Is it difficult for you to start your day? Do you find previously interesting hobbies tiresome? Have you lost some of your mojo and find yourself dragging from home to work and then back again, eschewing social gatherings because of apathy? What may be happening is that one or a combination of prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are making you feel tired and easily exhausted.

What is fatigue?

Generally, fatigue is defined as a lack of energy or motivation. In America, fatigue is fairly common, with 20 percent of the population claiming fatigue debilitating enough to interfere with daily activities at one time or another. Signs of fatigue include persistent fatigue and a lingering tiredness that is constant, limiting and unexplained. Excessive tiredness is also a symptom of depression with its accompanying loss of motivation.

When fatigue isn’t relieved by good sleep, proper nutrition and a low-stress environment, it is time to see your doctor for possible causes and solutions. There are many classes of common medications that could give you unusually low energy levels.   

7 Meds that Could Drag You Down

1. Cancer drugs. “Cancer fatigue” from various drug therapies is the most common side effect of treatment. It affects 70 to 90 percent of patients. Chemotherapy drugs, hormone therapy, biologic therapy and painkillers are all possible causes of fatigue. Some chemo meds affect red and white blood cell production. Falling red blood cell counts can mean breathlessness while doing easy tasks or a very tired feeling. White blood cells, responsible for the immune response, can be decimated by chemo or other cancer drug therapies. Cancer fatigue often worsens for the patient who is subject to a combination of treatments.
   

2. Antidepressants. There are 30 million Americans who now take antidepressants to treat depression, chronic pain, anxiety, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, smoking cessation and severe menstrual cramps. Fatigue is a common side effect that can start soon after taking the medication. Antidepressants have a smothering effect on the brain’s neurotransmitters and the production of serotonin and norepinephrine.
3. Benzodiazepines. These are commonly referred to as “tranquilizers.” This class of drugs is used to treat muscle spasms, anxiety disorders, agitation and to prevent seizures. Also, because of the sedative effect, it is sometimes used to treat insomnia and the anxiety component of depression. Benzodiazepines dampens activity in the central nervous system, slowing down the brain’s firing in response to stimuli.
4. Blood-pressure medications. These drugs are used to lower pressure inside of the blood vessel so the heart doesn’t have to work so hard. It is hoped that this will prevent heart attacks and strokes. These meds work by slowing the pumping action of the heart, as well as depressing the central nervous system. Diuretics can deplete the body of vitamins and minerals, lowering energy levels.
5. Statins. These drugs are used to treat high cholesterol. It is thought that statins inhibit muscle growth and production of energy at the cellular level. They inhibit the production of satellite cells in muscle, which stops muscle growth. Patients may experience a steady drop in energy levels.

Muscle weakness and severe overall body aches can be a sign of statin-induced rhabdomyolysis. This is a dangerous condition in which skeletal muscles break down, releasing muscle fibers into the bloodstream. This is harmful to the kidneys and could cause kidney failure.

6. Antihistamines. These meds, often OTC, are used to alleviate or prevent allergic reactions and also used to prevent symptoms of the common cold. Other uses include treatment of nausea, vomiting, motion sickness, dizziness, anxiety and insomnia. Antihistamines are central nervous system depressants and as such, older patients should be aware that with this reaction comes an increase in the likelihood of a fall. Also, histamine blockers often cause drowsiness, tiredness and over time, with continuing use, fatigue can become chronic.
   

7. Antipsychotics. These drugs are used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other serious psychiatric diseases. “Off-label” uses of these powerful drugs include prescribing for agitation and depression. Antipsychotics are central nervous system depressants with side effects of weakness, fatigue and lethargy. It is thought to lower dopamine levels and increase drowsiness. This could lead to chronic fatigue.

Other prescription drugs can cause tiredness and fatigue. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) sound like a mechanical device but these are pills used in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). More than 20 million Americans take PPIs for GERD, peptic and stomach ulcers. They reduces stomach acid, so important vitamins and minerals may not get absorbed into the bloodstream resulting in a deficiency, which could lead to muscle weakness and fatigue.

Antibiotic treatments can cause fatigue. Bacteria-causing conditions such as earaches, skin infections, urinary tract infections, meningitis and pneumonia warrant the use of antibiotics. Researchers have long noticed a correlation between antibiotic use and fatigue and tiredness in some people. The cause remains unknown.

Stimulant drugs like caffeine should be avoided because they can cause fatigue at inopportune times. Though it may pick you up for an hour or two, the inevitable crash will come when energy reserves are depleted.

Fighting Fatigue

Counteracting fatigue may be possible, depending on the causes of it, or you may be able alleviate some of the undesirable symptoms. First, make sure you get enough regular sleep. With our hectic schedules, bedtimes can be highly variable. But sleeping seven to nine hours a night is recommended for adults. And going to bed at the same time each night sets up a good night’s sleep.


Don’t skip meals -- this will send your blood sugar crashing with subsequent tiredness and possibly, a short temper. Women, remember to eat iron-rich foods to combat anemia, which will cause fatigue.

Limit caffeine if you must have it – caffeine will keep you up when you need to sleep and cause sugar crashes when you need to be alert. Drink lots of water, especially if you drink caffeine, to mediate its diuretic effect. Relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga can be helpful if you are experiencing a lot of stress and find you cannot let go of problems.

And most importantly, don’t stop any prescribed medication unless it is under a physician’s advice. The consequences of abruptly discontinuing a needed drug could be worse than the fatigue. Many medications have to be tapered off under close medical supervision.

With a little self-awareness and close monitoring of your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self, you can learn to recognize and, at times, treat the causes of fatigue that can diminish one’s quality of life.