Medicines and Side Effects in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Understanding how medicines work—and what can go wrong—is especially important for Grand Rapids residents, where many people take multiple prescriptions to manage chronic conditions common in West Michigan, such as heart disease, diabetes, and seasonal respiratory illnesses.

This guide explains what side effects are, how to reduce your risk, and where to get help in the Grand Rapids area.

What Is a Side Effect?

A side effect is an unwanted symptom or reaction caused by a medical treatment. Any medicine can cause side effects, including:

  • Prescription medications
  • Over‑the‑counter (OTC) medicines (such as pain relievers, cold and flu tablets)
  • Complementary and herbal medicines, vitamins, and supplements

Across the United States, hundreds of thousands of people are admitted to the hospital each year because of problems with their medicines, including side effects, drug interactions, and dosing errors.

Most side effects are mild and manageable, but some can be serious or life‑threatening.

If you think you’re having a severe reaction, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department in Grand Rapids, such as:

  • Corewell Health (Spectrum Health) Butterworth Hospital
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital
  • University of Michigan Health–West (Metro Health) Hospital

Common Side Effects: Skin Rashes and More

One of the most common reactions to medicines is a skin rash. Other frequent side effects include:

  • Nausea, vomiting, or upset stomach
  • Headache
  • Drowsiness or dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • Diarrhea or constipation

However, it’s not always easy to tell whether a symptom is caused by:

  • The medicine itself
  • The illness you’re being treated for
  • An interaction with another medicine or supplement

Many people in Grand Rapids take more than one medication, especially older adults. This increases the chance of drug interactions, where one medicine changes how another works.

Complementary and Herbal Medicines: Natural Doesn’t Always Mean Safe

In Michigan and across the U.S., many people use complementary and alternative medicines, including:

  • Herbal remedies (such as echinacea, St John’s wort, feverfew, ginkgo)
  • Vitamins and minerals
  • Supplements sold in health food stores, pharmacies, or online

Because these products are often labeled as “natural,” some Grand Rapids residents assume they are safer than prescription drugs. This is not always true.

Some herbal remedies can act on the body just as strongly as conventional medicines and can cause:

  • Allergic reactions
  • Interactions with prescription drugs
  • Changes in blood pressure, heart rate, or bleeding risk

Examples of Complementary Medicines That Can Cause Side Effects

  • Feverfew

    • Often used for migraines
    • Pregnant women should not use feverfew because it can trigger uterine contractions
    • Animal studies have shown an increased risk of miscarriage

  • Echinacea

    • Used to “boost immunity,” especially during Michigan’s cold and flu season
    • More than 20 different side effects have been reported, including:
      • Asthma attacks
      • Hives or skin rash
      • Swelling
      • Aching muscles
      • Gastrointestinal upset

  • St John’s wort

    • Used for mild depression or mood support
    • Increases serotonin levels in the brain
    • When combined with antidepressants or other serotonin‑increasing drugs, it can cause serotonin toxicity, which can be life‑threatening

    Symptoms of serotonin toxicity include:

    • Tremors or shaking
    • High body temperature
    • Agitation or confusion
    • Fast heart rate

  • Ginkgo, chamomile, and similar herbs

    • May increase the risk of bleeding, especially if you also take:
      • Blood thinners (such as warfarin)
      • Aspirin
      • Other anti‑inflammatory pain relievers

In Grand Rapids, complementary medicines are widely available in pharmacies, grocery stores, and local health food shops. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about every supplement and herbal product you take.

Drug Interactions: When Medicines Don’t Mix

Interactions Between Medicines

Active ingredients in different medicines can:

  • Add to each other’s effects (increasing the risk of side effects)
  • Cancel each other out (making one or both less effective)
  • Change how quickly your body breaks them down

This can happen between:

  • Prescription medicines
  • Over‑the‑counter medicines
  • Complementary and herbal products
  • Vitamins and supplements

In West Michigan, where chronic conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are common, many residents take several daily medications. This makes regular medication reviews especially important.

Alcohol and Medicines

Alcohol can interact with many medicines commonly used in Grand Rapids, especially during social events, sports gatherings, and holiday seasons.

Some key risks include:

  • Alcohol + opioid pain medicines (such as oxycodone, hydrocodone)

    • Can slow breathing
    • Increase drowsiness
    • Lead to loss of consciousness or overdose

  • Alcohol + certain antibiotics

    • Can cause:
      • Nausea and vomiting
      • Flushing (red, hot skin)
      • Drowsiness or dizziness

  • Alcohol + antihistamines, antidepressants, sleeping pills, or anxiety medicines

    • Can cause:
      • Extreme drowsiness
      • Poor coordination
      • Increased risk of falls and accidents, especially on icy Michigan sidewalks and roads

  • Alcohol + blood pressure or motion sickness medicines

    • Can cause:
      • Very low blood pressure
      • Headache
      • Fast or irregular heartbeat

Remember, alcohol can stay in your system for several hours after your last drink, so interactions can occur even if you feel sober.

Always ask your Grand Rapids doctor or pharmacist whether it is safe to drink alcohol with your medications.

Who Is at Higher Risk of Side Effects in Grand Rapids?

