Back in May, my husband hurt his back and spent a couple of weeks in agonizing pain. He saw two different doctors for the problem and both prescribed painkillers/anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers. The medications left him with dry mouth, stomach cramps and grogginess. The side effects were so bothersome that he ended up stopping the prescriptions and searching for other methods to relieve his pain.
I myself have switched to mostly herbal and alternative treatments for common ailments, because I seem to be particularly sensitive to the side effects of medication. For example, my previous doctor recommended I take a preventative for my migraines, decongestants and nasal steroids for my sinus pain and anti-inflammatories for my joint pain.
The migraine med left me so disoriented I could barely function, the decongestants and nasal sprays dried me out so much I ended up with a whopping sinus infection, and the anti-inflammatories upset my stomach. And the antibiotics prescribed for the sinus infection? Those did horrible things to me too. When I went back to see my doctor and mentioned that the side effects were causing me distress, she said that she suspected that I wouldn't be able to handle them.
That would have been nice to know ahead of time. Instead, I went to the office feeling like crap, took a bunch of medications that made me feel even more like crap, and only felt better once I stopped all the pills and sprays.
Check out this great article from Prevention Magazine on polypharmacy (the use of multiple medications) and it's potential to make you feel bad. The woman in the article was seeing five different doctors who prescribed a total of twenty-one different medications for various ailments. Besides wondering how she pays all her co-pays, how do you keep track of what you took and what you still need to take? And with that many medications on board, is it any wonder that some or all may be causing uncomfortable side effects?
If you take multiple medications, the article is worth a read, particularly if you also see multiple doctors. Are all your doctors aware of everything in your medicine cabinet? If you fill your meds at different pharmacies, do they all have a complete list of your medications, in order to avoid contraindications? What are the chances that your bothersome symptoms are really side effects from one or more medications?
As for me, I'm staying away from the pills and I feel a thousand times better. I still take a thyroid hormone supplement, but I'm managing my sinus problems with side effect free saline sprays (which are also cheap), and perhaps not coincidentally, I haven't had a migraine since then either. I've made some dietary changes to control my joint pain, and swapped running for lower impact exercise. Most importantly, I left my pill pushing doctor behind and found a practitioner who is willing to listen to me and try alternative treatments instead of reaching for her prescription pad.
How about you? Do you take multiple medications and do you have problems with side effects?
I myself have switched to mostly herbal and alternative treatments for common ailments, because I seem to be particularly sensitive to the side effects of medication. For example, my previous doctor recommended I take a preventative for my migraines, decongestants and nasal steroids for my sinus pain and anti-inflammatories for my joint pain.
The migraine med left me so disoriented I could barely function, the decongestants and nasal sprays dried me out so much I ended up with a whopping sinus infection, and the anti-inflammatories upset my stomach. And the antibiotics prescribed for the sinus infection? Those did horrible things to me too. When I went back to see my doctor and mentioned that the side effects were causing me distress, she said that she suspected that I wouldn't be able to handle them.
That would have been nice to know ahead of time. Instead, I went to the office feeling like crap, took a bunch of medications that made me feel even more like crap, and only felt better once I stopped all the pills and sprays.
Check out this great article from Prevention Magazine on polypharmacy (the use of multiple medications) and it's potential to make you feel bad. The woman in the article was seeing five different doctors who prescribed a total of twenty-one different medications for various ailments. Besides wondering how she pays all her co-pays, how do you keep track of what you took and what you still need to take? And with that many medications on board, is it any wonder that some or all may be causing uncomfortable side effects?
If you take multiple medications, the article is worth a read, particularly if you also see multiple doctors. Are all your doctors aware of everything in your medicine cabinet? If you fill your meds at different pharmacies, do they all have a complete list of your medications, in order to avoid contraindications? What are the chances that your bothersome symptoms are really side effects from one or more medications?
As for me, I'm staying away from the pills and I feel a thousand times better. I still take a thyroid hormone supplement, but I'm managing my sinus problems with side effect free saline sprays (which are also cheap), and perhaps not coincidentally, I haven't had a migraine since then either. I've made some dietary changes to control my joint pain, and swapped running for lower impact exercise. Most importantly, I left my pill pushing doctor behind and found a practitioner who is willing to listen to me and try alternative treatments instead of reaching for her prescription pad.
How about you? Do you take multiple medications and do you have problems with side effects?
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4 comments:
God post! It is very important that one pay attention to their body....how are you reacting? A nice reminder!
I was on three different kinds of birth control when Ken and I were married...little did we know...anyway,they made me so tired and cranky...I hated feeling like there was a chemical in my body, now, I just take Midol for cramps and excedrin when my head feels like its going to explode...
Oh, I drink aloe vera juice for my tummy/intestines....yummy and so soothing!!!
I stay away from all pharmaceuticals unless there is no other option. We are very lucky that we are all extremely healthy.
But, my grandpa had heart surgery last year and they put him on many various medications for pain, sleep, blood thinning, etc...and guess what? He became addicted to pain killers. That is a horrible thing to do to an 84 year old man. His new doctor was horrified. It has been 7 months, and he is finally feeling better...no more withdrawal.
I wish more people realized that pharmaceutical drugs are not always safe...even when prescribed by a dr.
Been there...done that...still trying to find my way out of it all...
I did find an excellent doctor who is an internist but beleives that far too many people are put on perscriptions when there are other alternatives. PERFECT!! I'm excited to dig deeper into this hormone thing I've been dealing with.
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