Chapter 4
Drug Side Effects
Side Effects of Psychoactive Medications
This book addresses drugs of all types. The drugs we are dealing with are usually
classified as psychotropic – having ability or quality of altering emotions,
perceptions, behaviors, and bodily functions – especially true of certain drugs.
This chapter lists many possible side effects experienced from either taking these
drugs, or when trying to withdraw from them. If you, or anyone you know, are
taking any of these drugs the “real you” could well be buried under some of the
following symptoms. But rest assured, no one has all of these side effects, and no
single drug or combination of these drugs can produce all the side effects listed
here.
You may know from experience that a single withdrawal side effect can be
horrifying. And if you, or anyone you know, have ever had a bad withdrawal
experience you would probably rather sign up for open-heart surgery without
anesthesia than suffer those side effects again. And for this very reason, many
people who have contacted The Road Back Program are gun shy at the very
thought of withdrawing from a drug. Before The Road Back Program, you were
faced with a quandary: suffer the side effects of the drugs, or gut it out and suffer
the side effects of withdrawal.
One thing to keep in mind while doing this program or with any inpatient program
you might enroll in, if you have a bad day and feel out of sorts, have a headache,
an ache or a pain, do not sleep well etc., these feelings or symptoms may not be
withdrawal. We all have bad days from time to time and how you feel out of the
blue can be quite normal. This can be difficult when you have had insomnia for
months and begin to sleep better and then out of the blue you have a difficult night
sleeping. If the insomnia last for more than 3 nights then something needs to be
done, but an occasional restless night or sleepless night is common.
This past year we had a person call us and she described how she has had a
headache for the past 4 days and how it came out of nowhere. She was ½ way off
her medication and doing very well and she felt this was a withdrawal side effect
and wanted to know what to do. After a little communication and looking for
changes that might have taken place, we found out her best friend had died
unexpectedly the day before the headaches started. This might seem easy to spot
as a reason for the headaches, but when you are in the middle of withdrawal and
you have suffered extreme withdrawal side effects in the past, it can be easy to lose
track and worry about the slightest changes in how you feel.
As you read through the list of side effects in this chapter, do keep in mind these
emotional and physical conditions existed long before the first psychoactive drug
was manufactured. We are only dealing with drug induced side effects with this
program.
The Road Back Program helps to eliminate these worries and concerns by reducing
the side effects of withdrawal, so that you can come off your drug(s) smoothly and
easily.
The following list is broken down into categories, covering the various areas of the
body, such as the nervous system, lymph system, emotional and mental symptoms
and so forth. These categories will make it easier for you to find the part of the
body or system that you are interested in, or want to know more about.
In this list, you will find many physical ailments and complaints, as well as
emotional or mental symptoms that people experience every day because of a
specific medical condition. These symptoms and ailments may be the reason that
you started using a drug, or conversely, these drugs may actually be causing the
negative symptoms you are experiencing now.
This unknown catches almost everyone, doctor and patient alike, off guard. So the
question that needs to be answered, in order for you to proceed with The Road
Back Program is: Are you dealing with a physical condition that needs to be
treated medically or with a by-product symptom of the drug(s) you are taking?
Getting Your Doctor’s Approval
Because of the overload and damage potentially caused by drugs, your body in
general, and your immune system in particular, are in a weakened condition, and
can thus leave you open to infections and disease. On the other hand, you may be
taking prescription medications for actual physical conditions, which could be
contra-indicated or need to be closely monitored in terms of doing The Road Back
Program. These could include blood thinners and heart medication, as well as
clotting agents.
For these reasons, consult your doctor before starting any part of this program to
sort out, or discover and correctly determine, whether you are a candidate for The
Road Back Program.
After you have ruled out any real medical problem, you will know that if any
strange symptom begins during The Road Back Program, you are most likely
experiencing something caused by the drug you are taking. Such will be true for
both emotional and physical symptoms.
Antidepressants, antipsychotics, anti-anxiety drugs give such a broad side effect
profile, the list of side effects in this chapter are side effects with those drugs. You
may be taking a pain killer, hypnotic, alcohol or street drugs, but if you go through
the list of side effects in this chapter you will find you have more than a few. The
reason the side effects from psychoactive medications mimic other drug side
effects is due to what was discussed in earlier chapters and the Science Chapter 23,
that being, the activation of the JNK gene and the need for an adaptogen to come in
and clean up the havoc created by the drug.
The following list does not include all possible side effects from drugs, this book
would need thousands of pages if this were undertaken. Using the Freedom of
Information Act, I received all side effects associated with a popular antidepressant
medication during clinical trials. That list alone is long enough to make this book
be double the size if they were included. The side effects in this chapter are the
most common.
