Prescription Drugs--a caution

[D.A.L.U.I.]

I've always been really careful and cautious about drugs prescribed  by the doctor., or so I thought until recently.  Even though I specifically ask whether there is a side effect, I also read the slip provided by the druggist and most times check the internet for side effects--but I made a big mistake--I thought that was enough.
About two weeks ago I was ready to refill my most expensive prescription, $100+/month, after insurance!  I got it into my head that since I really didn't have the symptoms any more and also took another drug, much, much cheaper, I would see what happened if I saved myself the money.  Cold turkey, I just stopped taking the drug.
Well, by the weekend, I was feeling very, very low.  Didn't want to do anything, I just sat around.  I avoided all contact with people that I possibly could, I didn't do anything, read--nothing.  I wondered what was going on.  Bright light--check the internet about that drug.  Should have done it before stopping the drug.  There in the side effects was a caution about abrupt stopping of the drug, that the discontinuance should be done under medical supervision or a list of side effects that would scare anyone, including depression.  Called the pharmacy to refill--no luck it needed Dr approval bc I was out of refills, it's Friday afternoon.  So, I sat knowing or having a strong suspicion what was wrong.  By Monday morning, I was a basket case, called the Dr got the refill phoned in.  Three days later I came out of it. 
Take away, don't stop taking any prescription medication w/o checking the side effects--it isn't any fun, and for this dumb a__, the symptoms were back too.  There's a reason the meds are prescribed.  And since I didn't spend the night in a Holiday Inn, I didn't understand. 
Hope this helps someone--it was hell on wheels for me. 

[buddha]

And they say this $h!t isn't addictive?

Years ago I made the mistake of starting anti-depressants because somebody I trusted at the time (a therapist) said this would be a good thing. I was on Celexa first for about a year and then switched over to Zoloft. While on Zoloft I started exhibiting explosive rages during which I never became violent with another person but it was bad enough that I decided I needed to do something about it. Called the MD and he said the best thing to do was double the dosage. I couldn't think of anything positive about this so I decided to wean myself off the crap. I followed the MDs instructions for cutting down and immediately started getting what I can describe as electrical jolts to the brain. The first time it happened I thought I was having a stroke. Called the MD and he said that it would be best to start taking the crap full bore (double-dose).
 
Like Saint I went to an internet site where I found literally hundreds of people reporting exactly what I was experiencing so I decided to press on with weaning myself off that poison. It took a full 2 months, at least, to get free of this $h!t and I had these little head rushes the whole time. In spite of that inconvenience I'm glad that I got off of that toxic $h!t and I will never allow another MD to recommend any drug to me without doing my own research first.

Strangely, one of the side effects reported in the use of anti-depressants is an increased incidence of suicide. WTF?

[Mikekoz13]

Also guys.... open the bottle and make sure the pills in the bottle look like what you've been taking and they are the correct dose.

I few years back when my son was on all that seizure medication... I picked up his prescription from the pharmacy, took it hom,e and was about to give it to him when my wife screamed "STOP!".

That quickly she noticed that the pills looked a little different..... We looked at the label on the bottle and the pharmacist had given us pills 100X stronger than they were supposed to be.
I was ready to kill the pharmacist that time i was so damn mad. A whole slew of people had to help get me out that pharmacyof that day.

Thank God my wife was so anal about my son's meds..... it would have probably killed him before we knew anything was wrong.

[Bald_freak]

There are alot of drugs, specially in the anti depressant anti anxiety and anti psychotic family, that u can't stop taking cold turkey. A good friend of my started taking paxil, only for about a month cause she was having alot of stress due to other health issues. She didn't like some of the side effects so she just stopped taking em. That landed her in the nut house for a week. And the same thing that happened to your son happened to me back in school. Wasn't paying attention to my refill, got a stronger amount, spent a night in the ER with full body paralysis.

I avoid any prescript meds unless absolutely necessary. OTC drugs, vitamins, and supplements. You still gotta becareful with them, but the effects are less drastic.

[hammerdrill376]

Kind of along the same lines. The Dr. Oz show today is about mixing over the counter medications with prescription medications. Already featured a young woman who suffered a stroke as a result. Check out what your taking. I want all you guys to be around a long, long time.

