Taking Daily Medications?

[badblackpug]

I'm an RN also. I don't take any medicines on a daily basis, but I don't understand the people who won't take them, especially when they need them, then come in to the ER with complaints directly related to NOT taking those medications. My favorite comment is, "I stopped taking my (insert medicine here) because I felt better." Ummm... yes, you felt better because you were taking the medicine. It also amazes me what people think are addictive. Proton pump inhibitors are NOT addictive, however, oxycontin and percocet are.

I had this discussion many years ago with my mother when she was 1st diagnosed with high blood pressure. She said she didn't want to take pills every day. For no other reason than she just didn't want to. I told her, "don't worry about it. Don't take them, after you have your stroke the nurses at the home will crush them and shove them in your feeding tube." She told me I was horrible, but she takes her medicine every day.

 

[Christine]

You sound like me. The reason I've never had a problem taking my Armour thyroid is because it's natural and not made synthetically.

You do know that it is made in lab with synthetic materials. The active ingredient is made from bovine thyroid glands--which absolutely freaks my endocrinologist out because of the use of bovine thyroid glands and what could be lurking in them.

 

[rwdavis2]

I'm an RN also. I don't take any medicines on a daily basis, but I don't understand the people who won't take them, especially when they need them, then come in to the ER with complaints directly related to NOT taking those medications. My favorite comment is, "I stopped taking my (insert medicine here) because I felt better." Ummm... yes, you felt better because you were taking the medicine. It also amazes me what people think are addictive. Proton pump inhibitors are NOT addictive, however, oxycontin and percocet are.

I had this discussion many years ago with my mother when she was 1st diagnosed with high blood pressure. She said she didn't want to take pills every day. For no other reason than she just didn't want to. I told her, "don't worry about it. Don't take them, after you have your stroke the nurses at the home will crush them and shove them in your feeding tube." She told me I was horrible, but she takes her medicine every day.

I love this attitude. My wife is a nurse anesthetist and runs into this with her patients all the time. She can't understand it either. She also runs into with issues with people taking "natural" remedies. Most people don't realize the unregulated supplements can be an issue as much as regular medications especially if they don't tell their medical provider about them. She's had several close calls with patients that did not tell her about these "natural" drugs when the caused anesthesia complications.

Also, the folks in this thread that don't take their ulcer/reflux meds regularly are flirting with hiatal hernia complications such as Barret's esophagus which can lead to cancer. Just because you don't experience heartburn does not mean you don't have reflux.
BD

 

[Christine]

Also, the folks in this thread that don't take their ulcer/reflux meds regularly are flirting with hiatal hernia complications such as Barret's esophagus which can lead to cancer. Just because you don't experience heartburn does not mean you don't have reflux.
BD

I'm not sure if your statement is directed at my earlier post regarding the fact that I am weaning myself off and feel that in some cases the PPIs are overprescribed.

Back in 1998, I contracted giardia, which as you can imagine wreaked havoc with my digestive tract. I lost 25 lbs in 2 months, had nausea, diarrhea, you name it. With a prescription med, we got the giardia cleared up; however, I was left with a constant feeling of fullness and couldn't really eat well. My gastro was perplexed. He did an upper GI and couldn't really find anything wrong with me (no evidence of reflux) however, he though acid in the stomach may be the culprit.

He prescribed Prilosec and it did help. The problem is, when I try to stop taking it now, I get the reported side effect of this drug use which is horrible acid rebound. Acid like I've never experienced. So I am trying to taper off this medication because I really never had a true reflux diagnosis. I'm sure there are many others who have been put on it and don't really have reflux but most patients do. In those cases, with documented reflux, you should not stop the medication.

 

[Mermaid02]

I take asthma and allergy medication daily. It has improved the quality of my life immensely. Do I like taking it daily, nope, it can be a pain in the butt- however it's worth it.

 

[golfgal]

I take synthroid daily because I prefer not to die quite yet. I take OTC Claritin as needed for allergy symptoms but I can't take it every day or I get a bloody nose. I take Advil if I have a real need for it-bad headache, etc. I am not a 'pill pusher" but I certainly don't understand people that won't take meds that are there to make their life better or to save their lives.

Natural remedies are no better then taking meds or not (other than controlling diabetes with diet, etc.). Most medications are plant based to begin with and many of the "natural" remedies you use are the same things used in medications.

I also don't understand why people will suffer in pain because they don't want to take an antibiotic or other medication. Is your well being really worth that? What about the side effects of NOT taking care of an ear infection or strep throat? Those are worse then taking medications-loss of hearing, heart issues, etc. It seems silly not to take an antibiotic for a week or two vs having to deal with life long complications that could have easily been prevented.

 

[gillep]

In 6 days I will be 23 years post liver transplant and doing extremely well Without my daily medication I would not be alive today. When I first had my transplant I was taking about 30 medications now I am down to one medication each day plus my birth control.

 

[Pigeon]

I take Femara and Restasis.

I don't like taking them, but the benefits for both outweigh the negatives. If there were a natural alternative that was demonstrated to work as well, I'd be all for that. I have pretty bad dry eye and tried every non-prescription lubricant before I went on Restasis.

In general, I try to avoid taking drugs, but if it's essential, I'll do it.

What I do resent are the prescription drugs that go off prescription. The pharmaceutical companies patent a minor variation and push docs to prescribe it instead of the now OTC meds, which work just about as well.

 

[136368]

For me, it depends on the medication's taste. One med I used to take was coated in sweet, sweet sugar - no problem there! Another was seemingly coated in poison

 

[MushyMushy]

Which day Mushy? If you don't mind me asking. I tend to forget. And I would like to wish it to you.

You're so sweet! It's Friday the 11th.