The list of side effects in the first part of this chapter are for antidepressants,
antipsychotics and ADHD medications. Later in this chapter you will find
benzodiazepine, anti-anxiety and sleep medication/ narcotics/hypnotics side
effects.
SIDE EFFECTS OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS, ANTIPSYCHOTICS AND
ADHD MEDICATION
GENERAL BODY
Dry Mouth – Less moisture in the mouth than is usual.
Sweating Increased - A large quantity of perspiration that is medically caused.
Allergy - Extreme sensitivity of body tissues triggered by substances in the air,
drugs, or foods causing a variety of reactions such as sneezing, itching, asthma,
hay fever, skin rashes, nausea and/or vomiting.
Asthenia - A physically weak condition.
Chest Pains - Severe discomfort in the chest caused by not enough oxygen going to
the heart because of narrowing of the blood vessels or spasms.
Chills - Appearing pale while cold and shivering; sometimes with a fever.
Edema of Extremities - Abnormal swelling of the body’s tissue caused by the
collection of fluid.
Fall - To suddenly lose your normal standing upright position.
Fatigue - Loss of normal strength so as to not be able to do the usual physical and
mental activities.
Fever - Abnormally high body temperature, the normal being 98.6 degrees
Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Centigrade in humans. Fever is a symptom of disease or
disorder in the body. The body is affected by feeling hot, chilled, sweaty, weak
and exhausted. If the fever goes too high, or lasts too long, death can result.
Hot Flashes - Brief, abnormal enlargement of the blood vessels that causes a
sudden heat sensation over the entire body. Women in menopause will sometimes
experience this.
Influenza (Flu)-like Symptoms - Demonstrating irritation of the respiratory tract
(organs of breathing) such as a cold, sudden fever, aches and pains, as well as
feeling weak and seeking bed rest, which is similar to having the flu.
Leg Pain - A hurtful sensation in the legs that is caused by excessive stimulation of
the nerve endings in the legs and results in extreme discomfort.
Malaise - The somewhat unclear feeling of discomfort you get when you start to
feel sick.
Pain in Limb - Sudden, sharp, and uncontrolled leg or arm discomfort.
Syncope - A short period of light-headedness or unconsciousness (black-out) also
known as fainting, caused by lack of oxygen to the brain because of an interruption
in blood flow to the brain.
Tightness of Chest - Mild or sharp discomfort, tightness or pressure in the chest
area (anywhere between the throat and belly). The causes can be mild or seriously
life-threatening because they include the heart, lungs and surrounding muscles.
CARDIOVASCULAR
(INVOLVING THE HEART AND THE BLOOD
VESSELS)
Palpitation - Unusual and not normal (abnormal) heartbeat, that is sometimes
irregular, but rapid, and forceful thumping or fluttering. It can be brought on by
shock, excitement, exertion, or medical stimulants. A person is normally unaware
of his/her heartbeat.
Hypertension - High blood pressure, a symptom of disease in the blood vessels
leading away from the heart. Hypertension is known as the “silent killer.” The
symptoms are usually not obvious; however, it can lead to damage to the heart,
brain, kidneys and eyes, and can even lead to stroke and kidney failure.
Bradycardia - The heart rate is slowed from 72 beats per minute, which is normal,
to below 60 beats per minute in an adult.
Tachycardia - The heart rate is sped up to above 100 beats per minute in an adult.
Normal adult heart rate is 72 beats per minute.
ECG Abnormal - A test called an electrocardiogram (ECG) records the activity of
the heart. It measures heartbeats as well as the position and size of the heart’s four
chambers. It also measures if there is damage to the heart and the effects of drugs
or mechanical devices like a pacemaker on the heart. When the test is abnormal
this means one or more of the following are present: heart disease, defects, beating
too fast or too slow, disease of the blood vessels leading from the heart or the heart
valves, and/or a past or impending heart attack.
Flushing - The skin all over the body turns red.
Varicose Veins - Unusually swollen veins near the surface of the skin that
sometimes appear twisted and knotted, but always enlarged. They are called
hemorrhoids when they appear around the rectum. The cause is attributed to
hereditary weakness in the veins aggravated by obesity, pregnancy, pressure from
standing, aging, etc. Severe cases may develop swelling in the legs, ankles and
feet, eczema and/or ulcers in the affected areas.
GASTROINTESTINAL
(INVOLVING THE STOMACH AND THE
INTESTINES)
Abdominal Cramp/Pain - Sudden, severe, uncontrollable and painful shortening
and thickening of the muscles in the belly. The belly includes the stomach, as well
as the intestines, liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, gall bladder, and urinary bladder.
Belching - Noisy release of gas from the stomach through the mouth; a burp.
Bloating - Swelling of the belly caused by excessive intestinal gas.