[slyck85]

oh man, I remember going cold turkey from Klonopin 2mg 3 times per day........it wasn't fun at all especially the withdrawal tremors.

[Robmeister]

There are alot of drugs, specially in the...anti anxiety...family, that u can't stop taking cold turkey.

 

Amen, brother.  Just last year I was having a routine check up and the doctor asked how things were going.  I had just been laid off so with all the ramifications of that I told him I was a bit stressed out.

He immediately pulled out his prescription pad, scribbled on it, tore it off and handed it to me without so much as one word of caution.  It was a prescription for Lorazepam.  Never heard of it and, man, it mellowed me out, big time.  Felt great.  Put me to sleep like a baby.  Well my resistence built up quite quickly and I was increasing the dosage and really enjoying the peace of mind.  My wife said I started acting more and more loopy so when the prescription ran out I decided not to refill.  This all took place over a 2 or 3 week period.

Well Lorazepam is one of those you NEVER get off cold turkey.  I got into such depression….and that on top of all the stuff I was stressed out about in the first place!!  It was literally frightening.  I would blubber like a girl at the drop of a hat.  Anyway that went on for about a week whereupon I just returned to my 5th of Jack Daniels a day.  (j/k)

Seriously, it lasted for a week during which time I researched Lorazepam and found out about this nasty stuff.  I at any time can get that prescription refilled…but NO FRICKEN WAY!!!

[(|8-)]

Thanks for the public service.  Let me add to it...

You need to triple-check everything.  If you are helping an older relative, you need to make sure they do this stuff, too.

(1) Your doctor needs to know everything you're taking.  If you have more than one doctor, they all need to know.  That includes prescribed drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements.

(2) Go over it again with your pharmacist.  Get everything from one pharmacy.  Pharmacists are there to answer your questions, especially if your doctor didn't answer them.  Another perspective can help.  They know about side effects and how long it takes to wean yourself from something that isn't working.  If you are thinking of stopping something, call a pharmacy first.  Even if you are just stopping a supplement that you have been taking, that can make another drug more or less powerful.  

(3) When you get home, read the description on the labels and match them against the actual pills and what you thought your doctor was prescribing.  Keep them in the original bottles, unless you organize them carefully into a pill organizer.

And please don't take medical advice from the Internet.  mayoclinic.com has decent info, and you can get pages of technical details from the manufacturers, but most of the other stuff is worse than useless.  

(I once worked in a pharmacology lab, and have drugstore managers in the family, but I'm not a doctor or pharmacist.)

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Thanks for the public service.  Let me add to it...

You need to triple-check everything.  If you are helping an older relative, you need to make sure they do this stuff, too.


And please don't take medical advice from the Internet.  mayoclinic.com has decent info, and you can get pages of technical details from the manufacturers,

IMO, it is essential to go on line everytime you get a prescription for medication and read in detail all of the potential adverse reactions.  Although they often promote themselves as advisors on medications, your average drugstore pharmacist does not have the time to do anything more than to refer you to the standardized sheet provided by the drug companies.  These do not deal with warnings to people who have other potential conflicts.  If you find a conflict, or a question, don't fill the prescription, call the doctor, not his nurse, and go over your concerns.  Frankly they don't have the time either to keep up with the latest updated contraindications for the medicines they prescribe--sad but true, no one has or is encouraged to take the time to do this for you, you have to pick up on this responsibility.  It's especially the case for not only the older friends and relations you may be working with but also the children.

[(|8-)]

Although they often promote themselves as advisors on medications, your average drugstore pharmacist does not have the time to do anything more than to refer you to the standardized sheet provided by the drug companies.

If a pharmacist gives you the impression that they are too busy to answer your questions, complain to the manager.  Even though they have their own opinions, there is nothing managers can do unless customers speak up.  Pharmacists get paid well (why do you think drugs are so expensive?) to stay on top of the field and to take questions from customers. 

It's especially the case for not only the older friends and relations you may be working with but also the children.

Good point.

[Robmeister]

Although they often promote themselves as advisors on medications, your average drugstore pharmacist does not have the time to do anything more than to refer you to the standardized sheet provided by the drug companies. 

Yeah...that sounds like the 18-yr-old checkout gal at the front of the store, smackin' her mouthfull of bubble gum.