Re: Allergy

[Guest guest]

Side effects from a medication are different from an allergic reaction.

Definition of an allergic reaction from emedicinehealth:

An allergic reaction is the body's way of responding to an " invader. " When

the body senses a foreign substance, called an antigen, the immune system is

triggered. The immune system normally protects the body from harmful agents

such as bacteria and toxins. Its overreaction to a harmless substance (an

allergen) is called a hypersensitivity, or allergic, reaction.

• Anything can be an allergen. Common dust, pollen, plants, medications,

certain foods, insect venoms, viruses, or bacteria are examples of

allergens.

• Reactions may be in one spot, such as a small skin rash or itchy eyes, or

all over, as in a whole body rash.

• A reaction may include one or several symptoms.

In rare cases, an allergic reaction can be life threatening

(see Anaphylaxis). Each year in the United States, over 400 people die from

allergic reactions to penicillin, and over 50 people die from allergic

reactions to bee and fire ant stings.

Most allergic reactions are much less serious, such as a rash from poison

ivy or sneezing from hay fever. The reaction depends on the person but is

sometimes unpredictable.

For more information:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/allergic_reaction/article_em.htm

Kathy

________________________________________

From: ProstateCancerSupport

[mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of Rita and Bill

Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 1:40 PM

To: Prostatecancersupport

Subject: Allergy

Where a patient could be allergic to an administered drug, does anyone here

have any success in understanding or able to establish if you were/are

allergic to any suggested medicine if you had never been given the medicine

before? 

 

Is it just a matter of having such a severe reaction to those medicines

( that would not be in the physicians repertoire pertaining to that

particular medicine) that you would have to answer to the statement:.>  " if

you are allergic to this medicine, please contact your doctor

immediately " ? < That supposes you did not have pre knowledge and accepted

the medicine, and suffered effects other than the drugs known side effects?.

 

What is the purpose of using this statement  (in many if not all medicines)

 if it is a given that it had never been used before?   Does this propose a

guessing game that sometimes leads to unnecessary sickness and law suits

etc.?

 

Is it possible that some of the side effects to certain cancer drugs could

be an allergic reaction and not related to the drugs known side effects?

 

Bill.

 

[Guest guest]

Bill of " Rita and Bill " replied to me:

> Had a minute and thot I'd answer your prompt reply (alothough it is

> somewhat dated now) regarding wanting to know if anyone could tell " if

> they were allergic to a drug when they had not taken it? "

(snip)

> If I am not mistaken, every prescription written has a warning that if

> you are allergic to this prescription, please talk to your medical

> provider before taking this medication?

Probably true. So what's Bill's point?

> Good golly Molly all of this is illogical! What they (drug co.'s

> medicos etc) are saying, " we will not be responsible if you take this

> med. "

No, that is NOT what they say. They expect us patients to know what's what.

Most don't. That's not Pharma's fault. It it OUR fault.

WE are ultimately responsible for our outcomes.

> Who is kidding who? And if you are in the doctors office when he writes

> the prescription is he supposed to tell you something?

YES! You bet your life. Literally.

Pay attention. Research. Study. Learn. Take Charge. Do not depend upon a

medic to know all. That way lies disaster (unless the medic is an expert).

Regards,

Steve J

[Guest guest]

Well I disagree;;;;

Doctors can Pontificate all they want, but there is something wrong with this picture. The AMA fraternizes with the physician society and they in turn subscribe to the drug companies. Either we need to see doctors or we do not. Therefore you saying it is correct that we diagnose ourselves, prescribe for ourselves and the devil take the hindmost, is saying we don't need doctors? We go to the doctor because we are ailing, we should not intend to treat ourselves by trying to outsmart the doctor. It is obvious we should know the difference between medicine and poison? Trust is the key word here. They do not need the statement,"if you are allergic, do not take this medicine", when they know damn well you have never taken it in the first place.. Too many have taken a wrong medicine and became violently sick!

Trying to be my own doctor does not work for me thank you. But that does not preclude questioning everything, and knowing your own body's needs. With the hope you don't die from a bad decision, either yours or theirs.

The AMA in their zealous endeavour to keep THEIR system working, have made you and so many others believe what you say. No one can be 100% certain when you make your own choices.

I believe, it (AMA) needs to rewrite its medical directions , including more compassion, more TEAM work (where they have some sort of misconception is the norm---which is not) , and perhaps take some blame for what is the doctor/patient system currently being the protocol used in todays healing. Most just throw drugs at a patient and send them home. Thus you could take or not take prescribed medicine just to test any allergic reaction that you believe you and you alone have decided will work for you or not.

For crying out loud, one does not need to return to the days of a charlatan selling an elixer from the back of a wagon, or witch doctors blowing smoke into the air. And that is all one could expect by trying to define ones medical need and acting on their own initiative. Without a current PDA and reference to known statistics concerning a disease, and years of study, all a doctor would need to practise medicine would be to prescribe aspirin and "call me in the morning". And that surely is not what is going on, but in some cases is.

We either want and need to trust the medical facilities, who inadvertently have made their practise nothing more than a money pit to pay back what they believe they endured to practise in the first place and must take on too many patients to meet their bottom line, or become doctors ourselves. That just does not relate to rational thinking.

That is all I am going to say about this ' no answer' conundrum.

There is no need to continue beating a dead horse! and....I hope you are able to enjoy some good days with the bad in your struggle with this disease.

regards

Bill.

Re: Allergy

Bill of "Rita and Bill" replied to me:> Had a minute and thot I'd answer your prompt reply (alothough it is > somewhat dated now) regarding wanting to know if anyone could tell " if > they were allergic to a drug when they had not taken it? "(snip)> If I am not mistaken, every prescription written has a warning that if > you are allergic to this prescription, please talk to your medical > provider before taking this medication?Probably true. So what's Bill's point?> Good golly Molly all of this is illogical! What they (drug co.'s > medicos etc) are saying," we will not be responsible if you take this > med. "No, that is NOT what they say. They expect us patients to know what's what.Most don't. That's not Pharma's fault. It it OUR fault.WE are ultimately responsible for our outcomes.> Who is kidding who? And if you are in the doctors office when he writes > the prescription is he supposed to tell you something?YES! You bet your life. Literally.Pay attention. Research. Study. Learn. Take Charge. Do not depend upon a medic to know all. That way lies disaster (unless the medic is an expert).Regards,Steve J