One of the most commonly reported side effects of some medications is drowsiness. However, there are things you can do to minimize the feelings of daytime sleepiness," says Laura Carr, a pharmacist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. Common culprits that cause sleepiness include antidepressants; antihistamines, found in sleep aids or medicines that treat allergies; anti-emetics, which are used to control nausea and vomiting; antipsychotics and anticonvulsants, which can be used to treat seizures or depression; drugs to treat high blood pressure, including alpha blockers and beta blockers; benzodiazepines and other sedatives, which are commonly used for anxiety or insomnia; drugs for Parkinson's disease; muscle relaxants; and opioids and other prescription pain medications.
Many over-the-counter medicines may also make you drowsy, such as remedies for insomnia, allergies, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Feeling sleepy throughout the day can interfere with your quality of life, possibly hurting your performance at work or keeping you from participating in daytime activities.
Drowsiness can also increase your risk of falling, which can lead to injury and disability, and it can affect your ability to drive safely. If you're taking several medications that can cause drowsiness, the side effects may add up and get worse. If you're starting a new drug that may cause drowsiness, Dr. Carr recommends that you avoid activities that require alertness, like driving, until you find out how the medication affects you.
In some cases, your sleepiness will lessen over time, as your body adjusts. Check labels for dosages, as well, as these may vary, even within brands. More is not better — read labels carefully and take only as recommended.
Smart use of allergy medications — knowing how they treat symptoms, being aware of potential unwanted side effects and, most important, monitoring their effect on you and your health — is just one step toward controlling allergy and cold symptoms.
Even more important: knowing what you are allergic to and taking steps to prevent or reduce exposure. If your allergy symptoms tend to last longer than two weeks or are not adequately controlled with over-the-counter medications, schedule an appointment with a board-certified allergist for a full diagnosis.
Antihistamines and intranasal corticosteroids are intended for symptom relief. If antihistamines or intranasal corticosteroids are causing side effects such as drowsiness or other problems, there are other treatment options your doctor can offer you, such as allergen immunotherapy.
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Originally published June More Information on Health Issues 5 reasons you can't sleep. Leaving AARP. Got it! Please don't show me this again for 90 days. This can help avoid unwanted side effects such as drowsiness.
Most cold and flu medicines sold in stores contain aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen. These ingredients serve a double duty. They all can relieve pain associated with cold and flu, like headaches and body aches, and they can help reduce a fever as well. None of these ingredients has sleep-inducing properties.
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