Constipation - Difficulty in having a bowel movement where the material in the
bowels is hard due to a lack of exercise, fluid intake, and roughage in the diet, or
due to certain drugs.
Diarrhea - Unusually frequent and excessive runny bowel movements that may
result in severe dehydration and shock.
Dyspepsia/Indigestion. The discomfort one may experience after eating. It can be
heartburn, gas, nausea, a bellyache or bloating.
Flatulence - More gas than normal in the digestive organs.
Gagging - Involuntary choking and/or involuntary vomiting.
Gastritis - A severe irritation of the mucus lining of the stomach, either short in
duration or lasting for a long period of time.
Gastroenteritis - A condition in which the membranes of the stomach and
intestines are irritated.
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - Excessive internal bleeding in the stomach and
intestines.
Gastro Esophageal Reflux - A continuous state where stomach juices flow back
into the throat causing acid indigestion and heartburn and possibly injury to the
throat.
Heartburn - A burning pain in the area of the breastbone caused by stomach juices
flowing back up into the throat.
Hemorrhoids - Small rounded purplish swollen veins that bleed, itch or are painful,
and appear around the anus.
Increased Stool Frequency - see “Diarrhea.”
Indigestion - Inability to properly consume and absorb food in the digestive tract,
causing constipation, nausea, stomachache, gas, swollen belly, pain, and general
discomfort or sickness.
Nausea - Stomach irritation with a queasy sensation similar to motion sickness and
a feeling that one is going to vomit.
Polyposis Gastric - Tumors that grow on stems in the lining of the stomach, which
usually become cancerous.
Swallowing Difficulty - A feeling that food is stuck in the throat or upper chest
area and won’t go down, making it difficult to swallow.
Toothache - Pain in a tooth above and below the gum line.
Vomiting - Involuntarily throwing up the contents of the stomach, usually
accompanied by a nauseated, sick feeling just prior to doing so.
HEMIC & LYMPHATIC (INVOLVING THE BLOOD AND THE CLEAR
FLUIDS IN THE TISSUES THAT CONTAIN WHITE BLOOD CELLS)
Anemia - A condition in which the blood is no longer carrying enough oxygen, so
the person looks pale and easily gets dizzy, weak and tired. More severely, a
person can end up with an abnormal heart, as well as breathing and digestive
difficulties.
Bruise - Damage to the skin resulting in a purple-green-yellow skin coloration that
is caused by breaking the blood vessels in the area without breaking the surface of
the skin.
Nosebleed - Blood loss from the nose.
Hematoma - Broken blood vessels that cause a swelling in an area on the body.
Lymphadenopathy Cervical - The lymph nodes in the neck, part of the body’s
immune system, become swollen and enlarged by reacting to the presence of a
drug. The swelling is the result of the white blood cells multiplying in order to
fight the invasion of the drug.
METABOLIC & NUTRITIONAL
(ENERGY AND HEALTH)
Arthralgia - Sudden sharp nerve pain in one or more joints.
Arthropathy - Joint disease or abnormal joints.
Arthritis - Painfully inflamed and swollen joints. The reddened and swollen
condition is brought on by a serious injury or shock to the body either from
physical or emotional causes.
Back Discomfort - Severe physical distress in the area from the neck to the pelvis
along the backbone.
Bilirubin Increased - Bilirubin is a waste product of the breakdown of old blood
cells. Bilirubin is sent to the liver to be made water-soluble so it can be eliminated
from the body through emptying the bladder. A drug can interfere with or damage
this normal liver function, creating liver disease.
Decreased Weight - Uncontrolled and measured loss of heaviness or weight.
Gout - A severe arthritis condition that is caused by the dumping of a waste
product called uric acid into the tissues and joints. It can become worse and cause
the body to develop a deformity after going through stages of pain, inflammation,
severe tenderness and stiffness.
Hepatic Enzymes Increased - An increase in the amount of paired liver proteins
that regulate liver processes causing a condition in which the liver functions
abnormally.
Hypercholesterolemia - Too much cholesterol in the blood cells.
Hyperglycemia - An unhealthy amount of sugar in the blood.
Increased Weight - A concentration and storage of fat in the body accumulating
over a period of time caused by unhealthy eating patterns, a lack of physical
activity, or an inability to process food correctly, that can predispose the body to
many disorders and diseases.
Jaw Pain - The pain due to irritation and swelling of the nerves associated with the
mouth area where it opens and closes just in front of the ear. Some of the
symptoms are: pain when chewing, headaches, losing your balance, stuffy ears or
ringing in the ears, and teeth grinding.
Jaw Stiffness - The result of squeezing and grinding the teeth while asleep that can
cause your teeth to deteriorate, as well as the muscles and joints of the jaw.
