* = see below for examples of medications.
Diseases/Conditions |
Medications |
Concerns |
Abnormal heart rhythms (Arryhthmias) |
Tricyclic antidepressants* |
May induce abnormal heart rhythms, which may lead to fainting or other complications.
Severity Rating: High |
Bladder obstruction, such as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or prostate disorders |
Some antihistamines*
Some anti-nausea medications*
Decongestants*
Flavoxate (Urispas®)
Gastrointestinal antispasmodics*
Muscle relaxants*
Paroxetine (Paxil®)
Tricyclic antidepressants*
Urinary incontinence medications* |
May decrease urinary flow, leading to urinary retention.
Severity Rating: High |
Blood clotting disorders, also relevant to patients receiving anticoagulant therapy
|
Aspirin
Clopidogrel (Plavix)
Dipyridamole (Persantine®)
Dipyridamole/aspirin (Aggrenox®)
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)*
Ticlopidine (Ticlid) |
May cause bleeding in those using blood thinners/anticoagulants.
Severity Rating: High |
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) |
Some anti-anxiety/sleep medications:
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium®)
Chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline (Limbitrol®)
Chlordiazepoxide/clidinium (Librax®)
Clonazepam (Klonopin®)
Clorazepate (Tranxene®)
Diazepam (Valium®)
Flurazepam (Dalmane®)
Halazepam (Paxipam®)
Quazepam (Doral®)
Propranolol (Inderal®) |
May cause difficulty breathing.
May worsen symptoms or conditions in patients with COPD. May also cause sleepiness and confusion.
Severity Rating: High |
Constipation |
Amlodipine (Norvasc®)
Some antihistamines*
Some anti-nausea medications*
Bepridil (Vascor®)
Diltiazem (Cardizem®, Procardia®)
Felodipine (Plendil®)
Gastrointestinal antispasmodics*
Isradipine (Dynacirc®)
Nicardipine (Cardene®)
Nifedipine (Adalat CC®, Procardia®)
Nisoldipine (Sular®)
Tricyclic antidepressants*
Urinary incontinence medications
Verapanil (Calan®, Verelan®) |
Will cause or worsen constipation.
Severity Rating: High |
Depression |
Long-term use of benzodizepines* Some blood pressure medications:
Methyldopa (Aldomet®)
Reserpine
Guanethidine (Ismelin®) |
May cause or worsen depression.
Severity Rating: High
|
Fainting, lightheadedness, dizziness, falls |
Some anti-anxiety/sleep medications:
Alprazolam (Xanax®)
Clonazepam (Klonopin)
Estazolam (Prosom®)
Lorazepam (Ativan®)
Oxazepam (Serax®)
Temazepam (Restoril®)
Triazolam (Halcion®)
Tricyclic antidepressants* |
May cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or falls.
May contribute to falls due to sleepiness, lack of coordination, confusion, and other side effects.
Severity Rating: High |
Heart failure |
Disopyramide (Norpace®) |
May weaken the pumping of the heart and may worsen heart failure.
Severity Rating: High |
| Heart failure |
Medications with high sodium content, as indicated by the following words appearing after the generic name of the medication:
sodium, alginate bicarbonate,biphosphate, citrate, phosphate, salicylate, and sulfate |
May lead to water retention, which may worsen heart failure.
Severity Rating: High |
| High blood pressure |
Benzphetamine (Didrel®)
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®)
Diethylpropion (Tenuate®)
Mixed amphetamines (Adderall®)
Methamphetamine (Desoxyn®)
Phendimetrazine
Phentermine (Fastin®, Ionamin®)
Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed®) |
May increase blood pressure.
