| Fact Sheet - Side Effects of Medication |
DOWNLOAD THIS FACT SHEET IN PDF FORMATThere are a multitude of conditions that require a person to take medication, and some may have side effects which can impact on a person’s ability to perform certain tasks. An individual is only required to tell their employer about any medication they are taking if it will impact on their job performance. Disclosure and Privacy Employers As an employer, questions about medication must be phrased in terms of how the medication or side effects will affect the employee’s ability to perform the inherent requirements of the job. For example: It is not essential for an employee to disclose specific medical or personal information about a disability or medication. Employees Employees are required to tell their employer about the medication they are taking only if it affects their ability to perform the inherent requirements of the job, including working safely. Employee Responsibilities Individuals taking medication should find out how it affects them by consulting their medical practitioner - employees should explain their work duties to the medical practitioner in order to determine if their ability to work safely will be affected by the medication. An employee is required to tell their employer about what medications they are taking only if there is a likelihood of side effects occurring that will affect their work performance. Any directions or warnings on the medication should be read carefully, and followed, eg. do not operate heavy machinery, etc. Possible Side Effects of Medication There are many different types of medications and many possible side effects. Each person may react differently to the same type of medication, so it is not possible to predict every reaction every time. Some Common Side Effects drowsiness Administration of Medication Medication may be taken in tablet, capsule or liquid form, or may be injected. Impact on Job Performance Some side effects may have more of an impact in certain types of jobs. Manual work Side effects such as drowsiness, lack of coordination and slowed reaction times can increase the risk of accidents when performing manual work. Office work Office employees may require additional rest breaks to administer medication, and may also need to eat at their desks. Service industry Side effects including decreased coordination or hand tremors can affect work performance in service industry roles. Carrying heavy or awkward objects may not be possible while the side effects are present. Reasonable Adjustments When both the employer and the employee are aware of the possible side effects of the medication, reasonable adjustments can be made. For example, some medications may make the individual feel drowsy only for a few hours after they take them, so extra precautions should be taken during that time, or alternatively the employee could start and finish work at a later time. Withdrawal Withdrawal from medication can cause as many side effects as the medication itself. Withdrawal effects may occur when a medical practitioner has advised an individual to reduce or stop taking their medication, or when they have simply missed a dose. Related hyperlinks: Health InSite
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