Re: Becoming smart about your medications

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/14/2004 12:43:01 AM Pacific Standard Time,

d.carron@... writes:

www.citizen.org/eletter/drugworksheet.htm

Thanks for these websites, Dolores. The one above I am definitely going to

do TODAY; I have always intended to write down this information but just

never did so this will make it easy. I'm going to send the form to my Dad also

so the woman who comes once a week and does his meds can fill it out. I will

include the list of Questions too; I'm always concerned when his different

doctors add another medication.

This is great information that Thurza could include in the Synapse

Newsletter too (at least I think so).

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Dear Dolores,

Thank you so much for all the important information you give everyone here.

You are always so helpful! I have to comment on this subject because of a

recent experience I have had.

I have ALS and was given lorazapem(ativan) in May to help with anxiety and

sleep because of shortness of breath at night. I took my required dose

trusting my doctor's recommendation. I never bothered to ask my doctor any

questions, which was quite foolish! After 6 weeks the effectiveness wore off

so my doctor advised me to increase dosage. After another 6 weeks my system

became intolerant again so my doctor advised me to start a new prescription

of temazapem(restoril) which is in the same family of benzodiazepines.

I really had no idea that these drugs were very addictive and the

effectiveness wears off over time. It wasn't until a friend told me that

ativan and restoril are very addicting and why I was taking this? I looked

up on the internet what the side effects are. I found out I was indeed

addicted to the lorazapem and I had built up an intolerance to the drug. I

was very upset because I trusted my doctor and now had to deal with an

addiction I had no idea I would have by taking this med. I tried calling my

doctor to see what I should do. She never returned my call so I just stopped

taking it. It wasn't really helping with my sleep problem anyway. Another

big mistake I had made. I became very sick and I am still having problems.

I have learned a big lesson and will never be so trustworthy with my

doctor! I have hopefully learned to ask questions and investigate even

further when it comes to my health and well being.

Dolores, thank you so much for all the great advice you give us and thank

you for listening to my story.

N.

Becoming smart about your medications

The December 2004 issue of Money magazine has a worthwhile article about

recent concerns of new drugs and their safety and side effects. Many were

devastated to learn of the adverse effects of Vioxx on the heart. We wonder

how this can happen. One problem is that the clinical trials that lead to

government approval of drugs are conducted in relatively idealized

populations and only for a limited time. So when a drug hits the general

population, the variations among us--race, gender, age, weight, health

conditions--can bring to light previously undetected side effects. On top of

that are all the other drug interactions you need to be aware of in an

increasingly medicated age. Now, more than ever, it's important to take an

active role in understanding the risks of your medications. A study of 548

new drugs approved by the FDA between 1975 and 1999 showed that the worst

adverse side effects weren't known for about seven years. It's easy to be

impressed with a new remedy, but often, the older more established medicines

will do just fine with less risk.

Of course, you can't turn yourself into a physician or pharmacologist, but

you can follow a few prudent practices and use a growing number of online

resources to find the right questions to ask before popping those pills.

Here is a checklist of things to ask your doctor whenever he or she

recommends that you begin a new drug.

Why do I need this drug?

Are there non-drug therapies that I can try instead?

How will it interact with medications I am presently taking (including

over the counter medication, vitamin, and mineral supplements)?

What are the risks and side effects of this drug?

How is this an improvement over existing drugs?

Can I take a lower dose?

Can I discontinue another drug?

Most of us can't name a complete list of what we are taking--name of drug,

dosage, strength, etc. To prevent potential drug interactions, you should

have a printed list, including over the counter medications, and take it to

every doctor you consult. You can find a sample medication record sheet at

www.citizen.org/eletter/drugworksheet.htm . If you can't do this, put all

your pills in a bag and bring them to your doctor(s).

Gather as much information about the drug as you can. Some suggested

websites are: www.pdrhealth.com , www.clinicalstudyresults.org ,

www.fda.gov/medwatch , www.medlineplus.gov , and www.worstpills.org . Don't

rely on just one reference; get as much information as you can. Each site is

unique in the type of information it gives.

Dolores Carron

[Guest guest]

In PLS-FRIENDS , " Dolores Carron " <d.carron@w...>

wrote:

To prevent potential drug interactions, you should have a printed

list, including over the counter medications, and take it to every

doctor you consult.---

My late father taught me to make a list of all meds. He was

seriously ill with a very bad heart for years, and always carried a

list of his medications...not only for the doctors; but in case of an

emergency, it was important for anyone helping him to know what type

of meds he was on. He also gave me the gift of optimism. No matter

how bad things got for him, he just knew tomorrow would be better.

Good advice for all of us.

Marlis