Joint Stiffness - A loss of free motion and easy flexibility where any two bones
come together.
Muscle Cramp - When muscles contract uncontrollably without warning and do
not relax. The muscles of any body organs can cramp.
Muscle Stiffness - The tightening of muscles making it difficult to bend.
Muscle Weakness - Loss of physical strength.
Myalgia - A general widespread pain and tenderness of the muscles.
Thirst - A strong, unnatural craving for moisture/water in the mouth and throat.
NERVOUS SYSTEM
(SENSORY CHANNELS)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A pinched nerve in the wrist that causes pain, tingling,
and numbing.
Coordination Abnormal - A lack of normal, harmonious interaction of the parts of
the body when it is in motion.
Dizziness - Losing one’s balance while feeling unsteady and lightheaded which
may lead to fainting.
Disequilibrium - Lack of mental and emotional balance.
Faintness - A temporary condition in which one is likely to become unconscious
and fall.
Headache - A sharp or dull persistent pain in the head.
Hyperreflexia - A not normal (abnormal) and involuntary increased response in the
tissues connecting the bones to the muscles.
Light-Headed Feeling – An uncontrolled and usually brief loss of consciousness
usually caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain.
Migraine - Recurring severe head pain sometimes accompanied by nausea,
vomiting, dizziness, flashes or spots before the eyes, and ringing in the ears.
Muscle Contractions Involuntary – A spontaneous and uncontrollable tightening
reaction of the muscles caused by electrical impulses from the nervous system.
Muscular Tone Increased - Uncontrolled and exaggerated muscle tension. Muscles
are normally partially tensed and this is what gives us muscle tone.
Paresthesia - Burning, prickly, itchy, or tingling skin with no obvious or
understood physical cause.
Restless Legs - A need to move the legs without any apparent reason. Sometimes
there is pain, twitching, jerking, cramping, burning, or a creepy-crawly sensation
associated with the movements. It worsens when a person is inactive, and can
interrupt sleep so one feels the need to move to gain some relief.
Shaking - Uncontrolled quivering and trembling as if one is cold and chilled.
Sluggishness - Lack of alertness and energy, as well as being slow to respond or
perform in life.
Tics - A contraction of a muscle causing a repeated movement not under the
control of the person, usually on the face or limbs.
Tremor - A nervous and involuntary vibrating or quivering of the body.
Twitching - Sharp, jerky and spastic motion, sometimes with a sharp sudden pain.
Vertigo - A sensation of dizziness with disorientation and confusion.
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL
Aggravated Nervousness - A progressively worsening, irritated, and troubled state
of mind.
Agitation – A suddenly violent and forceful emotionally disturbed state of mind.
Amnesia - Long term or short term, partial or full memory loss created by
emotional or physical shock, severe illness, or a blow to the head where the person
was caused pain and became unconscious.
Anxiety Attack - Sudden and intense feelings of fear, terror, and dread, physically
creating shortness of breath, sweating, trembling and heart palpitations.
Apathy - Complete lack of concern or interest for things that ordinarily would be
regarded as important or would normally cause concern.
Appetite Decreased - Having a lack of appetite despite the ordinary caloric
demands of living, with a resulting unintentional loss of weight.
Appetite Increased - An unusual hunger causing one to overeat.
Auditory Hallucination - Hearing things without the voices or noises being present.
Bruxism - Grinding and clenching of teeth while sleeping.
Carbohydrate Craving - A drive or craving to eat foods rich in sugar and starches
(sweets, snacks and junk foods) that intensifies as the diet becomes more and more
unbalanced due to the unbalancing of the proper nutritional requirements of the
body.
Concentration Impaired - Unable to easily focus your attention for long periods of
time.
Confusion – An inability to think clearly or understand, preventing logical
decision-making.
Crying (Abnormal) - Unusual and not normal (abnormal) fits of weeping for short
or long periods of time for no apparent reason.
Depersonalization - A condition in which one has lost a normal sense of personal
identity.
Depression - A hopeless feeling of failure, loss and sadness that can deteriorate
into thoughts of death. A very common reaction to or side effect of, psychiatric
drugs.
Disorientation - A loss of sense of direction, place, time or surroundings, as well as
mental confusion regarding one’s personal identity.
Dreaming (Abnormal) - Dreaming that leaves a very clear, detailed picture and
impression when awake that can last for a long period of time and sometimes be
unpleasant.
Emotional Lability - Suddenly breaking out in laughter or crying or doing both
without being able to control the outburst of emotion. These episodes are unstable
as they are caused by experiences or events that normally would not have this
effect on an individual.
Excitability - Uncontrollably responding to stimuli (one’s environment).
