So the doctor said....

[molested_cow]

I am not asking for medical advice, which will be stupid to do in an internet forum.

I went to the doctor who prescribed me medication. For one particular medication, he told me about its possible side effects and said if I am suffering from these side effects, I should stop having them.

So does this mean that it is not actually critical and I really really don't need to be taking it (since it's ok not to take it)?

Once I visited a doctor for ear infection. She prescribed me three types of pain killers. I declined all of them because they are unnecessary. If I took them, I'd be paying for all of them and they don't contribute positively to the healing process anyways.

 

[Josh66]

For one particular medication, he told me about its possible side effects and said if I am suffering from these side effects, I should stop having them.

Stop having them as in ignore them, or stop having them as in stop taking the medication?

The way it's written I think it could be interpreted either way - but you were there...


Discontinuing the medication because you're having harmful side effects is not quite the same as being 'ok not to take it'... It sounds like the situation is - 'you should take it, but if it makes things worse than they already were - stop taking it'.


And, BTW - the first thing I thought of when I read the thread title was "no more monkeys jumping on the bed". :lmao:

 

[molested_cow]

Well, the side effects are feeling high ( as in something like too much caffeine), feeling stuffy chest, shaky hands, sleepless etc.

Yes he said if these side effects happen I should stop taking the medication. I will do as he instructed, but just wondering. For me, I will try to avoid relying on medication if I can, letting my body fight it out. Not this time though.

 

[pharmakon]

It is possible that a relatively uncommon side effect of a drug may be worse for you than the condition for which it prescribed. If you are having the side effect about which he was warning you, you will probably have to try a different class of medication for the same condition. Whether or not you should or could just stop taking the med all together vs changing to something else depends a lot on what you are treating in the first place.

 

[bratkinson]

There is no hard and fast rule that says drug A may/will have any or all of some side effects. In most cases, the medication will do as described/prescribed and that's it.

But everyones' body is different. Add to it any medications someone is currently taking that can interact with the new medication in unexpected ways. About 2 months ago, I took an over the counter cold/flu/alergy medication that apparently interacted with one or more of the prescriptions and/or over the counter medications I am currently taking. I started having heart pounding, rapid heartbeat, fast breathing, and a headache, all within 15 minutes of taking the new pill, and it continued for 4 hours! And I was in bed the whole time! I really thought it was heart attack time! Needless to say, the rest of the pills went into the trash!

 

[Lmphotos]

We would have to know what the medication is to know How important it really is. If it is a seizure medication for example and without it you could have seizures that could possibly result in death then instead of going off of it cold turkey you and your doctor need to find a replacement right for you. If it is Motrin for example and its causing you an upset stomachs I'd say its safe to stop with out replacing

 

[terri35 6]

Do what your doctor says on this one. Clearly he mentioned the side effects because there was a pretty good chance you'd experience them, and in this particular case, the doctor is saying quit taking the drug because suffering the side effects doesn't outweigh the benefits of the medication. In other words, he can find an alternate or just let it go. As long as you give your doctor a list of everything else you're taking, it is safe to try new prescriptions, but even then there can be no guarantee.

"Medicine is not an exact science." These words are not an excuse or justification on the doctors' part to run lots of tests or write lots of prescriptions. They are there as a reminder of how amazingly different we are, even with all our similarities. Outcomes can never be guaranteed.

Hope you get to feeling better soon, without the stuff! I know I hate the shakes from pills, and am a real lightweight as far as feeling side effects. That's why I take as few pills as possible in my life!

 

[Overread16 4]

Also remember that for many things there can often be a variety of medications which can cure or help to relieve symptoms. Each one will be slightly different so sometimes it is a case of you having to try them to see if you get on with them, if you suffer the side effects then that is a clear sign that its not the right treatment for you. Sadly some of these things can't be tested for with a few blood tests and such so you have to try them to find out.

Hopefully you'll fall into the common pattern and you won't suffer the side effects and be able to continue the treatment without any further problems.

Also remember you can always ask for a second opinion from another doctor if you're concerned, plus ask your current doctor about alternative treatment options.

 

[pixmedic]

I recommend sacrificing a goat or lamb, eating its heart, painting yourself with its blood, and dancing around a bonfire. This cures pretty much everything. Except erectile dysfunction. You'll need a bull and 20 chickens for that.