WARNING on medicines

[Guest guest]

To all,

If anyone tells you (or seems to tell you like I may at times) to come off of a

medicine your doctor has prescribed -

DON " T DO ANYTHING without talking to your doctor (the one who prescribed it

in the first place). Suddenly stopping many medicines can be extremely bad for

you. In many cases, even if the doctor wants you to come off one or another, it

may have to be done gradually over a period of time. Even if a doctor tells you

to stop a medicine, be sure that they tell the first doctor or you tell them

yourself.

The regular list members (like me) are ONLY telling you of their experiences and

may not apply to your case. With MSA EVERY case is different. If you question

something talk to your M.D. - don't act first, talk to your doctor.

The things I put on the list about medicines are from the same types of sheet

you get with your prescription and you should look at. If you start having side

effects, you should know in advance if that particular side effect means:

* call the doctor immediately, if you can't get ahold of them go to the ER

* call the doctor immediately to let them know

* call the doctor when you get a chance

* tell the doctor at the next visit.

You MUST form a partnership or team with your doctor(s) and be a team player.

You have to keep them informed as to what is going on. The best way to do this

is to keep notes:

* Always write down questions (we keep a white board - about $20 with four

multi-colored markers), then once a day or once a week I transfer them to the

word processor.

* A week before a doctor's appointment - I condense the questions and

organize them into no more than one page using things like dyskinesia is worse

all day, speech is worse at night, BP is more stable, etc. The one page should

include any questions we have. Make two copies, one for the doctor and one for

you.

* The day before the doctor's appoinment, I check ALL prescriptions to see if

they will last untill the next regular doctor appoinment (usually 4 months) and

write down which ones I will need before then - first thing to give doctor.

* At doctor's - make sure you get all questions answered (I write answers on

back of my copy). Make sure you get all prescriptions and directions clear. If

the doctor prescribes a new medicine don't ASSUME that they remember all the

medicines you are on (you may even not have told them about something another

doctor gave you, or they may forget) tell them you are taking a lot of medicines

and wonder about interactions - that is a way of jogging their memory and they

will probably ask what you are on at that point. YOU MUST also tell your doctor

about any vitamins, supplements, herbs, etc. you are taking, they do not know

what you take at home and it could interfere with what they are giving you.

* At phamacy with new RX make up a note ahead of time with all the medicines

you are on and a note asking the phamacist about interactions with the new

medicine as a precaution. The phamacist is the best one to determine if there

are interactions - they have that info handy (and they know more about the

chemistry).

By following these guidelines, you can best protect yourself against ANY

problems with medications. A simple thing like taking a vitamin can cause

something important like an antibiotic from working. Become a team member with

your doctor(s).

Take care, Bill and Charlotte