What prescription drugs do you take? What side effects?

Which is atrociously high.

You guys are babies compared to me. I'm 69 LOL. Does that mean you should mind your elders.....me? LOL
My meds are.....
Glipizide- diabetis
Ropinerole-RLS
Fluxotine- depression
Carvedilol-high bp and
heart
Metrogel- roseacia(SP)
Halobetasol Propionate-
psorisis
Feosol- chronic anemia
Valerian root tabs-
anxiety
unisome- sleep
hydrocodone-pain
darvocet-pain
thyroxin-thyroid
I also drink herbal teas-catnip.lemon mint for nerves
and cranberry juice for kidney stones and urinary tract infections
My DH was Army Security Agency (back when we were the good guys) for 10 yrs. He was in Vietnam. He trained at Fort Devans(near Carrie) He got out because they made him an instructor and he hated that with a passion. He was an E6.
He went to VA hosp in Little Rock. I'm the one who was'nt impressed with it.
Don't know about anyone else but patience sure don't go with age for me.
Just ask the head of the local forest service. We go round and round about once a year over my road.
Sherri, The quality of care has drastically gone down in civilian hospitals too here in the states. I think one problem is lack of training. It used to be 3 years for an RN degree. Now it's 2 and 10 times more to learn.
leaflady, i'm a firm beleiver that mental illness IS a physical problem. It takes a bunch of messed up chemicals that causes mental illness. Sorry, need to get off that soapbox.
Have a great evening all.

What a luvly collection you take, Vickie! Do you find the valerian works? My DH was in VietNam too - were we the good guys then? I didn't include Rxs for topical stuff - I have a prescription for my elbow sore and prescription (really strong) athlete's foot stuff because I can't wiggle my toes and I get fungus in the cracks (TMI!).

Yes valerian root works for me. MY doctor recomended it. It can be habit forming too so i try not to take it all the time.
LOL carrie, i meant the Security agency was the good guys. No DH had to wear civilean clothes back from Nam.
DH had trouble with Atheletes feet. I'm too mean. It steers clear of me.
Just heard Michael Jackson just died in LA.

Cando Our list is very similar. There are so many things that fibro patients have in common that you would think they would Know more about it and how to treat it by now. I did not addd the gel for rosacia(sp) I have that but the gel burns my face when i use it. Do you have a buterfly shaped redrash on your cheeks? I do and at one time they thought I might have Lupus. I Pray they will find a cure before my girls get my age because they both have all the symptoms just not quiet as severe. Love and Prayers,scraps

scraps, i don't have fibro just Conjestive heart failure, chronic Kidney stones. low thyroid,high BP, arthritis, diabetis, anemia and psorisis and rosacia.
The gel stings but helps my cheeks. Yep i have the butterfly rash across my cheeks. My dermatologist caught the rosacia, When she was treating the psorisis.
I pray they come up with a cure for fibro. Do they even know what causes it?
Goodnite all see ya tomorrow.
Vickie

No definative cause of fibro is known at this time. It has recently changed from an auto-immune condition to a neurological one. A low level of B12 is suspected and there is a lot of research backing that.

Really! That is fascinating, and it makes sense why it would run in families. I barely knew fibro existed before you folks started sharing your stories. I love to learn new things.

Vicki, It sounds like you have enough going on without adding to it. There is no actual blood test to check if a person has fibro unless something new has come out lately that I have not had time to read about. The only way they can tell for sure if you have it is do do an examination to see if you have the tender spots in certain areas. There are alot of people who have been diagnosed after a terrible car wreck for some reason. That probably would not fit in with the theory about B12 defieciency(sp). There are alot of theories out there. I did have a low B12 though when they checked. However, I do not think that is the cause just a symptom. I do think it is neurological though somehow. I was blown away when I first started reading about it because there are so many symptoms that myself and both of my girls have. I wish I had more time to stay up to date on my reading about it. When the house is done maybe I can catch up. Goodnight everyone. scraps

(Jim) I am a FIRM believer in Valerian root! My DW suffered from terrible sleep problems as a result of PTSD. So severe she had to be hospitalized twice. Sleep meds powerful enough to put her to sleep would leave her like a zombie the next day.

