topic Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS in Wellness

PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

Lindsays Grandma — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 23:13:13 GMT

A friend and I were having a discussion about the side effects included with our prescriptions. I don't think I want to read them anymore. Let's face it, some of those side effects sound worse than the disease the medication is supposed to cure. I will admit there were times I was hesitant to take the medication and I do realize the percentage of the effects rarely, if at all happens. Nevertheless, they are scary. Do they bother you?

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

QVCkitty1 — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 23:18:46 GMT

I have been fortunate most of my life to need very few medications. That being said recently I was put on a BP med, that made my legs and ankles swell alarmingly. Then I was prescribed an antibiotic that made me break out in a rash that was so bad I look a bit like a burn victim. I take nothing for granted anymore, and .I know what to watch out for.

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

Annabellethecat66 — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 23:25:57 GMT

Many Drs have told me over the years that when people are testing out these drugs, the drug company has to (by law) list every complication (or whatever happened) during the testing.

My son-in-law (in college) volunteered for some of the testing for cold medicines and a few other things (til my daughter put a stop to it).

He said he used to talk to some of the people who were volunteering. Some of them were hypochondriacs and thought they had some of just about everything. He said he stopped talking to people because he thought they were just weird.

I don't read those things. My Dr usually tells me (because they know ME) what to expect and look out for and what I should expect.

I don't take very many kinds of medicine. When my Dr tells me he/she would like for me to try something we talk about it and in the end I decide if I want to take it and how necessary it is.

I guess I'm lucky because I don't have much wrong with me. Recently the Dr said, "Why do you fight me on medicine?" I said, "When was the last time you subtracted a medicine"? He said, "Good point". Period.

I know people who take a medicine and then have to take another one to counter the first medicine. In the end we should listen to our Drs AND to our own bodies.

My grandmother raised me. She was 1/2 Cherokee Indian. She taught me lots of home remedies to use and to learn to listen to my body. That's what I try to do.

Incidentally, I'm going to my Drs tomorrow to pick up the free medicine he gives me because I won't take the generic brand and the original brand is over $300 per month. He gives me his free samples to take every month. No medicine should cost anyone $300 per month.

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

SilleeMee — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 23:28:04 GMT

It only bothers me when a drug that I have been prescribed causes side effects that require me to take another Rx med. To me that's just crazy.

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

Lindsays Grandma — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 23:38:33 GMT

@QVCkitty1 wrote:
I have been fortunate most of my life to need very few medications. That being said recently I was put on a BP med, that made my legs and ankles swell alarmingly. Then I was prescribed an antibiotic that made me break out in a rash that was so bad I look a bit like a burn victim. I take nothing for granted anymore, and .I know what to watch out for.

Was the BP med Benicar (sp)? I was on that one for a year and a new doctor took me off of it due to ankle swelling. BP meds have a diuretic in them, at least that is what I was told so there shouldn't be swelling. Hope all is good with you now.

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

proudlyfromNJ — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 23:42:27 GMT

They all say basically the same thing. They have to cover all bases and give every dire warning possible. The last one is usually death.

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

Lindsays Grandma — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 23:48:46 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 wrote:
Many Drs have told me over the years that when people are testing out these drugs, the drug company has to (by law) list every complication (or whatever happened) during the testing.

My son-in-law (in college) volunteered for some of the testing for cold medicines and a few other things (til my daughter put a stop to it).

He said he used to talk to some of the people who were volunteering. Some of them were hypochondriacs and thought they had some of just about everything. He said he stopped talking to people because he thought they were just weird.

I don't read those things. My Dr usually tells me (because they know ME) what to expect and look out for and what I should expect.

I don't take very many kinds of medicine. When my Dr tells me he/she would like for me to try something we talk about it and in the end I decide if I want to take it and how necessary it is.

I guess I'm lucky because I don't have much wrong with me. Recently the Dr said, "Why do you fight me on medicine?" I said, "When was the last time you subtracted a medicine"? He said, "Good point". Period.

I know people who take a medicine and then have to take another one to counter the first medicine. In the end we should listen to our Drs AND to our own bodies.

My grandmother raised me. She was 1/2 Cherokee Indian. She taught me lots of home remedies to use and to learn to listen to my body. That's what I try to do.

Incidentally, I'm going to my Drs tomorrow to pick up the free medicine he gives me because I won't take the generic brand and the original brand is over $300 per month. He gives me his free samples to take every month. No medicine should cost anyone $300 per month.

When my very close friend had cancer she had to take drugs that cost thousands a month. Fortunately she was able to get them free as many people do because pharmaceutical companies will allow it upon request for certain situations.

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

drizzellla — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 23:59:51 GMT

OOOOHHHH!

I never have a adverse side effect from a drug until I had to take Anastrozole.

I had breast cancer. And the Cancer Doctor put me on Anastrozole. He said I was to take it for 5 years and then later said maybe 10 years.

My right knee started killing me. Then my left foot started to hurt. I kept telling the Doctor about being barely able to walk. He changed my medication 2 times. He said the drug I am on now, I shouldn't have any trouble.

But I think because my right knee hurts so much, I am making my left knee do alot more work. So on occasion my left knee and left hip start to bother me.

When it first started hurting, my husband went on line to read reviews. And the first review he read said " this prescription has changed a 50 year old women into a 90 year old man". The prescription blocks estrogen production, therefore she feels like a man. That is exactly what I feel. I hobble around like I am 90 years old.