Severity Rating: High |
Incontinence, specifically stress incontinence |
Alpha-blockers (used to treat high blood pressure, prostate problems, and urinary incontinence):
Alfuzosin (Uroxatral®)
Doxazosin (Cardura®)
Phenoxybenzamine (Dibenzyline®)
Prazosin (Minipress®)
Tamsulosin (Flomax®)
Terazosin (Hytrin®)
Some anti-anxiety/sleep medications:
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium®)
Chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline (Limbitrol®)
Chlordiazepoxide/clidinium (Librax®)
Clonazepam (Klonopin®)
Clorazepate (Tranxene®)
Diazepam (Valium®)
Flurazepam (Dalmane®)
Halazepam (Paxipam®)
Quazepam (Doral®)
Tricyclic antidepressants* |
May cause incontinence by relaxing the bladder.
Severity Rating: High |
Insomnia |
Decongestants*
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®)
Diethylpropion (Tenuate®)
Isocarboxazid (Marplan®)
Methamphetamine (Desoxyn®)
Methylphenidate
(Concerta®, Metadate®, Methylin®, Ritalin®)
Mixed amphetamines (Adderall®)
Phenelzine (Nardil®)
Selegiline (Eldepryl®)
Theophylline (Theodur®)
Tranylcypromine (Parnate®) |
May cause or worsen insomnia.
Severity Rating: High
|
Low sodium levels with fluid overload; Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) |
Citalopram (Celexa®)
Escitalopram (Lexapro®)
Fluoxetine (Prozac®)
Fluvoxamine (Luvox®)
Paroxetine (Paxil®)
Sertraline (Zoloft®) |
May lower sodium levels and cause water retention associated with SIADH, along with other SIADH complications.
Severity Rating: Low |
Memory problems, cognitive impairment, dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease |
Some antihistamines*
Some anti-nausea medications*
Butalbital (Fiorinal®, Fioricet®)
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®)
Flavoxate (Urispas®)
Gastrointestinal antispasmodics*
Mephobarbital (Mebaral®)
Methamphetamine
(Desoxyn®)
Methylphenidate (Concerta®, Metadate®, Methylin®, Ritalin®)
Mixed amphetamines (Adderall®)
Muscle relaxants*
Paroxetine (Paxil®)
Pentobarbital (Nembutal®)
Phenobarbital
Primidone (Mysoline®)
Secobarbital (Seconal®)
Tricyclic antidepressants*
Urinary incontinence medications* |
May worsen memory problems and cognitive function. May interact with medications used to treat Alzheimer’s disease/dementia and make them less effective. May cause sleepiness or insomnia, agitation, and confusion.
Severity Rating: High |
Obesity |
Olanzapine (Zyprexa®) |
May increase appetite and increase weight gain.
Severity Rating: Low |
Parkinson’s disease |
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine®)
Fluphenazine (Prolixin®)
Haloperidol (Haldol®)
Loxapine (Loxitane®)
Mesoridazine (Serentil®)
Metoclopramide (Reglan®)
Molindone (Moban®)
Perphenazine (Trilafon®)
Pimozide (Orap®)
Tacrine (Cognex®)
Thioridazine (Mellaril®)
Thiothixene (Navane®)
Trifluoperazine (Stelazine®) |
May worsen Parkinson’s symptoms such as stiffness, shuffling, and tremor.
Severity Rating: High |
Seizures or epilepsy |
Bupropion (Wellbutrin®, Zyban®)
Some antipsychotics:
Clozapine (Clozaril®)
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine®)
Thioridazine (Mellaril®)
Thiothixene (Navane®) |
Make seizures more likely.
Severity Rating: High
|
Ulcers, stomach |
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)* - NOT celecoxib (Celebrex®)
Aspirin – in doses greater than 325mg |
May cause new ulcers or worsen existing ulcers.
Severity Rating: High |
Weight loss (unintended), malnutrition, anorexia |
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®)
Diethylpropion (Tenuate®)
Fluoxetine (Prozac®)
Methamphetamine (Desoxyn®)
Methylphenidate
(Concerta®, Metadate®, Methylin®, Ritalin®)
Mixed amphetamines (Adderall®) |
May cause appetite suppression.
Severity Rating: High |