She belongs to a survivors group that is mostly Vets. Psychologist said because she is a very large and assertive woman her post-trauma reactions were more typical of a male. So, she would relate better to a male dominated group. (I think there is one other woman in the group.) One of the men in her group was blinded in WWII. He recommended Valerian root. Said it had been used since WWI to treat PTSD related sleep disorders. (Although, in those days he said they called it "shell shock.") Worked wonderfully! She still has a heavyduty sleep aid prescription (Trazadone 150 mg.) but rarely uses it.

Scraps, there is a forum dedicated to fibro on WebMD. I like it because it has links to infor from top world specialists at times as well as the latest research results. They have a weekly new thread that you can subscribe to if you want to. I have learned so much about fibro from that forum.

As a madical professional, I must caution the use of Valerian root with other medications. Certain combinations can be pottentially toxic.
Valerian root is what pharmaceuical Valium synmthetically mimics. I'm sure most here would be cautious of mixing valium with other meds without at least checking with a pharmacist. At least I hope so.
Sheri

Wow! Thanks, Sheri! I take konazepam, which is a benzodiazepam too (like Valium I think), and I would NOT want to mix that with more. You saved me lots of time and research - thank you.

Birdie Blue, I'm so glad you said to consult a PHARMACIST. Most medical people say to consult a doctor. Doctors usully don't have a clue about herbs and pharmacists do.

Unfortunately most Drs listen mostly to the Drug representatives.
Pharmacists actually know the drug interactions and chemical makeup. That is their specalty! ^_^

Too true about the drug reps! How often have you been kept waiting because "the doctor is running behind" only to see those smarmy salespeople get showed right in? You can tell them apart from patients by their big sample cases and their business clothes - nobody dresses like that when they're sick!

(Kay) Thanks, BirdieBlue. I do not take any other drugs, but, of course, Jim does. In his desperation for relief he convinces himself that if it works for me, or someone else, it should work for him. He knows better, but when pain is really bad or you are sleep deprived, logic sometimes goes out the window. I don't think Jim is unusual in that respect. People need to be reminded about the dangers of drug interactions. Herbs ARE drugs. Sometimes quite powerful ones.

Jim is visiting family in a very Amish part of Pennsylvania. I doubt he will have much computer access for the next week or so.

Kay sometimes I wish we lived in the manner of the Amish because they have such a wonderful lifestyle that is not about material things like fancy cars and big houses.And clothes, my girls spent a fortune on clothes in high school just to be like everyone else. I have learned that we can live with alot less than we think we can. For the last few years while saving to build our house we have lived without any luxury stuff. Few meals out, no going to movies, less clothes buying except necessities. We buy less junk food and less household products like fancy cleaners. It is amazing what all the hubs quit buying and we still survived. I know technology would be missed but if you never had it then you would not miss it. I like to read books about the Amish way of life. When I have time to read. However, I would not do well in their lifestyle because they are very hard working people and I could not keep up. Have a good day. scraps

Kay, my DH is exactly like that. Sleep-deprived (from his job), increased pain, increased depression, decreased cognitive skills, and he'll take anything to get to sleep or out of pain. A few terrible incidents - like one Jim described - convinced him that my Rxs are for me and his are for him and not the other way around!

He has the macho thing, if a little lady like me can take two a day and keep functioning, driving, talking, etc, surely a big strong man like himself shouldn't bothered by them. He doesn't really think of me like that, and now he REALLY doesn't underestimate my pills.

(Kay) One of Jim's problems right now is he still loves the Amish food his mother served. I tell him no one can eat like an Amish and be healthy unless they also work like an Amish. When he complains about the "rabbit food" I serve, I tell him I will use his mother's
recipes when he exchanges his new lawn tractor for a team of draft horses.

Carrie, I think the incident with the Trazadone prescription scared him enough that he will not do anything like that again. The problem is people don't think of herbal remedies in the same way they think of prescription drugs. I encountered a woman at the drug store recently who took a low dose of the herb echinacea all the time. She believed it would keep her from getting colds, flu and other infections. That is like taking penicillin all the time. Bad idea! You just become a breeding ground for strains of "super bugs" that are very drug resistant. When this poor lady does get sick, she will be hard to treat. For those of us who don't tolerate pharmaceuticals very well, herbs can be a real problem solver, but you really have to do your homework.

