Vlog: Medication Advertisements: Helpful...Or Not?

Hi there, all!  I hope you're having a good weekend so far.  

Medication advertisements with every symptom and side effect known to man.  Do you find this helpful or frightening, or unnecessary?

Let's look at the topic more closely:

The positives:  They give you lots of information about the medication, so you then can decide from there whether or not you want to contact your doctor about it.

The negatives:  They tell you all this stuff that may turn you off from even asking your doctor about it, or considering taking it for something it could really people alleviate.

What would be better?:  

• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to get information on the advertised medication.
• Leave out the side effects and such from the advertisement and leave it to your doctor to tell you that information specific to your situation.
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any medication you have questions about before taking it.
• Consider natural medicine:  Combine it with modern medicine, massage, herbs, acupressure, acupuncture, energy medicine/therapy, hypnosis, meditation, and more.

Please don't:

• take any new medication without first consulting a qualified healthcare professional.  
• take others' medication that was not prescribed to you.
• take medication in the amount other than the recommended dosage.
• keep taking a medication if you experience troubling side effects.  Call your doctor or pharmacist, call 9-1-1, or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
• take medications you are unsure of.  You know your body better than anyone else.  Listen to it.  Work with your doctors to find the best treatment for your health issues.

What do you think of medication advertisements?  Have you ever asked your doctor about a medication you found out about through an advertisement?  

Vlog: Do You Have a Problem Keeping Medications in Stock?

 

Hello!  Here's another vlog for you.  It's about troubles with the pharmacy keeping medication in stock.  I have had this problem.  Loved the pharmacy staff, but they couldn't keep one of my medications in stock, so whenever I called for a refill, they had to order it.  It was frustrating, so I ended up calling around to other pharmacies to make sure they carried all my medication and found one that I felt comfortable with.  It was closer to my home and they carried the medication I needed.  Have you ever had trouble with getting the medication you need?  How did you resolve the situation?  

Over-Thinking, Part 1: Doctor's Visits

Do you over-think about upcoming doctor's appointments?  My latest video offers tips on how to calm your mind.  I hope it's helpful.  

Juggling Medication

For those of you who take medication, it can be a nuisance to fit them into your schedule, right?  Some interact with each other, so you have to be sure to take those hours apart, while others have to be taken with food, and still others on an empty stomach.  Then there are the meds you have to take first thing in the morning, before anything else hits your stomach.  A few medications, okay, but when you're taking 10, 20, or even 30 pills, powders and potions a day, it can get a bit frustrating, to say the least.  

My husband has gotten into the habit of asking me when I can eat.  I'm on one medication which surrounds all food to help it digest properly.  I have to take it with each meal.  The problem is that it also surrounds vitamins, minerals and other medications, too, possibly reducing their effectiveness.  So, I have to take my medications spaced apart all throughout the day, to make sure it doesn't have a run-in with that particular medication.  Such fun.  One pharmacist told me that it's bad enough when patients have to take one dose of that "surrounding" medication, let alone three per day.  They and my doctors who see my medication list tell me to do the best I can. 

How do you manage your medications?  Do you keep a journal, have a pill keeper, or commit your medication schedule to memory?  I use a pill keeper, which seems to empty out pretty quickly.  Before I know it, I'm sitting at the kitchen table filling it back up again.  It's not that big a deal, really, to fill it, but it's just that it takes time away from the things I'd rather be doing, like reading, exercising, writing my blog posts, and spending time with my husband and furbabies.  

Living your life on your own terms is important.  Don't be a prisoner to your medication schedule.  If you are feeling overwhelmed, wondering how you're possibly going to fit all your medication into your day, seek out some help.  Your pharmacist can tell you which medications may interact with each other or certain foods. You can also ask him to devise a medication schedule for you, so you're sure you're taking them properly.  

Good luck!  Keep in touch.  :-)