Feeling Unreal - The awareness that one has an undesirable emotion like fear, but
can’t seem to shake off the irrational feeling. For example, feeling like one is
going crazy, but rationally knowing that it is not true. The quality of this side
effect resembles being in a bad dream and not being able to wake up.
Forgetfulness - Unable to remember what one ordinarily would remember.
Insomnia - Sleeplessness caused by physical stress, mental stress or stimulants,
such as coffee or medications; a condition of being abnormally awake when one
would ordinarily be able to fall and remain asleep.
Irritability – An abnormal reaction of being annoyed or disturbed in response to a
stimulus (the environment: that which is happening around one).
Jitteriness - Nervous fidgeting without apparent cause.
Lethargy - Mental and physical sluggishness and apathy (a feeling of hopelessness
that “nothing can be done”) which can deteriorate into an unconscious state
resembling deep sleep. A numbed state of mind.
Libido Decreased - An abnormal loss of sexual energy or desire.
Panic Reaction - A sudden, overpowering, chaotic and confused mental state of
terror resulting in being doubt-ridden, often accompanied with hyperventilation
and extreme anxiety.
Restlessness Aggravated - A constantly worsening troubled state of mind
characterized by the person being increasingly nervous, unable to relax, and easily
angered.
Somnolence - Feeling sleepy all the time or having a condition of semi-
consciousness.
Suicide Attempt - An unsuccessful deliberate attack on one’s own life with the
intention of ending it.
Suicidal Tendency - Most likely will attempt to kill oneself.
Tremulousness Nervous - Very jumpy, shaky, and uneasy, while feeling fearful
and timid. The condition is characterized by thoughts dreading the future,
involuntary quivering, trembling, and feeling distressed and suddenly upset.
Yawning - Involuntary opening of the mouth with deep inhalation of air.
REPRODUCTIVE FEMALE
Breast Neoplasm - A tumor or cancer, of either of the two milk-secreting organs on
the chest of a woman.
Menorrhagia - Abnormally heavy menstrual period or a menstrual flow that has
continued for an unusually long period of time.
Menstrual Cramps - Painful, involuntary uterus contractions that women
experience around the time of their menstrual period, sometimes causing pain in
the lower back and thighs.
Menstrual Disorder - A disturbance or derangement in the normal function of a
woman’s menstrual period.
Pelvic Inflammation - The reaction of the body to infectious, allergic, or chemical
irritation, which, in turn, causes tissue irritation, injury, or bacterial infection
characterized by pain, redness, swelling, and sometimes loss of function. The
reaction usually begins in the uterus and spreads to the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and
other areas in the hipbone region of the body.
Premenstrual Syndrome - Various physical and mental symptoms commonly
experienced by women of childbearing age usually 2 to 7 days before the start of
their monthly period. There are over 150 symptoms including eating binges,
behavioral changes, moodiness, irritability, fatigue, fluid retention, breast
tenderness, headaches, bloating, anxiety, and depression. The symptoms cease
shortly after the period begins, and disappear with menopause.
Spotting Between Menses - Abnormal bleeding between periods. Unusual spotting
between menstrual cycles.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM (ORGANS INVOLVED IN BREATHING)
Asthma - A disease of the breathing system initiated by an allergic reaction or a
chemical, with repeated attacks of coughing, sticky mucus, wheezing, shortness of
breath, and a tight feeling in the chest. The disease can reach a state where it stops
a person from exhaling, leading to unconsciousness and death.
Breath Shortness - Unnatural breathing, using a lot of effort resulting in not enough
air taken in by the body.
Bronchitis - Inflammation of the two main breathing tubes leading from the
windpipe to the lungs. The disease is marked by coughing, a low-grade fever,
chest pain, and hoarseness, caused by an allergic reaction.
Coughing - A cough is the response to an irritation, such as mucus, that causes the
muscles controlling the breathing process to expel air from the lungs suddenly and
noisily to keep the air passages free from the irritating material.
Laryngitis - Inflammation of the voice box characterized by hoarseness, sore
throat, and coughing. It can be caused by straining the voice or exposure to
infectious, allergic or chemical irritation.
Nasal Congestion - The presence of an abnormal amount of fluid in the nose.
Pneumonia Tracheitis - Bacterial infection of the air passageways and lungs that
causes redness, swelling and pain in the windpipe. Other symptoms are high fever,
chills, pain in the chest, difficulty breathing, and coughing with mucus discharge.
Rhinitis - Chemical irritation causing pain, redness and swelling in the mucus
membranes of the nose.
Sinus Congestion - The mucus-lined areas of the bones in the face that are thought
to help warm and moisten air to the nose. These areas become clogged with excess
fluid or become infected.
Sinus Headache - An abnormal amount of fluid in the hollows of the facial bone
structure, especially around the nose. This excess fluid creates pressure, causing
pain in the head.
