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Thursday, February 9, 2012
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
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Pharmacy and Medications |
Can Taking Too Many Medications Cause Weakness?10/28/2008 |
My dad is 77 years old. He is currently on Aggrenox, Zestril, Nexium, Amaryl, Tenormin, and Triglide. He is having trouble walking due to extreme weakness in his legs. He has no energy also. He recently was put on Aggrenox and his symptoms are worse and he is extremely down. I try so hard to get him to exercise but without his legs working right, he can`t. I think he is over medicated. My mom died over a year ago and I am trying everything to keep my dad happy and healthy. But I am so afraid the medicines are killing him and taking away any quality of life he has left. Can you tell me do these meds mix well together and do they cause any of these problems? (He is diabetic, high blood pressure, high cholestrol, suffered recently a minor stroke. He was numb on one side of his body but it disappeared as fast as it came) I love my daddy, please help me. (P.S. His recent stress tests and ultrasound tests on his heart show everything is good).
This is a tough question as it is one with a few possible answers. These symptoms could possibly be medication-induced, but they may also be related to your father's stroke or his mental coping with his chronic diseases and loss of your mother.
First, let’s talk about his medications. Weakness is a reported side effect of Aggrenox that occurs in about 2% of patients who take it. You said that his weakness seemed to worsen after beginning treatment with Aggrenox, so this is a possible explanation for the symptoms he is experiencing. There is another medication that is used in stroke patients called Plavix, and you may want to talk to your father’s doctor about switching to Plavix if you truly noticed a worsening of his symptoms after starting the Aggrenox.
Additionally, episodes of low blood sugar could be causing him to feel weak. His Tenormin can mask the symptoms of low blood sugar, such as sweating and rapid heart rate. I recommend that your father's blood sugar be checked at any time he seems especially weak.
While your father’s medications are one possible explanation for his weakness, lack of energy, and depression that you described, his stroke is another possible explanation. It is not uncommon for stroke victims to have increased weakness and decreased mobility. Additionally, they may become less social and withdrawn, displaying symptoms of depression.
His depressive symptoms may also be related to coping with the loss of your mother and living with several chronic diseases. Luckily, there are MANY options for treating depression today. You may want to follow up with your father’s doctor to see which options would be most appropriate for him.
Submitted by: Katie Kilgore, PharmD Candidate.
The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy
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Jill RK Griffith, RPh, PharmD, CSPI Clinical Assistant Professor Central Ohio Poison Center Nationwide Children’s Hospital College of Pharmacy The Ohio State University |
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