigue and weakness.

Blood Pressure Medications

There are several different categories of medications used to treat high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease. For example, your doctor may have you on a beta-blocker, a calcium channel blocker, an ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor, an ARB (angiotensin II receptor blockers), or a diuretic (water pill). Beta-blockers and some calcium channel blockers make you feel more tired than usual because they slow down your heart rate. Other blood pressure medication classes such as renin inhibitors, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs can fluctuate your electrolyte levels, leading to feeling tired or even fatigued. Sometimes your blood pressure medication can cause your blood pressure to drop very low, especially if you are dehydrated. Low blood pressure also causes fatigue and weakness.

Anti-Cholesterol Medications

Statins and fibrates are prescription drugs that are used to treat high cholesterol. They can affect muscle tissue and growth causing muscle pain, and soreness. The reason is unclear, but researchers have found that people who take statins experience fatigue and decreased energy, especially after exertion.

GERD Medications

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). PPIs are available with a prescription and over-the-counter. These medicines can cause low blood magnesium levels, causing symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, and loss of appetite.

Antidepressants

Fatigue is a common side effect of many types of antidepressant medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). These medicines are used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders, other mental health conditions, and chronic pain. Fatigue can occur, especially during the first few weeks of treatment with antidepressants. These medicines can also worsen fatigue caused by other medical conditions. Antidepressants affect the activities of neurotransmitters in the brain. By doing so, these drug classes cause drowsiness and sedation. All of which can make you feel more sluggish than usual.

Anti-Anxiety Medications

Benzodiazepines (tranquilizers) are used to treat anxiety disorders, insomnia, muscle spasms, and seizures. Benzodiazepines decrease brain activity, and that’s why these prescription drugs have a sedative or hypnotic effect. They can, therefore, cause drowsiness, weakness, and fatigue symptoms as side effects.

Gastrointestinal Medications

Some medications that control nausea or diarrhea can cause fatigue, tiredness, drowsiness, and insomnia as side effects.

Muscle Relaxants

Many muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine and carisoprodol act on muscles through the brain and nerves rather than directly. The fatigue and sedation caused by muscle relaxants can be because of their effect on the central nervous system.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent infections caused by bacteria. It is not clear why antibiotics can cause fatigue and tiredness, even extreme fatigue. However, it is believed that this side effect is the result of the impact of the antibiotics on your immune system, in addition to the course of the infection.

Prescription Pain Relievers

Opioid pain medications are prescribed to treat moderate to severe acute or chronic pain. These medications can make you sleepy and tired.

Neurological Medications

Chronic fatigue is a symptom of some neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis. However, medications used to treat neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease or epilepsy (seizures) can cause fatigue as a side effect. These drugs influence brain cells and the neurotransmitters (natural chemicals) brain cells use to communicate with each other.

Cancer Treatment

Some medications used for cancer treatment can cause extreme fatigue. This is because, in addition to destroying cancer cells, they also damage some healthy cells.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the medications that can cause fatigue. If you feel a medication makes you tired, check the label or package insert for side effects like tiredness or drowsiness. If you suffer from chronic fatigue, you should talk to your doctor so the underlying causes can get addressed.

How do I cope with fatigue?

If a medication makes you feel tired, don’t stop taking it without talking to your doctor first. The fatigue could be temporary and may go away once your body adjusts to the medicine. Your doctor may adjust your dose, tell you to change the time you take the medicine or change your medication. Your health care provider may even prescribe a medication that can help you feel more awake and alert and less tired. If you are taking over-the-counter medicines, ask your doctor or pharmacist if there is a non-drowsy version.

You can do other things to prevent tiredness, such as getting some exercise--a brisk walk or some stretches, preferably outdoors. Sometimes, drinking a small amount of caffeine, such as a cup of tea or coffee, can give you the energy boost you need. Getting a good night’s rest with healthy sleep habits and limiting or avoiding alcohol can also help with symptoms of fatigue and tiredness.

What is the best medicine for fatigue?

As mentioned above, getting a good night’s sleep can make you feel less tired during the day. You should ensure good sleep habits (make sure you have a regular bedtime and your bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet). If that doesn’t work, over-the-counter sleep aids may help. If an OTC sleep aid doesn’t do the trick, your doctor may recommend prescription sleeping pills for a short time to get your sleep schedule back on track.

Other medications that can help ease chronic fatigue syndrome and improve alertness and concentration are prescription stimulants. These medications are commonly prescribed to treat patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Many people with chronic fatigue syndrome also develop depression. If you and your doctor decide that antidepressants are right for you, talk to your doctor about choosing a drug that is least likely to cause fatigue.

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