Do you check to make sure otc or prescription meds are safe for you to take?

[browneyes]

My SO's cousin's dd died this past Friday. She was just 24 yo. Evidentally, she took 4 presciption strength benadryls. She was asthamatic. Asthamatics aren't supposed to take benadryl-it closes up the bronchial tubes. I'm not sure if the prescription was hers, I'd assume it wasn't. She had a bad sinus infection and took the med to feel better. She died in her sleep. Her 19 yo sister gave her the med upon her request, and she's also the one that found her dead.

Please look on the labels of otc meds and remind your dr if you have other health ailments.

 

[Serena]

That's awful! I'm sorry Shannon.

 

[JasonLyons]

I always take more then I am suppose to because I am a man

 

[browneyes]

Jason, don't take more than you're supposed to. No matter how bad you feel, don't. Please.

Thanks Laurie. Her mom is still in a lot of shock. I was shocked when I heard she had died. I just saw her a couple of days before she died.

 

[Pin Wizard]

What a tragedy! I check the labels. I know that certain OTC's don't go with a couple medical conditions I have. I was shocked the first time a doc told me to take something for allergy type stuff. I think I took it that time but never again. I'd rather suffer than take it. Sometimes you wonder what they're thinking.

 

[C.Ann]

I always check everything because I am particularly medication sensitive and have almost died on two different occasions from meds that gave me a bad reaction..

I also check my scripts before I leave the drug store too because in a short 2-month period I was given the WRONG prescription medication TWICE - in TWO different pharmacies!

That's so sad about that young lady.. Sometimes folks think if "some" is good, then "more" is better - and it usually ends tragically..

I'll say a prayer for that young lady and her family tonight.. So sad..

 

[Jakk]

That is so sad. My sympathy to you on your loss. Yes, I do check all rx's very carefully. My ds is allergic to some medications and on two separate occassions the pharmacy gave him the incorrect meds. His Dr. always gives me very specific information about each rx otherwise I may not have caught it.

 

[shep]

Sorry Shannon...
I only check for dd's..
I rarely take medicine.. (because I am a man)

 

[nativetxn]

How sad, Shannon. I'm so sorry to hear about your cousin

This is excellent advice, even otc meds can be dangerous

 

[DocRafiki]

That is horribly sad.

 

[Poohshoney]

I have lots of allergies and my dentist prescribed me something last week that's still making my blood run cold. I never take anything without reading all the notes first and it really paid off this time - `not to be taken by anyone allergic to pineapple´ was written in LARGE bold capitals across the top. My allergies are all over my dental notes in big red letters, fruit is one of the first as it's one of the serious ones and yet....

A big thanks for the heads up on Benadryl browneyes! I'm a Brit, I see it mentioned all the time in trip reports and made a mental note of it but I'm asthmatic so I know now to steer clear of it.

 

[helenabear]

So sorry to hear this happened I do check my otc stuff that I take every time I get a new box just to make sure it is okay.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

So sorry for your loss Browneyes. My dd has asthma mild but all the same I will steer clear. Thank You
And yes I thoughly read prior to taking all meds. I even call the pharmacy if I am unclear.

 

[browneyes]

Thanks for the condolences everyone. It's a sad story. I hope none of you have to go through what her parents are going through.

Poohshoney, when I heard she died from taking cold/allergy meds, I thought it might be Nyquil. Nyquil has a bunch of warnings on the back label about taking it. It doesn't say why though. I know asthma is one of the illnesses that is listed on it.

 

[Tony-NJ]

How tragic!

 

[dizneenut]

I'm sorry, Shannon. That is so sad.
{{{hugs}}}
I always read the labels.

 

[bumcat]

I am so sorry to hear that.
I have 3 kids with asthma and there are alot of over the counter drugs they can not take. We always check the labels.

 

[luvwinnie]

What a tragedy. Was it OTC Benadryl? You said "prescription strength"...I don't think anyone is supposed to take FOUR. So sad.

 

[doxdogy]

So sorry for your loss. I always check our meds. Our pharmacist is really good about telling us if something won't mix right with another perscription. DD's mother had an aneurysm in January, she stopped taking her high blood pressure medication (she didn't like the way it made her feel). On the night she had the aneurysm, she took OTC sinus medication. She did survive but, she will never be able to work again, short term memory is almost non-existent and she has a myriad of other problems too. I learned something watching TV regarding the medication I take. Grapefruit can interact with the effectiveness of the medication. I don't eat grapefruit so it has never been a problem for me.

 

[browneyes]

Doxdogy, sorry about your dd's mother. My mom won't eat grapefruit because she heard it has a bad side affect with something she's taking also.

Luvwinnie, someone in the family told my SO she had taken presciption strength benadryl. I don't know if she had a prescription for it (not sure why a dr would give her one since she's asthmatic), if she "borrowed" someone else's prescription, or if she had an OTC benadryl that was labeled prescription strength (not sure if they have that). I do know she took 4 at one time. No one should take that many at 1 time, an asthmatic shouldn't even take 1.