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FACT SHEET FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES
Medication Side Effects
Your doctor has recommended medications to help you
recover. Many medications have side effects. The table
below lists some of the most common side effects,
including serious side effects.
Other serious side effects are also possible. If you have
symptoms not listed here, or if you have any concerns
about your medications, please talk to your healthcare
providers. If you have serious side effects after you leave
the hospital, contact your doctor immediately.
Note: All medications have the
potential to cause an allergic reaction.
Get medical help right away if:
•• Breathing becomes difficult
•• You get a rash or hives
Use
Medication
Common side effects
Serious side effects
Antibiotic
•• amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin)
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Severe diarrhea
To prevent and
treat bacterial
infections
•• amoxicillin
Metronidazole: metallic taste
•• azithromycin (Zithromax)
•• cefdinir (Omnicef)
•• cefuroxime (Ceftin)
•• clindamycin
•• levofloxacin (Levaquin)
•• linezolid (Zyvox)
•• metronidazole (Flagyl)
Bladder control
•• tamsulosin (Flomax)
Dizziness, drowsiness, headache
Tamsulosin: Low blood
pressure
Cough, dizziness, headache
Passing out, persistent
cough, filling extremely tired
or weak
Bleeding, bruising
Severe bleeding episodes,
clotting changes
•• tolterodine (Detrol)
Blood pressure
control
•• enalapril (Vasotec)
•• carvedilol (Coreg)
•• lisinopril (Zestril)
•• metoprolol ER (Toprol XL)
Blood thinner
(anticoagulant)
To prevent or treat
blood clots
•• enoxaparin (Lovenox)
•• heparin
•• warfarin (Coumadin)
Bowel care
•• bisacodyl (Dulcolax)
To prevent or treat
constipation
•• docusate (Colace)
Diarrhea, nausea, flatulence,
stomach cramps or pain
•• magnesium hydroxide (MOM)
•• polyethylene glycol (MiraLax)
Senna: red/orange urine
•• senna
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Drug-specific or
serious side effects
Use
Medication
Common side effects
Diuretics
•• furosemide (Lasix)
Dizziness, headache,
light-headedness
Itching relief
•• diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
•• hydroxyzine
Drowsiness, dry mouth, dry eyes,
dizziness
Inability to urinate
Nausea relief
•• metoclopramide (Reglan)
Drowsiness or dizziness
Ondansetron: headache
(“water pills”)
To treat heart
failure, edema, or
high blood pressure
To relieve nausea
•• ondansetron (Zofran)
Metoclopramide,
prochlorperazine,
promethazine: dry mouth,
twitching
•• prochlorperazine (Compazine)
•• promethazine (Phenergan)
Pain relief
(mild pain)
•• acetaminophen (Tylenol)
•• celecoxib (Celebrex)
Upset stomach, diarrhea,
nausea, vomiting
Celecoxib, ibuprofen,
ketorolac: gastrointestinal
bleeding
•• ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
•• ketorolac (Toradol)
•• tramadol (Ultram)
Pain relief
(severe pain)
•• fentanyl (Duragesic)
Tramadol: drowsiness or
dizziness, constipation
Drowsiness, constipation,
nausea, vomiting, itching,
confusion, headache, or lightheadedness
Extreme sleepiness, difficulty
breathing
•• albuterol (proair, Ventolin)
•• ipratropium (Atrovent)
albuterol: restlessness
albuterol: tremor, increased
or irregular heart rate
•• zolpidem (Ambien)
Headache, dizziness, or nausea
Chest pain, hallucinations, or
confusion
Ulcer
prevention
•• famotidine (Pepcid)
Headache, nausea, diarrhea
To prevent or
treat ulcers, reflux,
or bleeding
•• omeprazole (Prilosec)
•• hydrocodone/acetaminophen
(Lortab, Norco, Vicodin)
•• hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
•• morphine (MSIR, MS Contin)
•• oxycodone/acetaminophen (Percocet)
•• oxycodone ER (OxyContin)
Respiratory
To help you breathe
more easily
Sleep aid
To help you
fall asleep and
stay asleep
Vaccine
To prevent flu
or pneumonia
•• pantoprazole (Protonix)
•• influenza vaccine
•• pneumococcal vaccine
Muscle aches, fever
© 2014 Intermountain Healthcare. All rights reserved. The content presented here is for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, and it
should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns. More health information is
available at intermountainhealthcare.org. Patient and Provider Publications 801-442-2963 FS400 - 01/14 Also available in Spanish.
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