We recently had a very useful post from someone who spelled out the changes to a particular medication over a decade or so. My DH has had migraine for many years, and had given up trying to find solutions. He found that there were new developments he didn’t know about.
I have just done something similar. I am one of the 5% who can’t tolerate ibuprofen or voltaren, which is a real pity with scoliosis as it would avoid me taking codeine, a stronger opioid. A specialist has just told me that I should have been told nearly 10 years ago that there was a new alternative that didn’t upset the bowel. I’m on the third day, and it’s working!
So this is to suggest that people don’t just give up when they find that something doesn’t work. Ask again. And of course, that goes for the people we care for as well. They are even more likely to have given up on long term problems, without realising that there is something new.
Yours, Margaret
I often say one of the best sources for current information without "undue influence" might be your pharmacist.
They know the current medications and are not beholden to a drug company to push one or the other. And they are more apt to help you if you are looking for drug interactions or problems you might have since they know your drug history.
And they usually have a bit more time that they can spend with you answering questions.
I’ll add to that:
Check side-effects also! Sometimes our LOs have some strange ailment, and only later we realize it was a side-effect of the medicine. My personal policy for my elderly mom is: only the absolutely necessary medicine. Remember, all these medicines have side-effects, some severe.
In fact, a friend of mine was given anti-malaria medicine. It caused huge side-effects: some lasted years. My friend wouldn’t have taken the medicine if he had been warned by his doctor of the very serious side-effects.
It was the doctor’s duty to inform.
It must be informed consent.
A patient can’t possibly guess or know the severity or probability of serious side-effects. The doctor greatly failed in his duty. It became a legal case.
(Ventingisback)
We all need to be our own advocates. Its logical, you start on a new med and you have side effects, its the new med. Dr. Increases the dosage and you feel worse, its the medication. Me, so far I don't take anything. Either does my DH and we r 73/76. We take Advil for aches and pains but not often.
I also think that pharmacists are under-utilised, but once again you have to expect a change in order to ask either a pharmacist or a doctor again. It was a bit of a shock this time. Margaret
You made several valid points. I agree that if a particular med isn’t working, then it is good to look into alternatives.
My brothers have serious heart issues. Neither one can take a statin due to side effects. They are taking injections of Repatha now instead of a statin.