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

SeaMaiden — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 00:24:05 GMT

Yes. It is very important to me what I put in my body or not. I read everything about the drug....and ask lots of questions before I decide take something prescribed to me.

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

bonnielu — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 00:31:10 GMT

Doctors just love me. I take nothing theyy prescribe. Adverse effects for everything.

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

software — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 01:12:03 GMT

I take one prescription.

I noticed my hair was thinning.

That's something that can happen for a variety of reasons, but when I read the insert with the meds, that was the first side effect on the list.

I have to take the meds, I guess I can eventually buy a wig!

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 15:41:03 GMT

@Lindsays Grandma wrote:
A friend and I were having a discussion about the side effects included with our prescriptions. I don't think I want to read them anymore. Let's face it, some of those side effects sound worse than the disease the medication is supposed to cure. I will admit there were times I was hesitant to take the medication and I do realize the percentage of the effects rarely, if at all happens. Nevertheless, they are scary. Do they bother you?

@Lindsays Grandma

Um, not really ...... what bothers me most about prescription drugs is that not all of them have cheaper generic versions.

As for side effects, you should realize that this is a CYA situation required by the FDA. If one person in ten million gets a bad rash from a drug, do I care? Not really, because even inert chemicals and foods can trigger side effects in some people ..... some people die from eating even small amounts of peanut butter ..... or sunflower seeds ...... or taking an aspirin ..... Not a lot you can do about that.

My solution is simple ..... if I need to take a new medication, it must be something that's been on the market for at least five years, so we know how it reacts on the general public .... and, oh yes, it must have a generic.

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

151949 — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 11:59:50 GMT

@Lindsays Grandma wrote:
@QVCkitty1 wrote:
I have been fortunate most of my life to need very few medications. That being said recently I was put on a BP med, that made my legs and ankles swell alarmingly. Then I was prescribed an antibiotic that made me break out in a rash that was so bad I look a bit like a burn victim. I take nothing for granted anymore, and .I know what to watch out for.
Was the BP med Benicar (sp)? I was on that one for a year and a new doctor took me off of it due to ankle swelling. BP meds have a diuretic in them, at least that is what I was told so there shouldn't be swelling. Hope all is good with you now.

Not all BP meds have diuretics in them - however, Benicar does.

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

151949 — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 12:08:28 GMT

When I was in nursing shool we were required to memorize the side effects of our patients drugs. That was actually an impossible task as some of our patients took a lot of drugs. We quickly figured out that there were a large amount of standard side effects they all had, so those would be what we would say when the instructor asked us.

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

Eileen in Virginia — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 13:57:34 GMT

DH has psoriasis and his dermatologist suggested a prescription medication that had “death” as one of the more remote potential side effects. He didn’t take it, but mentioned it to his GP at his next appointment. The GP’s response was, “Nobody ever died from psoriasis.” And that was the end of that! 😉

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

hckynut — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 21:32:53 GMT

@Lindsays Grandma

I DO NOT take any medication, OTC or Prescription, without understanding their purpose, and also their possible side effects. I have taken many different prescription meds since my PE(lung blood clots) in 2002, and my following 2 heart attacks, the first being July 05, 2003.

Side effects possible? Of course. Did and do they bother me? Never to a point where I am worried about any of them. I ain't a person that needlessly worries about "could be's/might happen, or what has happened to others". Others have a different body and components than I do, thus different things effect some of them.

Too many using OTC and/or Prescription Meds, do not really, fully understand how they work, some not even sure why and what they are supposed to do. I have spent so much time around heart/lung/cancer and stroke patients that barely have a clue about much of anything to do with their issues, and that bothers me more than my possible side effects.

Everyone has to figure their risks out and decide which are the Positives versus the Negatives.

hckynut(john)

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

Lipstickdiva — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 15:53:00 GMT

I swear to you the older I get, the more the side effects get to me.

They could be the ones that say "few people reported X" and I will be one of those people.

I never read the side effects first because I don't want to get into my head that I will be one of those people. But when something starts to happen, I look up the side effects and sure enough, it's one listed.

Usually if something can cause a stomach issue of some kind, I'll get it. I've always had a sensitive stomach.

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

VaBelle35 — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 16:34:05 GMT

I read them cover to cover so that I have an idea of what to be on the lookout for.

Many years ago, when benzol peroxide was an Rx only drug, I was using it as prescribed by my derm.

I was having the most unbelievable hives.

I was at the doctor several times trying to figure it out and then I remembered reading something in passing in the insert. I went back to the pharmacy and requested another insert and sure enough 1 in 10,000 people have a reaction to using BP and cinnamon.

This was during the days of me adding cinnamon to my coffee and eating cinammon raising bagels. One day I had red hots and I was like a lobster in about 15 minutes.

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

BeccaLou — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 06:00:55 GMT

Prescriptions frighten me also. I have had some bad, bad reactions from plenty of medications. One really made me ill in the past.But some will probably save our lifes in the future, and maybe have up till now. Luck of the draw.

Re: PRESCRIPTION SIDE EFFECTS

lovesrecess — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 00:52:11 GMT

I hope you have made your dr aware of the swelling after taking the BP med. in my experience, most BP meds should have the opposite effect.