Wellness

[BeccaLou]

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

[golding76]

becca lou,

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

[phoenixbrd]

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

[CatLoverDogsToo]

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

[BirkiLady]

@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.   

[Love my grandkids]

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.

[speedy girl]

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. 

[hckynut]

@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)

[Azcowgirl]

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.

[gidgetgh]

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.