Medications can often come with a range of side effects, from minor, to severe. These can also be reported as common or rare. Advice on side effects is always contained with medications.
One commonly reported side effect of some medications is the feeling of drowsiness. [When a medicine makes you feel drowsy, it is often because it affects certain chemicals within the brain, called neurotransmitters.
Medications and Drowsiness
Certain medications may cause you to feel drowsy. Some common varieties include antihistamines, antidepressants, antiemetics, anticonvulsants, alpha blockers, beta blockers, and benzodiazepines.
As well as prescription medications, there are also many over-the-counter drugs that may also cause drowsiness as a side effect.
Feeling drowsy throughout the day may negatively impact your life. You may find it difficult to complete tasks that require concentration; such as driving.
If you find that your medication is making you drowsy, you may find that this lessens as the body gets accustomed to it. In the interim, you should avoid driving, ensure you get a good night’s sleep, avoid alcohol, and speak to your pharmacist to see whether it is possible to take your medication in the evening.
Safe Handling of Medication
Nurses and support workers who handle medicines on a daily basis must do so in line with legislation and individual organisations’ policies and procedures. This ensures that people are kept safe.
Specialist training providers such as tidaltraining.co.uk/health-and-social-care-courses/safe-handling-of-medication-training/ deliver a medicine administration course, designed specifically for healthcare professionals.
Course content typically includes modules on legislation, prescriptions, labels, recording, documentation, consent, accountability, and much more.