Patient education: Managing fatigue from your medicines (The Basics)

What is fatigue? — 

This is feeling much more tired than usual.

When a medicine causes fatigue, you feel tired or like you have no energy, even without doing hard work. You might have trouble doing your normal activities.

Which medicines can cause fatigue? — 

When a medicine causes fatigue, it is called a "side effect." This might happen because the medicine affects your blood pressure, your blood sugar, or how much fluid is in your body.

Taking multiple medicines or drinking alcohol can make fatigue worse.

You might have problems with fatigue if you take medicines to treat conditions like:

●High blood pressure

●Heart problems

●Pain

●Infection

●Depression or anxiety

●Autoimmune conditions

●Cancer

●Seizures

Tell your doctor or nurse about your fatigue and any other side effects. Do not stop taking any medicine without talking to them first.

How can my doctor help me avoid fatigue? — 

Many health conditions can cause fatigue. Your doctor can help figure out if your fatigue is a side effect from a medicine or a symptom of a condition. To do this, they will ask you questions and do an exam.

They can also talk with you about:

●When to take your medicines – You might be able to take your medicines at night instead of during the day. This way, the fatigue might actually help you sleep, and you might have less fatigue when awake.

●What medicines you are taking – Your doctor can look at all your medicines. They can see if you can change to a different medicine, take a smaller dose more often, or stop the medicine.

What can I do on my own to help with fatigue? — 

You might not be able to prevent fatigue, but you can try some things to help with problems caused by the fatigue:

●Try to move your body every day. Even gentle forms of exercise, like walking, are good for your health and can help with fatigue. Try to spend some time outside every day.

●Doing gentle yoga with breathing exercises might help you feel less fatigue and sleep better at night.

●Try to practice "good sleep hygiene." This means:

•Try to keep a regular sleep schedule. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.

•Try to get 8 hours of sleep every night.

•Avoid caffeine in the late afternoon or evening.

•Limit naps during the day, and don't nap more than 30 minutes at a time.

●It might help to drink a small amount of caffeine in the morning to help feel more energized and alert.

●If you get drowsy after meals, try eating meals that are slightly smaller and do not contain lots of fatty foods, sugar, or carbohydrates (like rice, pasta, or bread).

●If you feel worried or anxious, try to find ways to cope with stress. Meditation, deep breathing, and muscle relaxation can help.

●To help save your energy, you can change your daily routines and how you go about your activities. For example, plan ahead, and allow time to rest often.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call for advice if you:

●Get dizzy or weak when standing up from a lying or sitting position, and this feeling does not go away

●Are so weak you cannot get out of bed

●Have problems eating or sleeping

●Are functioning poorly at work, at home, or in school

More on this topic

Patient education: Side effects from medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Managing drowsiness from your medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Good sleep hygiene (The Basics)