Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.

Conditions

• Age older than 60
• Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia
• History of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, including peptic ulcer disease
• Malnutrition
• Motion sickness
• Pregnancy
• Previous abdominal surgery
• High altitude

Lifestyle choices

• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Drug abuse or withdrawal
• Tobacco products, such as chew or "spit" tobacco

Medicines

• Antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline, cefuroxime (Ceftin), erythromycin, sulfa drugs, and metronidazole (Flagyl)
• Anticonvulsant medicine, such as phenytoin (Dilantin)
• Antidepressant medicines, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), lithium, and sertraline (Zoloft)
• Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen
• Asthma medicines, such as theophylline
• Birth control pills (oral contraceptives)
• Chemotherapy medicines, such as cisplatin or cyclophosphamide
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• Heart medicines, such as verapamil (Calan or Verelan), diltiazem (Cardizem), digoxin, quinidine, and Inderal.
• Narcotics, such as morphine, codeine, or meperidine (Demerol)
• Medicines that contain iron
• Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Radiation therapy
• Vitamins and mineral supplements, such as iron

Diseases

• Cancer
• Coronary artery disease
• Diabetes
• Food poisoning
• Gallbladder disease
• Heart failure
• Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Inner ear problems, such as Ménière's disease or vertigo
• Intestinal parasites
• Kidney disease
• Kidney stones
• Liver disease
• Migraine headaches
• Mental health problems, such as depression or an anxiety disorder
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Pancreatitis
• Parkinson's disease
• Seizure disorders
• Vascular disease