Sinusitis - The body reacting to chemical irritation causing redness, swelling and
pain in the area of the hollows in the facial bones especially around the nose.
SKELETAL
Neck/Shoulder Pain - Hurtful sensations of the nerve endings caused by damage to
the tissues in the neck and shoulder, signaling danger of disease.
SKIN AND APPENDAGES (SKIN, LEGS AND ARMS)
Acne - Eruptions of the oil glands of the skin, especially on the face, marked by
pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, bumps, and more severely, by cysts and scarring.
Alopecia - The loss of hair, baldness.
Angioedema - Intense itching and swelling welts on the skin called hives caused by
an allergic reaction to internal or external agents. The reaction is common to a
food or a drug. Chronic cases can last for a long period of time.
Dermatitis - Generally irritated skin that can be caused by any of a number of
irritating conditions, such as parasites, fungus, bacteria, or foreign substances
causing an allergic reaction. It is a general inflammation of the skin.
Dry Lips - The lack of normal moisture in the fleshy folds that surround the mouth.
Dry Skin - The lack of normal moisture/oils in the surface layer of the body. The
skin is the body’s largest organ.
Epidermal Necrolysis - An abnormal condition in which a large portion of the skin
becomes intensely red and peels off like a second-degree burn. Often the
symptoms include blistering.
Eczema - A severe or continuing skin disease marked by redness, crusting and
scaling, with watery blisters and itching. It is often difficult to treat and will
sometimes go away only to reappear again.
Folliculitis - Inflammation of a follicle (small body sac), especially a hair follicle.
A hair follicle contains the root of a hair.
Furunculosis - Skin boils that show up repeatedly.
Lipoma - A tumor of mostly fat cells that is not health endangering.
Pruritus - Extreme itching of often-undamaged skin.
Rash - A skin eruption or discoloration that may or may not be itching, tingling,
burning, or painful. It may be caused by an allergy, a skin irritation or a skin
disease.
Skin Nodule - A bulge, knob, swelling or outgrowth in the skin that is a mass of
tissue or cells.
RELATED TO THE SENSES
Conjunctivitis - Infection of the membrane that covers the eyeball and lines the
eyelid, caused by a virus, allergic reaction, or an irritating chemical. It is
characterized by redness, a discharge of fluid and itching.
Dry Eyes - Not enough moisture in the eyes.
Earache - Pain in the ear.
Eye Infection - The invasion of the eye tissue by a bacteria, virus, fungus, etc,
causing damage to the tissue, with toxicity. Infection spreading in the body
progresses into disease.
Eye Irritation - An inflammation of the eye.
Metallic Taste - A range of taste impairment from distorted taste to a complete loss
of taste.
Pupils Dilated - Abnormal expansion of the black circular opening in the center of
the eye.
Taste Alteration - Abnormal flavor detection in food.
Tinnitus - A buzzing, ringing, or whistling sound in one or both ears occurring
from the use of certain drugs.
Vision Abnormal - Normal images are seen differently by the viewer than by
others.
Vision Blurred - Eyesight is dim or indistinct and hazy in outline or appearance.
Visual Disturbance - Eyesight is interfered with or interrupted. Some disturbances
are light sensitivity and the inability to easily distinguish colors.
URINARY SYSTEM
Blood in Urine - Blood is present when one empties the liquid waste product of the
kidneys through the bladder by urinating in the toilet, turning the water pink to
bright red. Or you can see spots of blood in the water after urinating.
Dysuria - Difficult or painful urination.
Kidney Stone - Small hard masses of salt deposits that the kidney forms.
Urinary Frequency - Having to urinate more often than usual or between unusually
short time periods.
Urinary Tract Infection - An invasion of bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc., of the system
in the body. This starts with the kidneys, which eliminate urine from the body. If
the invasion goes unchecked, it can injure tissue and progress into disease.
Urinary Urgency - A sudden compelling urge to urinate, accompanied by
discomfort in the bladder.
UROGENITAL
(URINARY TRACT AND/OR GENITAL STRUCTURES OR
FUNCTIONS)
Anorgasmia - Failure to experience an orgasm.
Ejaculation Disorder - Dysfunction of the discharge of semen during orgasm.
Menstrual Disorder - Dysfunction of the discharge during the monthly menstrual
cycle.
VIOLENT OR PHYSICALLY DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS:
Acute Renal Failure - The kidneys stop excreting waste products properly, leading
to rapid poisoning (toxicity) in the body.
Anaphylaxis - A violent, sudden, and severe drop in blood pressure caused by a re-
exposure to a foreign protein or a second dosage of a drug that may be fatal unless
emergency treatment is given right away.
