Medicines that can cause weakness or fatigue
Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause generalized weakness and fatigue. The degree of weakness and fatigue caused by a certain medicine will vary from person to person.
Medicines that may cause weakness or fatigue include:
- Antianxiety medicines, such as Librium, Valium, Xanax, or Ativan.
- Antihistamines, such as Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton.
- High blood pressure medicines (antihypertensives), such as Aldomet, Inderal, Lopressor, verapamil, Catapres, or reserpine.
- Diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide, Diuril, Dyazide, Lasix, or spironolactone.
- Pain medicine, such as codeine, Darvon, or Vicodin.
- Steroids, such as prednisone, methylprednisolone, or dexamethasone.
- Tricyclic antidepressants, such as Elavil, Pamelor, or Tofranil.
- Statins, such as lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), or simvastatin (Zocor).
If you think a prescription or nonprescription medicine may be causing your weakness or fatigue, call your doctor.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: February 27, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology | |
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