"That's why they call practice," my friend said, when I expressed horror over the phone message he'd found on his answering machine.
It instructed him to call his nurse first thing in the morning, because they had just realized that the new medication they'd given him could cause his kidneys to fail.
What? They prescribed medication without checking out something like that? And this is a man who has "endangered" kidneys already, as well as a problem with his heart that is sending him under the surgeon's knife in just a few days.
It goes to show that before you take any medication, you should do your own research. Begin with actually reading the package insert. The one that lists the side effects and all the possible drug interactions. After that, go on line and see what else you can learn.
Your doctor may say "Oops, sorry" if he kills you - but that apology won't do you or your loved ones a bit of good.
Showing posts with label prescription drugs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prescription drugs. Show all posts
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Don't just trust your doctor, do your research
A couple of weeks ago the doctor's column in our local newspaper talked about using Milk of Magnesia to cure acne. A reader had written that they had tried everything the doctors could throw at her son - to the tune of about $5,000 - and nothing worked until he started using Milk of Magnesia on his face at bedtime.
Yesterday a dermitologist wrote a "dismayed" response to that. He claimed that Accutane will cure all acne when used properly for 8 to 10 months. Just keep the dosage low to prevent side effects. He even accused the reader of having made up the story.
So there are 2 differing opinions. People have a right to disagree.
But then... the newspaper doctor responded by saying that physicians are specifically warned not to prescribe Accutane for more than 5 months at any one time. They know that long term use can be dangerous. Side effects include depression, suicidal thoughts, aggressive behavior, inflammation of the pancreas, hearing loss, inflammatory bowel disease, and more.
I think before a doctor prescribes anything he or she should be aware of the risks and use due diligence in preserving a patient's health. After all, they're supposed to be in the business of making people well, not sick.
The bottom line is that some do and some don't. So the only responsible thing for any patient (or the patient's parent) to do is first read all the literature that comes with a prescription, and then go on line and see what else there is to be learned. After all, you and your loved ones are the ones to suffer when you become a victim of an improper prescription.
Big pharm doesn't care if you get sick. In fact, keeping you sick and coming back for more medication may be the unspoken plan.
Be smart - be responsible for yourself - do the research.
Yesterday a dermitologist wrote a "dismayed" response to that. He claimed that Accutane will cure all acne when used properly for 8 to 10 months. Just keep the dosage low to prevent side effects. He even accused the reader of having made up the story.
So there are 2 differing opinions. People have a right to disagree.
But then... the newspaper doctor responded by saying that physicians are specifically warned not to prescribe Accutane for more than 5 months at any one time. They know that long term use can be dangerous. Side effects include depression, suicidal thoughts, aggressive behavior, inflammation of the pancreas, hearing loss, inflammatory bowel disease, and more.
I think before a doctor prescribes anything he or she should be aware of the risks and use due diligence in preserving a patient's health. After all, they're supposed to be in the business of making people well, not sick.
The bottom line is that some do and some don't. So the only responsible thing for any patient (or the patient's parent) to do is first read all the literature that comes with a prescription, and then go on line and see what else there is to be learned. After all, you and your loved ones are the ones to suffer when you become a victim of an improper prescription.
Big pharm doesn't care if you get sick. In fact, keeping you sick and coming back for more medication may be the unspoken plan.
Be smart - be responsible for yourself - do the research.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Medicines killing people - again
Today's newspaper presented two articles that should bring outrage to parents everywhere.
On the front page was the article saying that now the FDA has decided that cold medicines are unsafe for toddlers and babies - they could even prove fatal. And anyway, they don't do any good. They haven't decided yet if these remedies are safe for older kids. They're pretty sure they aren't safe for anyone under the age of 6. The ruling however, just says not to give them to anyone under 2.
So... will they leave them on the shelf for a few more years until we see? It says they'll make a decision before next year's cold and flu season.
The second outrage was almost buried in the story of a young man (19) who is being tried for the murder of his parents a year ago. I knew his parents, so was interested in seeing what his sister had to say about the whole thing.
She said he was a sweet little boy, but then he was diagnosed with ADD and given medication. He became more and more violent while on that medication. Much later the doctors said he had been mis-diagnosed and he really had Bi-polar disease. They changed his medication, but the violence didn't go away. (According to earlier stories, his parents had been afraid of him for several years.) Then, almost as an off-hand remark, she said that later the family learned that "...it's a common issue if someone is bipolar and was given that medication."
So many questions - Why didn't the doctor stop the medication as soon as the boy became violent? Did it permanently alter his mind? Are the potential side effects of medication worth the risk - just to hopefully get a kid to sit down and pay attention?
I thank God that I never had to make that decision, and I hope that if you have a child on medication for ADD and he or she is showing violent tendencies, you'll do the research and go back to the doctor with it in hand. You might save your child's life - or maybe even your own.
On the front page was the article saying that now the FDA has decided that cold medicines are unsafe for toddlers and babies - they could even prove fatal. And anyway, they don't do any good. They haven't decided yet if these remedies are safe for older kids. They're pretty sure they aren't safe for anyone under the age of 6. The ruling however, just says not to give them to anyone under 2.
So... will they leave them on the shelf for a few more years until we see? It says they'll make a decision before next year's cold and flu season.
The second outrage was almost buried in the story of a young man (19) who is being tried for the murder of his parents a year ago. I knew his parents, so was interested in seeing what his sister had to say about the whole thing.
She said he was a sweet little boy, but then he was diagnosed with ADD and given medication. He became more and more violent while on that medication. Much later the doctors said he had been mis-diagnosed and he really had Bi-polar disease. They changed his medication, but the violence didn't go away. (According to earlier stories, his parents had been afraid of him for several years.) Then, almost as an off-hand remark, she said that later the family learned that "...it's a common issue if someone is bipolar and was given that medication."
So many questions - Why didn't the doctor stop the medication as soon as the boy became violent? Did it permanently alter his mind? Are the potential side effects of medication worth the risk - just to hopefully get a kid to sit down and pay attention?
I thank God that I never had to make that decision, and I hope that if you have a child on medication for ADD and he or she is showing violent tendencies, you'll do the research and go back to the doctor with it in hand. You might save your child's life - or maybe even your own.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