Grand Mal Seizures (or Convulsions) - A recurring sudden, violent and involuntary
attack of muscle spasms with a loss of consciousness.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome - A life threatening, rare reaction to an anti-
psychotic drug marked by fever, muscular rigidity, changed mental status, and
dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.
Pancreatitis - Chemical irritation with redness, swelling, and pain in the pancreas
where digestive enzymes and hormones are secreted.
QT Prolongation - A very fast heart rhythm disturbance that is too fast for the heart
to beat effectively so the blood to the brain falls, causing a sudden loss of
consciousness and may cause sudden cardiac death.
Rhabdomyolysis - The breakdown and release of muscle fibers into the circulatory
system. Some of the fibers are poisonous to the kidney and frequently result in
kidney damage.
Serotonin Syndrome - A disorder brought on by excessive levels of serotonin. It is
caused by drugs and can be fatal. Symptoms include euphoria, drowsiness,
sustained and rapid eye movement, agitation, reflexes overreacting, rapid muscle
contractions, abnormal movements of the foot, clumsiness, feeling drunk and dizzy
without any intake of alcohol, jaw muscles contracting and relaxing excessively,
muscle twitching, high body temperature, rigid body, rotating mental status -
including confusion and excessive happiness - diarrhea and loss of consciousness.
Thrombocytopenia - An abnormal decrease in the number of blood platelets in the
circulatory system. A decrease in platelets would cause a decrease in the ability of
the blood to clot when necessary.
Torsades de Pointes – An unusually rapid heart rhythm starting in the lower heart
chambers. If the short bursts of rapid heart rhythm continue for a prolonged
period, it can degenerate into a more rapid rhythm and can be fatal.
Benzodiazepine Side Effects
CARDIAC
DISORDERS
Palpitation
-
Perceptible forcible pulsation
of the heart,
usually
with an
increase
in
frequency
or
force,
with or without
irregularity
in rhythm.
Tachycardia
- Rapid heart rate.
E
AR
AND
L
ABYRINTH
DISORDERS
Ear
pain -
Any
pain
connected
to the inner or outer portion of the ear.
Tinnitus
-
A sound
in one
ear
or both
ears, such as buzzing, ringing,
or
whistling,
occurring without an
external stimulus
and
usually caused
by a
separate
condition,
such as
the
use
of b
e
n
z
o
d
i
a
z
ep
i
n
e
s
.
Vertigo
-
A sensation
of
irregular
or
whirling
motion,
either
of
oneself
or of
external
o
b
j
e
c
t
s
.
EYE
DISORDER
Blurred
vision - Compared to normal, a
distortion
of
v
i
s
i
o
n
.
Mydriasis
-
Prolonged abnormal dilation
of the pupil of the
eye
induced by a drug or
caused
by
d
i
s
e
a
s
e.
Photophobia - An abnormal
sensitivity
to or intolerance of light,
especially
by
the
eyes, as
may be
caused
by
eye inflammation.
An abnormal
fear
of light.
GASTROINTESTIONAL
DISORDERS
Abdominal pain - Pain between the chest and pelvis, stomach,
i
n
t
e
s
t
i
n
e
s
,
liver, spleen,
and
p
a
n
c
r
e
a
s
.
Constipation
-
Difficulty having
normal
bowel
movement.
Diarrhea
-
Excessive
and frequent
evacuation
of
watery
f
e
c
e
s
.
Dry
mouth - When the mouth
is
dry beyond what might be normal.
Dyspepsia
-
Disturbed digestion;
i
n
d
i
ge
s
t
i
o
n
.
Dysphagia
-
Difficulty
in
swallowing
or
inability
to
swallow.
Nausea
-
A feeling
of
sickness
with the urge to vomit.
Ph
a
r
yng
o
l
a
r
yng
e
a
l
syndrome
-
Of
or
pertaining
to
the larynx
or
p
h
a
r
y
n
x
.
Salivary hypersecretion
- A continual or
excessive
amount of
s
a
l
i
v
a
that
is
uncontrollable.
Vomiting
-
Ejecting all
or part of the
stomach
c
o
n
t
e
n
t
s
.
G
E
N
E
R
AL DISORDERS
Asthenia
-
Loss
or
lack
of
bodily
s
t
r
e
n
g
t
h
.
Chest tightness
-
A feeling
in the
chest
of contraction.
Edema
- An accumulation of an
excessive
amount of watery fluid
i
n
cells, tissues,
or body
ca
v
i
t
i
e
s
.
F
atigue
– The body
feeling
drained of energy.
Feeling drunk
-
Feelings associated
with drinking too much alcohol.
Feeling
hot
or
cold - An
uncontrollable feeling
of
being
too hot or cold that
is
abnormal
for the temperature.
