How to tell if medication is causing side effects?
After starting a new medication, my mum became sleepier and lost her appetite. I don't know if it's due to the illness or the medication. How can I tell the difference?
This is a fair concern and shows how observant you are. Distinguishing between what comes from the illness and what comes from the medication isn't always easy – but your careful observation is exactly the information the doctor needs to decide.
Why it happens
All medications can have side effects, and older people are more sensitive. Anti-dementia drugs, for example, can cause nausea, diarrhoea, or loss of appetite; other medications can cause drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, or an increased risk of falls. Symptoms that appear soon after starting or changing a medication are more likely to be side effects.
Practical strategies
- Note when the medication started and when the symptoms appeared.
- Record signs such as drowsiness, nausea, loss of appetite, new confusion, falls, or mood changes.
- Always bring an updated list of all medications to appointments.
- Ask the pharmacist about interactions between medications.
What NOT to do
- Do not stop the medication on your own without speaking to the doctor.
- Do not assume everything is "due to age" or "due to dementia" without evaluation.
When to seek professional help
Contact your GP to review the medication. For intense or sudden symptoms (persistent vomiting, severe confusion, fainting), contact NHS 111 or go to A&E. Never stop medication without guidance.
"I told the doctor she became very sluggish after the new medicine. They adjusted the dose and she was more herself again." — Anonymous Carer