Nervous System Side Effects

Medications that act on the nervous system may cause drowsiness or stimulation (excitation).

If a medication causes drowsiness, you may become dizzy or your coordination may become impaired. If a drug causes stimulation, you may become nervous or have insomnia or tremors. Neither drowsiness nor stimulation is cause for concern for most people. When you are drowsy, however, you should be careful around machinery and should avoid driving.

Some medications cause throbbing headaches, and others produce a tingling sensation in the fingers or toes. If these symptoms don't disappear within a few days to a week, be sure to notify your doctor.

Shortness of breath is a characteristic side effect of some drugs, but it also may be a sign of a serious side effect. Read on to learn more about respiratory system side effects.

Drug Use During Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding
Before taking any medication, it is very important that you tell your doctor if you are pregnant, if you are planning to become pregnant, or if you are breast-feeding an infant. For most medications, complete information on safety during pregnancy and while breast-feeding an infant is not available. This is not due to negligence or lack of concern on the part of regulatory agencies but to the fact that it would be unethical to conduct drug experiments on pregnant and nursing women. With this in mind, you and your doctor should discuss the risks versus benefits of taking any medication in pregnancy or while nursing an infant.