Feeling jittery
- An
uneasy feeling
often
associated
with the
inability
t
o
remain
s
t
i
ll
.
Hangover
-
Feeling like
the
day after consuming
too much
alcohol.
All or a
few
hangover sensations may
be
p
r
e
s
e
n
t
.
Increased energy
-
An abnormal amount of energy bordering
on
h
y
p
e
r
n
e
ss
.
Loss of control of legs
–
Inability
to
control legs, such as restless leg
s
y
n
d
r
ome
.
Malaise
-
A vague feeling of bodily discomfort, as at the beginning of an i
ll
n
e
ss
.
Pyrexia
– Fever.
Rigors
-
Shivering
or trembling,
as caused
by a chill. A
state
of rigidity in
living
tissues
or
organs
that
prevents response
to
s
t
i
m
u
l
i
.
Sluggishness
-
A fatigue
type
feeling
or dull.
Thirst
- An
abnormal sensation
of
needing
liquid.
Weakness
- A
reduced state
of normal
energy
and
s
t
a
m
i
n
a
.
INFECTIONS
AND
I
N
F
E
S
T
A
T
I
O
N
S
Influenza symptoms
- The body
feeling
and at
times
the
m
a
n
i
f
e
s
t
a
t
i
o
n
of
flue like
s
y
mp
t
o
m
s
.
Upper respiratory tract infections - Infection of the nose, sinuses,
p
h
a
r
y
n
x
(part of neck
and
throat)
or
larynx (commonly known as
the
voice
b
o
x
)
.
MENTAL
DISORDERS
Abnormal dreams
-
Nightmares or dreams that are upsetting to the
i
n
d
i
v
i
d
u
a
l
.
Aggression
-
Hostile
or
destructive behavior
or
ac
t
i
o
n
s
.
Agitation
- A
feeling
where
something
or anything could
set
a
p
e
r
s
o
n
toward
anger
or
c
o
m
ba
t
i
v
e
n
e
ss
.
Anger - Uncontrollable and volatile emotion with rage;
usually
an attempt to
stop someone
or
s
o
m
e
t
h
i
n
g
.
Anxiety - A
state
of
uneasiness
and
apprehension, as
about future
uncertainties.
A state
of
intense apprehension, uncertainty,
and
fear
r
e
s
u
l
t
i
n
g
from the anticipation
of a threatening event or
situation,
often to a degree that normal
physical
and
psychological
functioning
is
d
i
s
r
u
p
t
e
d
.
Apathy
-
A feeling
of no hope,
such as
if
anything
can be done it would not work.
Bradyphrenia
-
A slowness
of the
m
i
n
d
.
Confusion - An
impaired
orientation with
respect
to time,
place
or the form of an
event.
Depersonalization
- A
state
in which the normal
sense
of
p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l
identity and
reality is lost, characterized
by
feelings
that
o
n
e
’
s
actions
and
speech
cannot be
controlled.
Depressed
mood -
A lowering of
the
state of
mind or emotion compared to what a
person normally
f
ee
l
s
.
Depression
-
A feeling
of no hope.
Derealization - The feeling that
things
in
o
n
e
’
s
surroundings
are
strange,
unreal, or
somehow altered, as seen
in
s
c
h
i
z
o
p
h
r
e
n
i
a
.
Disorientation – A
loss
of
sense
of direction,
position,
or
r
e
l
a
t
i
o
n
s
h
i
p
with
o
n
e
’
s
surroundings.
A temporary or permanent
state
of
c
o
n
f
u
s
i
o
n
regarding place,
time
or
personal
identity.
Dysphonia
-
An emotional state marked by anxiety, depression, and
r
e
s
t
le
ss
n
e
ss
.
Euphoric
mood -
A feeling
of
great happiness
or
well-being,
commonly
exaggerated
and not
necessarily well
founded.
Hallucination
-
False
or
distorted perception
of
objects
or
events
with a
compelling
sense
of their
reality, usually resulting
from a
traumatic life
event or
d
r
u
g
s
.
Homicidal ideation - The formation of the idea or
having
the mental
image
of
murder.
H
y
p
o
m
a
n
ia
-
A
m
i
l
d
f
o
r
m
o
f
m
a
n
i
a
,
c
h
a
r
a
c
t
e
r
i
z
e
d
b
y
h
y
p
e
r
a
c
t
i
v
i
t
y
a
n
d
e
u
p
h
o
r
i
a
.
Impulse control
-
A sudden pushing
or
driving force. A sudden wish
or urge that
prompts
an
unpremeditated
act or
feeling;
an abrupt inclination.
Insomnia - Chronic inability to fall
asleep
or remain
asleep
for an
adequate
length of time.
Irritability
- 1. The capacity to
respond
to
stimul