7 Energy Busters Hiding in Your Medicine Cabinet

By Jack Taylor Posted April 28, 2017

Dear Turapür Today Reader,

A big part of aging well is having the energy and stamina to do all the things you love.

But for lots of seniors, just getting out of bed in the morning can be a challenge.

And if you want to know why so many seniors are feeling weaker or more exhausted than ever, prescription drug use is as good a reason as any.

Mainstream medicine hands out these drugs like candy, telling us they’re going to make us feel better.

But the fact is chronic fatigue is a major side effect for many of the most popular medications on the market today.

Here are seven drugs that may be leaving you tired all the time. If you’re taking any of them, schedule an appointment with your doctor to talk about alternatives:

1. Blood pressure meds: Just about every blood pressure drug makes this list, from ACE inhibitors like Prinivil and Zestril to “water pill” diuretics.

2. Statins: You might know these cholesterol-lowering drugs by brand names like Crestor, Lipitor and Zocor.

3. Antibiotics: Fatigue is a common side effect for many antibiotics, possibly because they destroy the healthy bacteria in your gut. Your gut flora play a critical role in maintaining energy levels.

4. Antidepressants: Fatigue and lethargy are major problems with antidepressant drugs, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac and Paxil. Some people claim to feel like “zombies” on the drugs. That’s especially ironic, as fatigue is a major symptom of the depression that the drugs are supposed to treat.

5. Antihistamines: No surprise here, right? Antihistamines like Benadryl have been knocking people out for decades.

6. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs): This one may come as a bit of a surprise. But these stomach acid-blocking PPIs like Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec can actually cause a magnesium deficiency that can result in major fatigue.

7. Benzodiazepines: “Benzos” like Klonopin, Valium and Xanax are prescribed for anxiety and muscle spasms and to seniors. But they depress your nervous system, which can leave you feeling exhausted. For years, medical groups have been recommending against prescribing benzos to seniors, as they’ve been linked to everything from falls to memory loss. But they’re still pretty widely prescribed.

If you’re struggling with fatigue, take a quick inventory of the prescription drugs you’re taking. You may find that the answer has been staring you in the face all along.

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Regards,

Jack Taylor
Department of Research, Turapür Products

Sources

^[1] How Many Pills Do Your Elderly Patients Take Each Day?

^[2] 9 Types of Medications That Can Lead to Chronic Fatigue

^[3] Choosing Wisely: Don’t use benzodiazepines or other sedative-hypnotics in older adults as first choice for insomnia, agitation, or delirium.