I think eating healthy (I like rabbit food too) and getting enough sleep and staying away from crowds (maybe) can keep most people from getting colds. At least it works for me, but then MS affects my immune system.

I like to eat healthy too. Love those veggies ,but also love meat and milk and eggs. I leave sugar alone but get my sweet tooth satisfied with splenda. Also i'm shamed to say diet cokes. Probably the worst thing i could drink. Need to do without again. The longest i've managed without is a month.

I was an EMT and was in Nursing school for a year. So i'm very careful about mixing drugs.(herbal or otherwise) We are lucky today to be able to google any drug we want and find out all there is to know. One of my favorite sites is webmd. Also there is more and more medical info everyday. Maybe someday we'll be able to tell the doctor what to do.LOL Not really.
I try to stay away from crouds but that can be hard to do sometimes. I guess we all know sleep is impossible sometimes and yes we all get desparate for some rest. But we also know we can't go the way of the Michael Jacksons or Elvis Presleys. Am glad i can't afford to buy myself to death.
I had to get up early to go to Russellville today so i should sleep good.Hope you do too.

Hey everyone, Sleep deprivation and insomnia are something I have had major problems with for years. I have tried soooo many meds and always come back to elavil. It is the only thing that knocks me out. I only take 75 mg a night but it works for me. I had a friend that took 200 mg and I thought that was a huge amount. I would sleep for days on that and he is a small person. It is strange how we all are affected differently by meds. Elavil leaves me feeling a little hung over so I have to have someone wake me if I have early appointment or reason to be up early or I would sleep until noon. I know I stay up too late Carrie but I just can not go to sleep. I have a routine of sorts and I try to stay on it or it messes me up. Hubs has loads of seritonin (or whatever I lack in my system) running in his veins because he sleeps like a log. Sometimes I wonder if his head even hits the pillow before he starts snoring. He has mentioned lately that his mind has been on things he needs to do at new house and he lays there thinking about it or worring. I think he must be dreaming that because he snores the minute the lights go out. I hear it over the air conditioner and tv with me in the next room. LOL. Maybe I just need a transfusion from him and get me some of the stuff he has running in his veins.LOL. Of course, with my luck, it would get me wired up and have me jumping through hoops. Need to go to bed soon. He needs me up early to help with putting up baseboards. Love and Prayers, scraps

I'm still up too scraps,Just plain can't sleep. My back hurts a little and my knees but not that much.
Maybe i need a tomato - mayo sandwich to help me sleep. Don't have any plans for tomorrow and nothing to think about. Nite all.

Cando, I have had so many tomato and mayo sandwiches lately because they are quick, easy and good too. I am out of bacon or I would have added some today for a treat. I have been working so hard I am too tired to sleep but someday soon we will have this house finished and I plan on catching up on my sleep. Oh wait then I will have a house to decorate, will have to move everything including the shed full of my mom's things( she is in nursing home) and then move the shed too. Then a yard to landscape and a greenhouse I want to make out of the shed my hubs put in our front yard at the new house. Oh my I may never sleep again. LOL. I have dreamed of getting finished and moving but when I think of all the work involved I think of all the meds I will need to get it all done. I hurt all over and can't get comfortable when I lay down so it makes it even harder to fall asleep. Thank God for Elavil. Love and Prayers,scraps

(Kay) I think I will talk to my doctor about Elavil or SOMETHING other than Trazadone. I hate it. It leaves me with serious "cotton mouth" (constant dry mouth) and feeling like one of the walking dead the day after. You have to choose between Valerian root and Trazadone. I still have Trazadone nights. I once thought it was hormones because bad nights seemed to be cyclical. But, I am menopausal now, and bad nights still seem to come in cycles. There are nights even the Traz doesn't work.

What Jim didn't understand about Valerian root is it doesn't really do anything to relax the mind, just the muscles. I have that type of sleep disorder where you get muscle spasams and a dose of adrenalin just as you are about to slip into deep sleep. I think Valerian is only effective for that type of sleep disorder. I have to use it in combination with yoga breathing techniques to quiet my mind to begin with.

