# "Side effects may include drowsiness, dizziness and diarrhea" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 17, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201 "2003-09-17T19:09:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/21 "2003-09-18T04:54:39Z")
I was taking medication for a hand tremor. One of the very rare side effects was hand tremors, and that’s the one I got. I’m taking another medication for the same thing that neutralizes birth control pills _dammit_, may cause seizures if I forget to take it, AND may cause a personality change ( probably not in a good way). ---
**Author:** ![Blackdragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Blackdragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackdragon)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/22 "2003-09-18T05:21:47Z")
I sometimes wish I could give people drugs just for the side effects. Trileptal, I think it is, causes somnolence. Some people just open their mouths way too often. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/23 "2003-09-18T07:45:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by badmana \* > \*\* > Gotta love the drug industry. \*\* Just for the sake of correctness, they put this stuff in because it’s a federal regulation. Blame the government, not the drug industry. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/24 "2003-09-18T07:50:41Z")
And then there’s the understated ones. I once took some allergy medication that said “May Cause Drowsiness. Do Not Attempt To Operate Heavy Machinery.” Yeah, like a shower, or a spoon, or a phone zzzzzzzzzzzzzz… ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/25 "2003-09-18T11:49:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MLS \* > \*\*No, actually, I think the possible side effect is priapism. You’ll have to look that up yourself. \*\* I’ll look it up later. But if its what I am thinking you still wont want to do anything with that new person you met. On topic, well mine anyway, my hubby had to have his depression meds changed because getting it up and keeping it up had become a distant memory. And I have a couple of friends on anti depressants who say there “urge to splurfe” is just not there anymore!☹ My asthma doctor had my GP change my blood pressure meds. she didnt think a medicine with the side effect of coughing was a good idea for an asthmatic. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/26 "2003-09-18T12:16:23Z")
This reminds me of an episode of _Scrubs_ where Heather Locklear played a drug company sales rep pushing a new wonder drug, she claimed its only side effects were “nausea, drowsiness, and anal discharge”. Dr. Cox: And I’ve got two of the three just from this conversation. My cousin, the med student (at the time), once told me about the first time he bought some of those Olestra WOW potato chips. He ate a whole bag during a night of watching ESPN, and made damn sure he had a clear path to the bathroom and no plans to go out in case he got the side effects everyone heard about. He didn’t, but he was curious to see if he would and wanted to be prepared just in case. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/27 "2003-09-18T12:38:05Z")
My personal favorite is that drug they advertise that clears up toenail fungus. Are they suggesting that there are people out there that actually care enough about their toenails yellowing a bit that they’re going to risk “projectile vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, flatulence, inducing spontaneous renditions of Abba’s ‘Dancing Queen’, hives, pink eye, genital itching, hallucinations, groin midgets, fever, yellow belly, dry mouth, back hair, heart arrhythmia, happy feet, gimp knees, body odor, projectile diarrhea, bad breath, itchiness, nervousness, schadenfreude, testicular cancer, spontaneous belching, acne, giant robots, miner’s lung and an increased appreciation for the lesser works of Chopin”? [sub]Okay, so I couldn’t remember the exact side effects. Sue me. :D[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/28 "2003-09-18T13:06:48Z")
My friend David is on antidepressants and the bottle says, “May cause drowsiness. Alcohol may exacerbate this.” David says, “That’s not a warning, it’s a serving suggestion!” ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/29 "2003-09-18T19:23:44Z")
Eve, that is friggin’ hilarious! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/30 "2003-09-18T19:42:20Z")
The scenario would make for an entertaining short film. Think _Sleeping With The Enema._ ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/31 "2003-09-18T21:03:16Z")
Gee, **lieu** , with films like yours, who needs enemas? :ouch: ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/32 "2003-09-18T22:53:39Z")
Just picked up some cough pills at the pharmacy; the side effects include “drowsiness and insomnia.” _This_ should be an interesting night . . . ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/33 "2003-09-18T23:06:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by widdershins \* > \*\*Olestra WOW potato chips. \*\* Ahh, yes, the famous “anal leakage” chips. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/34 "2003-09-18T23:17:43Z")
I am sitting here, alone, laughing my ass off. My dog thinks I’m nuts! ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/35 "2003-09-19T00:16:32Z")
My dogs are also looking at me as if I’ve lost my mind. You’d think they’d be used to it by now… I _did_ have an antibiotic that caused what nearly amounted to projectile diarrhea. The ironic thing was that my doctor gave it to me because it specifically _wasn’t_ supposed to cause diarrhea, which was a problem I’d never had with any antibiotic before anyway. Go figure. Sorry if TMI. Restlessness, disorientation, and diarrhea would be a rather charming combination, don’t you think? ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/36 "2003-09-19T03:02:12Z")
“groin midgets” Thanks, \*_slortar_, those two words together have given me the best laugh I’ve had all week. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/37 "2003-09-19T04:47:46Z")
Those side effects don’t seem to far removed than what’s listed [here](http://www.aboutteens.org/jokes/smartin.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/38 "2003-09-19T05:05:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AvhHines \* > **I _did_ have an antibiotic that caused what nearly amounted to projectile diarrhea.** Ooo, that’s unfortunate. The worst side effect I’ve ever gotten from an antibiotic was a maddeningly itchy asshole. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/39 "2003-09-19T06:40:22Z")
From the Page o’ Flames: > [@](#): > > Take Paxil…it’ll cure your social anxiety disorder. Oh, it also may cause, dizzyness, nervousness, sexual side effects, TREMOR, nausea, and sleepyness, among others. > > Boy. makes me want to go sign up: I can just imagine how confident I’ll be in public now that I’m stumbling around with a limp dick, shaking, while falling asleep in my own vomit. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201/40 "2003-09-19T07:18:18Z")
OOh I love this thread, and yes, I had a grand old time, reding the ( I rather think now slightly altered 🙂 ) side-effectoof os Seroxat/Paroxetine/Paxil. Another thing - what IS the logic behind all the different names. I mean for the one I just mentioned, would not the generic term Paroxetine suffice. Why need it be called Seroxat in the U.K. , Paxil in the U.S.A. and gos only know what everywhere else? Oh perhaps the stuff causes grumpiness, or maybe I am always like this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-effects-may-include-drowsiness-dizziness-and-diarrhea/202201.md?page=3)