topic Re: "Is it Just Me ? in Wellness

"Is it Just Me ?

BeccaLou — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 03:51:46 GMT

Has anyone else had a fear of taking a new medication ?

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

golding76 — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 04:01:39 GMT

becca lou,

Like you, I loathe taking any new medication. You are not alone.

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

phoenixbrd — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 12:16:07 GMT

I don't take any medication, and a new medicine would, yes, be cause for concern.

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

CatLoverDogsToo — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 04:07:06 GMT

@BeccaLou: You are not alone, I am very hesitant to take new medications.

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

BirkiLady — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 04:17:10 GMT

@BeccaLou Of course. My physician goes over it. I ask questions. My pharmacist goes over it with more details. I ask additional questions. When I return home, there is a print-out with ALL kinds of information about the medication. Then, I have even additional questions. I end up on the computer researching it further. In the end, I trust both my physician(s) and my local pharmacist! I take is as prescribed. A couple of times, I've had problems. With a little additional advice from my physician I've been able to continue taking the med.

About 10 years ago, had trouble with several anti-seizure meds which were not tolerable at all. Those were discontinued within a matter of days and different meds tried until a good "cocktail" of meds worked for my system. Sometimes, it's trial and error.

I also had trouble with Metformin side effects. Once I was provided Metformin ER (extended release), I was fine. I do take it immediate when I get up and head for the kitchen to fix my oatmeal. My physican said to eat within 30 minutes, but I need food quicker than that! Into the microwave for me.

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

Love my grandkids — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 04:23:39 GMT

No fear because: My PCP and oncologist know me well and have my complete history. I ask lots of questions and they give me all the information I need, and sometimes MORE than I need! I have complete faith in them.

So no fear, but I do make sure I am well informed.

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

speedy girl — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 05:46:35 GMT

I'm just like you. I am always very nervous about taking a new medication. I trust my Doctor and her judgement but I am just worried about how my system might react to something I've never had before.

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

hckynut — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 06:44:25 GMT

@BeccaLou

Even though I am on several prescription meds, all of them have been around for quote a while. Some of the new(er) meds that are available now for medical problems I have encountered? A couple of them ain't no way I would ever take them. Fear? No, just know the "old" ones I am now taking, are working just fine for me. I talked about the word "fear" in another thread that had the word in its title, I believe.

hckynut(john)

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

Azcowgirl — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 06:51:57 GMT

Yes it does concern me because the list of side effects are often pretty shocking. So, I do lots of research and discuss with my drs, also Son is a pharmacist so I can call him with questions too.

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

gidgetgh — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 12:26:30 GMT

You’re not alone.

Back in the mid 90’s I had a major reaction to a prescription. Took the first pill and within an hour had the “rare side effects”. It was horrible. Took a full 24 hours for it to wear off. Since then I’m very skittish when starting anything new.

There are several antibiotics that I’ve had problems with. And, I can’t take cortisone at all. After my last cortisone shot in my knee, 12 years ago, I had a major reaction. My husband almost called 911. When I called my surgeon the next morning he said to me “never, ever, ever again take cortisone”. And so I haven’t.

I can’t take oral steroids either. Tried prednisone once back in the early 90’s. The doctor took me off of them after day 3. I just couldn’t handle them.

I have problems with Tylenol for goodness sake. Makes me dizzy. I can only take one Advil at a time so I stay away from them. I won’t even try Aleve.

If I take something like NyQuil, it has the opposite effect and I don’t sleep at all. If I take something like DayQuil it makes me drowsy. Back when Zyrtec was prescription only, I took it for the first time and barely made it to the couch and slept for the rest of the day and that night. I’ve never taken that again.

I’ve had trouble with prescription anti inflammatories also.

However, my prescription migraine medication which should cause drowsiness and stuff doesn’t. And I’m happy about that.

I am my mother’s daughter. She had problems with medications and so do I. It’s frustrating sometimes because when you tell the doctor, you can see them fighting the urge to roll their eyes. I understand their frustration as it frustrates me also.

So there is my long answer. Yes, I am very hesitant to take medications I haven’t taken before.

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

kelsey17 — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 13:26:00 GMT

I am on quite a few meds and i have have several reactions...last year ended up in the hospital for 4 days with a medication reaction ( i had never had before)....so EXTREMELY nervous....but unfortunately...have to try them for health reasons....

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

SilleeMee — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 14:03:59 GMT

No, I don't do things or take stuff deliberately that is dangerous, painful, or threatening.

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

Luvtuna — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 18:00:05 GMT

@BeccaLou wrote:
Has anyone else had a fear of taking a new medication ?

Yes. After a bad side effect from taking Cipro. Also I was a kidney donor and some medicine is filtered through the kidneys so I try not to take any prescription medicine except for my Synthroid.

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

AngelPuppy1 — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 18:53:07 GMT

No, I don't think it's just you. it's really terrifying to be prescribed another new pill. I recently was and after I thought long and hard about it and read a lot about it, I decided I was not going to go there! It was not a medication that was going to make a difference in my health -- such as life or death --- so I weighed the pros and cons -- and decided there were more cons than pros. Doubtless my dr. will give me grief the next time I see her but it's my body and I am the one who has to suffer the consequenes, so, there you go. Not that I don't value medical opinions and expertise, but I feel we have to use our own judgments as well.

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

Renata22 — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 19:03:15 GMT

Yes, I'm right there with you all who don't like new meds. I read the side effects and they seem worse than what I'm trying to cure. I recently got a script for restless legs. I read and said no way, very scary things can happen with that stuff. The doc didn't seem surprised when I told him I was afraid to try it. I'll deal with the itchy legs.

Some of you have really had some awful reactions! Scary stuff.

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

BirkiLady — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 21:34:47 GMT

@Luvtuna Thanks for being a kidney donor. I have signed all paperwork (and my family has approved and signed with their approvals) years ago for donation of my body to University of Nebraska Medical Center's Donation Program. Several years later, my next door neighbor became a receipent of a transplant! Amazing programs due to amazing physicans and loving families. Thanks, again.

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

VanSleepy — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 22:37:31 GMT

Take one pill, then have to take another pill to counteract the side effects of the first one. No thanks. Unless it's absolutely necessary and life saving, you can keep it.

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

Still Raining — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 23:02:36 GMT

Not scared usually since I need or chose them. What I have learned is to never try more than one a month. Takes a while to see how you are affected.

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qvcaddition — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 01:26:32 GMT

After I read the side effects, I usually won,t take it. I only take one medication, my synthroid, since in my 20,s. How 82. Once in awhile, my water detention pill, but only half tablet.

I do take loads of Dr. LessmaN vits. Start in morning and finally finish at night.

Re: "Is it Just Me ?

Luvtuna — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 19:53:53 GMT

@BirkiLady wrote:
@Luvtuna Thanks for being a kidney donor. I have signed all paperwork (and my family has approved and signed with their approvals) years ago for donation of my body to University of Nebraska Medical Center's Donation Program. Several years later, my next door neighbor became a receipent of a transplant! Amazing programs due to amazing physicans and loving families. Thanks, again.

@BirkiLady Thank you for the post and thank you for what you are doing also.