Kay, When I first started having sleep problems it was a few days before my cycle began. After I started I could sleep. Then it seem to be more regular and then it got so bad I have to take meds every night now. I have tried so many meds and they work for short time and then little by little I go back to sleepless nights. I hate that you are having trouble sleeping it makes you feel so bad the next day. Good Luck,scraps

(Kay) Thanks, Scraps. Same sort of cycle with me. It did not stop after menopause, but it is not nearly as bad now. So you can look forward to menopause. LOL. I'm going to back out of here and leave this thread for chronic pain survivors as intended. Hope it gets better for you.

Kudzu - please visit as often as you like. We are not an "Exclusive" bunch. That is why the title was changed.
I want to apologize too to anyone who feels unwelcome because of any of my comments over the past couple of weeks. We all have our difficult times and I have let some of my shortcomings come out here. I would not want to hurt anyone or make anyone feel unwelcome. Actually I was afraid I was loosing my ability to fit in.
Please forgive me if I have hurt anyone here.
Sheri

Kay. you fit in beautifully. and i appreciate your input, as well as yours Sherri. We all have our different problems but they all boil down to the same pot of stew. Dang it! we HURT.
I value the input of all of you,no matter if you are here everyday, once a week or once a month.
My DH was fond of saying about some people...They are good people. and i think you are all GOOD PEOPLE.
love ya
Vickie

(Kay) Thanks everyone. A brave and beautiful post, Sheri!

Yes, we are good people! Even the lurkers whom we don't know, we know you are there (!) and you're welcome to the group too. We are each valued for our different wonderfulness. (i am not being very coherent, but you know what I mean, right?)

Today I went to a picnic that was the first meeting of an MS group. We spent the whole time talking about our diagnoses (and MIS-diagnoses). DH was very surprised, for some reason. But where else in the world (except here) do I get to stop being brave and just talk about how much it stinks to have MS? I tried to explain that to him and now he's worried that I'll get in the habit of not being brave! Not really an option...

Luker chiming in here. Just found this forum. Don't post much anywhere anymore. Just feel to bad all the time. I have RA, Fibro, Prothrombin Factor II Mutation, & 2 rods, 6 screws, & Bone Grafts in my lower spine and the beginnings of Osteo Arthritis. My current meds are

Patanol- eye allergies
Nasacort- airborne allergies
Xyzal- airborne allergies- all from the RA
Methotrexate- RA
Mepergan- Pain- the only one I can take
TENS Unit- Pain
Tarka-BP
Labetalol- BP
Hydrochlorothiazide- BP/Fluid
Coumadin-Blood Clotting Disease
Lovaza- Cholesterol
Zetia- Cholesterol
Lexapro- Depression
Xanaflex- Muscle Relaxer & Sleep
Xanax- to sleep & stay asleep
Centrum Multi Vitamin- because of Methotrexate
Folic Acid 800 mg- because of Methotrexate
B12 -2500mcg because I need energy

I has become painful to ride in a car and more painful to have to drive. I am to the point of barely being able to walk again. Just had Pelvic X-Ray, CT Scan of Back, and Arterial Studies of the legs. Waiting the results. CT is just a waste of money since it, a MRI, & Myleogram never showed anything for 15 yrs. They kept tell me it was in my head. Workers Comps Drs!!!! Went to Neurologist on my own. Still showed negative results on all test. He sent me to Pain Management Dr that did a Disk-o-Gram which showed the disk was totally gone and another damaged. Still declining after surgery so tested for RA which was also negative for 15 yrs. Showed slight positive. Neuro Dr sent records to RA Dr but said he probably wouldn't see me. Well he wanted to see me immediately. Methotrexate is the 3rd RA drug I have been on. It hasn't stopped the pain but has slowed down the frequency of the really bad flare-ups. My BP was going terribly haywire about once a year. I am talking 250/120 making eyes hemmorhage until I went to Kidney Specialist. They thought I might have a blocked in my kidneys. All test negative but he did change 1 of my BP meds and added the fluid pill. It has been perfect ever since. Almost 2 years now. I have had 7 negative carple tunnel test so it has to be from the herniated disk in my neck. I am to the point of coughing or sneezing and feel like electricity is shooting out my fingers on top of hands and arms going numb and tingley when ever I use them. Guess I have to go back to Comp Dr and fight more with them. It took them 3 yrs and the loss of use of my right arm before they would test to find out what was wrong instead of telling me the pain was coming from my neck. They ended up having to operate on it and I had nothing for pain because he gave my husband a prescription for the Tylenol 3 that I can't take. when I called to ask for a different med the nurse said she was giving me the mildest one there was and wouldn't listen to me to give me the right one. I thought I was going to die for 2 weeks. It took 2 years to get 80% use of my arm back. My DH started cheating on me for 2 yrs and even asked for a divorce until he found out he would have to support me because of all my healthy issues. He was believing there was nothing wrong with me like the Comp Dr kept saying and that I had just gotten lazy. Also I was only 3 months post spinal surgery(2005) and barely walking when Hurricane Katrina took everything we own. I was ready to commit suicide. I just couldn't take anymore. August of 2006 I threw a blood clot in my intestines and they could find no reason so sent me to a Hemotologist for testing. Genetic testing show the Hereditary Prothrombin Mutation. Sept 2007 my BP went to 250/120 maikng my eye hemmorhage. ER just gave me eye drops and sent me home with my BP that high. Can you believe that. This is a little of what I have been through since Jan 1990




