Prescription For Safe Workouts

If you suffer from conditions such as allergies or depression, you may take an over-the-counter or prescription medication. What you may not know is that these drugs sometimes have side effects that can adversely affect your workouts.

So, The Saturday Early Show's Dr. Mallika Marshall gave some tips on how to get the most out of your exercise routine while taking medications.

Certain medications can throw off your balance and affect your breathing as well as blood pressure, and some drugs can affect your heart's rhythm. Marshall says the good news is that there are ways to avoid these side effects either by changing how you work out or asking your doctor to prescribe alternative medications.

Allergies

Many people who have allergies take antihistamines such as Benadryl. Antihistamines can make people tired, dizzy, light-headed or slow in their response time. So Marshall recommends if you are working out, avoid any exercises that require you to be able to stay well-balanced. Instead, she says try something else such as a stationary bike, rowing machine or a StairMaster-type device.

Depression

There are many drugs available to treat depression. Some of the most common are Zoloft and Prozac. In some patients, these medications can cause sleepiness or an upset stomach. In many cases these side effects are temporary. But in the meantime, users of the drugs will want to avoid strenusous workouts if their stomach is bothering them and stick to exercises where they are seated.

Anxiety

Marshall also says drugs used to treat anxiety can affect workouts. One of the most popular drugs prescribed for anxiety is Xanax, which can make you tired and affect your coordination. Marshall says the side effects generally go away. But until they do, there are certain activities that you'll want to stay away from, including aerobics and dance classes.

Asthma

People with asthma need to be careful when exercising, regardless of whether they are taking any medications. If you are taking a drug to keep your asthma under control, tell your doctor about any exercise you do. Some of the drugs can cause your heart to beat too fast or increase your blood pressure. However, Marshall says not all asthma drugs have these side effects. So, your doctor may suggest an alternative.

Colds

Marshall says if you have a cold, you may want to think twice about working out. But Marshall warns if you decide to work out when you are sick, you need to be aware that some over-the-counter remedies that fall under the category of pseudoephrines - sold as Sudafed, Triaminic or generics - can cause adverse reactions. Some ways to avoid these side effects are to drink a lot of water and to lessen the intensity of your workout. Marshall recommends that if you are running a fever or are very congested, you should stay away from the gym until you recover.

Diabetes

Many diabetics take drugs such as insulin to keep the disease under control. Taking something like insulin while you are working out can cause dizziness or fainting. Marshall says you'll want to avoid working out on an empty stomach and try and eat a carbohydrate-packed snack about half an hour before exercising.