 

[rwdavis2]

I'm not sure if your statement is directed at my earlier post regarding the fact that I am weaning myself off and feel that in some cases the PPIs are overprescribed.

Back in 1998, I contracted giardia, which as you can imagine wreaked havoc with my digestive tract. I lost 25 lbs in 2 months, had nausea, diarrhea, you name it. With a prescription med, we got the giardia cleared up; however, I was left with a constant feeling of fullness and couldn't really eat well. My gastro was perplexed. He did an upper GI and couldn't really find anything wrong with me (no evidence of reflux) however, he though acid in the stomach may be the culprit.

He prescribed Prilosec and it did help. The problem is, when I try to stop taking it now, I get the reported side effect of this drug use which is horrible acid rebound. Acid like I've never experienced. So I am trying to taper off this medication because I really never had a true reflux diagnosis. I'm sure there are many others who have been put on it and don't really have reflux but most patients do. In those cases, with documented reflux, you should not stop the medication.

No. Just people that stop taking meds because they feel better. I just happen to have experience with my example.

 

[palavra]

I've had hypertension problems since I was in my twenties and I take some medications for that. I don't like it because I think that they cause side effects but I don't see any options. Losing weight and changing lifestyle didn't seem to make a bit of difference.

I do hesitate when taking other stuff because I have to worry about reactions. It's a pain because I also have chronic allergy problems and many of those medications are supposed to be bad. I'm a mess.

Welcome to another mess! I have had high blood pressure due to PCOS since I was in my early twenties. I take hypertension medication and a medication for fibromyalgia each day. I am so grateful for these medication! Not only will I live longer (I hope) but my daily pain is controlled much better now.

 

[5 for WDW]

I take asthma and allergy medication daily. It has improved the quality of my life immensely. Do I like taking it daily, nope, it can be a pain in the butt- however it's worth it.

Ditto

 

[MIGrandma]

I'm 53 and I take metformin and glyburide for diabetes, hydrochlorothyazide and lisinopril for blood pressure, levothyroxin for thyroid, tricor for cholesterol, a daily multivitamin and a daily low dose aspirin.

What do I think about it? Well, I'm glad they are available for people like myself who need them. I would like to get off the diabetic medications, and am working on diet/exercise more so hopefully if I lose another 30 pounds or so I'll be able to control the blood glucose levels with just diet and exercise. It would be wonderful to not have to take those medications every day.

I doubt I will ever be able to get off the blood pressure medications, and I know it's not because of my weight that I have to take them. I was borderline high when I was 18 and weighed 115 pounds. Same with the cholesterol medication, my parents both took/take them and neither are/were overweight. Mom is 5'2" and 100 pounds dripping wet. I know my weight contributes a lot, but I'm sure genetics plays a big part as well.

DH is also 53 and takes Prilosec daily (his doctor prescribed it, and he takes it daily as well), and just recently started taking Pravastatin for his triglycerides as well. If he would watch his diet and exercise more he could probably stop taking that one.

 

[Minnie]

Im highly sensitive to meds and was hospitalized this summer due to side effects from antibiotics.... However i do take 3 daily meeds.

I do not understand why other than no benefit or bad side effects someone would choose not to take the meds I crush all meds and yes they taste nasty but still...

Also why no problems with taking alcohol or food ingredients that are terrible for you but not meds

 

[honugirl]

I know for me, part of the resistance is that I'm tired of being so different from everyone else. Some days I just want to be normal! I just want to be like 90% of people my age that get to get up every morning and not worry about having to take their meds. I don't like being the one in class that has to take meds to make it through. I don't like not being able to do the things I want to do because of my disease. I just want to live a normal of a life as possible and every time I reach for the meds, it reminds me that I'm not living a normal life and I never will. In my head I know that I have to take the meds to achieve the level of normalcy that I have now, but it's still really hard. It's that smack in the face every day that the bell tolls for me and I never know when death is coming. Scary thought when you're only in your 30's!

 

[rie'smom]

You do know that it is made in lab with synthetic materials. The active ingredient is made from bovine thyroid glands--which absolutely freaks my endocrinologist out because of the use of bovine thyroid glands and what could be lurking in them.

Actually, the active ingredient is porcine not bovine. Any food one eats may have stuff lurking in it so this doesn't bother me at all. My endocrinologist says he has never seen results for his patients as good with synthetics as with Armour. Physicians have different opinions. You trust what your doctor says and I trust what my doctor says. All I know is that Synthroid never worked for me even at higher doses. Armour has worked beautifully from day 1. I guess I metabolize Armour well and you must metabolize Synthroid well.
I think it's great that we've both been able to find the right meds.

 

[mommasita]

I know for me, part of the resistance is that I'm tired of being so different from everyone else. Some days I just want to be normal! I just want to be like 90% of people my age that get to get up every morning and not worry about having to take their meds. I don't like being the one in class that has to take meds to make it through. I don't like not being able to do the things I want to do because of my disease. I just want to live a normal of a life as possible and every time I reach for the meds, it reminds me that I'm not living a normal life and I never will. In my head I know that I have to take the meds to achieve the level of normalcy that I have now, but it's still really hard. It's that smack in the face every day that the bell tolls for me and I never know when death is coming. Scary thought when you're only in your 30's!

I know exactly what you are saying here. I get you

 

[dizluvah]

I am 38, diabetic, have PCOS and 8 years ago I had a heart attack, i have 2 stents

I am down to...5 rx pills, 2 types of insulin shots and I take multiple OTC supplements daily - fish oil, aspirin, magnesium, calcium, iron, multi-vitamin, folic acid,

At one point, shortly after my heart attack I was taking 15 rx pills daily...

It doesn't bother me to have to take meds daily - I am happy to still be here

 

[honugirl]

I know exactly what you are saying here. I get you

Thanks! I knew someone would.