This message was edited Jul 12, 2009 11:41 PM

Oh my goodness, Donna! I am glad to have you join us. Wow, you have sure been thru a lot i=over the past few years. many of us have. You are surely with a group who can empathise and share experiences hope and even some joy. We have about 3 threads that many of us chime in on.
I'm about to fade fro my bedtime meds, but look forward to talking more and hearing more from you tomorrow. one says something about chronic pain and the other has "laughing with joy in the title. both are here on the accessible gardening forum.
between the group there are a multitude of problems from Fibro to MS to post Polio, so as you might imagine we come up with some interesting topics and daily chat sessions.
^_^ i hope you sleep well tonite!
Sheri / BirdieBlue

Oh, welcome to the throng, Donna! With all that going on, you're in the right place! As Sheri said above, we currently have three threads running, one about prescription drugs, one about laughing despite our problems, and one about coping with pain. This one is the drug thread (you sure take a lot, like all of us) but the others are on here too.

I just want to say welcome, too. :) Glad you found us. And so sorry that you've had to endure so much these past years.

Donna, I ache for you when I hear you describe your pain and how you have been treated. We all know how it is to be told by Dr.s that we are wrong or stupid even when they hide behind some crazy diagnosis they think we are crazy. I hate it when they treat me like I am stupid. I knew there was something wrong with me also and it turned out to be fibromyalgia. I do not understand why these people want to be healers if they cannot be compassionate. I realise that sometimes they have patients who are just wanting pain meds or who are mentally ill but they should know the facts before treating their patients like dirt. I wish we could take some of the pain we have and let the doctor experience it for a day or two. I will keep you in my prayers and hope you have a good night and join us on some of the other forums. scraps

(Kay) I add my prayers, as well, Donna. I do not have to deal with much pain, but my husband certainly does. I am not certain he is properly diagnosed even now.

I am in awe of the people who deal with this garbage everyday and find ways to manage.

Donna, Welcome to the group. I feel a little quilty sometimes because my pain is not near as bad as most here. but i seem to fit in with my own problems.
Your story is tragically true and we have all experienced the incompedence of some of our doctors. Someday we are going to revolt and demand better care.LOL

I watched most of the news coverage of Katrina. I'm so sorry you lost so much. Have you started to recoup any? When i saw a hardened Irac war reporer break down and cry. I knew it was the worst thing possible to endure.
I had wrote a long post yesterday and accidently deleted it and was too wiped out to repeat it.
Saturday nite. My dog Dillen ran in thru the doggie doors scared o death growling and whining and would'nt go back out. I decided it was a bear cause i never saw him spooked before. No problems since tho. A bear has gotten into DD,S trash lately. We may have to get the forest service to cart a bear off.
Sunday i made supper for my GS and his girlfriend. (He had carried my broken freezer off) I injoyed the company and cooked food but oh did it wipe me out. Did'nt move untill today.
Carrie, A picnic - what fun. And you have the cool weather to injoy it.
Prayers and hugs to all
Vickie

It was fun, thanks Vickie! I was the elder MS person there, the only one in a W/C, the only one diagnosed longer than 10 years, etc. I felt like everybody's big sister. But even DH and DDs had a good time, I think.