Certain groups are more likely to experience medicine side effects:

  • Older adults

    • More likely to take multiple medicines
    • May have slower kidney or liver function, especially after years of managing chronic disease

  • People with chronic conditions common in Michigan, such as:

    • Heart disease
    • Diabetes
    • Kidney or liver problems
    • Asthma or COPD (especially during cold Grand Rapids winters)

  • People taking many medicines (polypharmacy)

    • Including prescriptions, OTC medicines, and supplements

  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women

    • Some medicines and herbs can harm the baby

  • Children

    • Dosages must be carefully adjusted to age and weight

What to Do If You Experience Side Effects

In an Emergency

Call 911 immediately or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
  • Chest pain or tightness
  • Severe rash, blistering, or peeling skin
  • Sudden confusion, extreme agitation, or loss of consciousness
  • Very high fever, tremors, or seizures

Emergency departments in and around Grand Rapids include:

  • Corewell Health (Spectrum Health) Butterworth Hospital – Downtown Grand Rapids
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital
  • University of Michigan Health–West (Metro Health) – Wyoming

For Non‑Emergency Side Effects

If your symptoms are mild but concerning:

  1. Write down what you’re experiencing, including:

    • The name and dose of the medicine
    • When you started taking it
    • When the symptoms began
    • Any other medicines or supplements you are taking

  2. Contact your doctor or pharmacist in Grand Rapids:

    • Your primary care provider
    • Your specialist (cardiologist, endocrinologist, etc.)
    • Your local community pharmacy

They may:

  • Adjust the dose
  • Change you to a different medicine
  • Suggest ways to manage the side effect
  • Recommend blood tests or monitoring

Do not stop prescription medicines suddenly without medical advice unless you are having a severe reaction.

How to Reduce Your Risk of Side Effects

1. Take Medicines Exactly as Directed

  • Follow your Grand Rapids doctor’s instructions carefully
  • Do not change the dose on your own
  • Do not take someone else’s prescription medicine

2. Learn About Your Medicines

Ask your pharmacist for written information about your medicines, such as Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) or patient information leaflets. These explain:

  • What the medicine is for
  • How to take it
  • Possible side effects
  • What to avoid (such as alcohol or certain foods)

3. Tell Your Providers About Everything You Take

At each visit, tell your doctor and pharmacist about:

  • All prescription medicines
  • All over‑the‑counter medicines (pain relievers, cold and flu tablets, allergy medications)
  • All vitamins, minerals, herbal remedies, and supplements

This is especially important during:

  • Winter months in Grand Rapids, when people often take cold, flu, and immune‑boosting products
  • Allergy seasons, when antihistamines are frequently used

4. Have an Annual Medication Review

Ask your doctor or local Grand Rapids pharmacist about a yearly medication review, especially if you:

  • Are over 65
  • Take several medicines
  • Have multiple health conditions

A review can take place:

  • At your doctor’s office
  • At your local pharmacy
  • Sometimes at home (home visit programs may be available through certain health plans or clinics)

The review helps:

  • Identify unnecessary or duplicate medicines
  • Reduce the risk of interactions
  • Simplify your medication schedule

5. Use Dosage Aids

If you take many medicines at different times:

  • Talk to your pharmacist about pill organizers or blister packs
  • Consider pharmacy “medication packaging” services offered by many Grand Rapids pharmacies

These tools help you:

  • Take the right dose at the right time
  • Reduce the risk of missed doses or double‑dosing

6. Improve Lifestyle Where Possible

Ask your Grand Rapids healthcare provider if lifestyle changes could reduce your need for certain medicines. For some conditions, improvements are possible with:

  • A balanced diet (including plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains)
  • Regular physical activity (walking the Grand River trail, using local parks, or indoor exercise during winter)
  • Quitting smoking
  • Limiting alcohol

This can be especially helpful for managing:

  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Mild depression or anxiety

7. Safely Dispose of Unwanted or Expired Medicines

Do not throw unwanted or expired medicines in the trash or flush them down the toilet.

Instead:

  • Return them to your local Grand Rapids pharmacy for safe disposal
  • Many pharmacies and some Kent County locations participate in free medication take‑back programs

This helps:

  • Prevent accidental poisoning
  • Reduce misuse
  • Protect the environment and local waterways connected to the Grand River and Great Lakes region

Local Grand Rapids Resources for Medicine and Side Effect Advice

If you live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, you can get help and information from:

  • Your primary care doctor or specialist

    • Through Corewell Health (Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, University of Michigan Health–West (Metro Health), or Mercy Health clinics

  • Your local pharmacist

    • At community pharmacies across Grand Rapids (Meijer, Walgreens, CVS, independent pharmacies, hospital‑based pharmacies)

  • Kent County Health Department

    • Offers public health information, chronic disease programs, and vaccination services
    • Website: search “Kent County Health Department Grand Rapids”

  • Grand Rapids Public Health and community clinics

    • Provide education on safe medication use, chronic disease management, and preventive care

  • Poisoning or suspected overdose

    • Call the Poison Help line: 1‑800‑222‑1222 (national number, available 24/7)
    • For life‑threatening symptoms, call 911 immediately

Key Points About Medicines and Side Effects in Grand Rapids, MI

  • A side effect is an unwanted symptom caused by a medical treatment.
  • All medicines—prescription, over‑the‑counter, and complementary—can cause side effects.
  • Skin rashes are a common reaction, but it can be hard to know if the cause is the medicine, the illness, or an interaction.
  • “Natural” or herbal products are not automatically safer and can cause serious side effects or interact with prescriptions.
  • Alcohol can increase the risk of side effects and dangerous reactions with many common medicines.
  • You can reduce your risk by:
    • Taking medicines exactly as prescribed
    • Telling your doctor and pharmacist about all products you use
    • Having regular medication reviews
    • Using dosage aids and improving lifestyle where possible
  • For severe reactions, call 911 or go to a Grand Rapids emergency department immediately.

Using medicines wisely—and working closely with your Grand Rapids healthcare team—can help you stay safe, manage your health conditions, and reduce the risk of harmful side effects.