Final answer:
Diuretics and vasodilators can cause orthostasis as a side effect due to their impact on blood volume and pressure. Autonomic failure due to conditions like diabetes can also lead to orthostatic hypotension. Medications like scopolamine, used to treat motion sickness, can have similar effects if misused.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medications with Orthostasis as a Side Effect
Medications with side effects causing symptoms of orthostasis include diuretics and vasodilators. Diuretics reduce blood volume by increasing urine production, while vasodilators relax blood vessel walls to lower systemic blood pressure. Adjustments in these medications might alleviate symptoms. Additionally, increasing fluid and salt intake could improve blood volume and help maintain homeostatic balance during positional changes such as standing from a sitting position.
Autonomic failure is another cause of orthostatic hypotension, with conditions like diabetes leading to damaged postganglionic sympathetic fibers, affecting neurological responses to standing. Proper blood glucose management in the case of diabetes may improve these symptoms.
Scopolamine, used to treat motion sickness, is an autonomic drug that at low therapeutic levels is safe, but at higher doses, it may induce symptoms similar to orthostatic hypotension due to its potential to cause low blood pressure and other sympathetic dysfunctions.