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Medication?

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  • sillav nitram
    sillav nitram Posts: 10,169
    edited August 2023
    letthegoodtimesroll said:
    sillav nitram said:
    letthegoodtimesroll said:
    other than the occasional tablet for a headache and the Covid and flu jabs of course I usually try and avoid any sort of medication. Sounds like we are around the same age.
    69? Oooo Matron;)

    What are the reasons for avoiding if it’s not too personal a question  @letthegoodtimesroll?
    I just think it’s a slippery slope and doctors are too quick to prescribe them sometimes.
    Arsenetatters said:
    I take a couple of pills for bipolar and a gut one to stop bleeding if I take ibuprofen.
    Happy to take the bipolar ones as I’m really unwell without them but I try to resist taking others where possible. 
    I’ve had a few experiences where I’ve been given medication for something and it has a negative effect on bipolar. One was a steroid injection in the backside that a head of rheumatology gave me without telling me what it was or that it was voluntary- oh and also not looking to see if i was taking anything else or had any other illness that might be affected. Pretty pissed off about that. 
    So I tend to do as much research as possible into anything that’s given to me before I decide if I want to take it. 
    I also think alternative therapies have their place. Trying acupuncture at the moment.
    Crusty54 said:
    I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes around 6 years ago and was prescribed Metformin (2 morning and 2 evening).

    Three months ago I watched about the side effects of taking Metformin which includes liver and kidney problems.

    I took the decision to make drastic changes to my diet. No rice, pasta and potatoes. I tested blood sugar levels after eating different things. Shredded wheat really spiked my levels but everybody is different. Cinnamon is supposed to reduce blood sugar so I bought some Ceylon Cinnamon food supplement tablets (1 morning and 1 evening). Also buying Bio&Me apple and cinnamon porridge on line from Holland & Barrett.

    I walk about 5 miles every day, sometimes more.

    End result. I'm off Metformin and feeling a lot better for it.
    This is the dilemma? Different agendas and different perspectives!

    The earlier posts on this thread were suggesting following Doctors orders and Doctors do things for a reason and I get that, I really do and for the most part I do.

    However as the thread progresses we now have different approaches and different perspectives which I believe are equally valid.

    I get what you’re saying  @letthegoodtimesroll and   @arsentatters because it appears as though we have a medicine for most things, doctors just prescribe rarely do they suggest alternatives and as we know medication treats the symptoms but not the causes.

    I’m interested in your approach. @crusty54 because I also take Metformin twice a day, have been since the beginning of the year, so not long and am glad you pointed out long term side effects which I don’t think I was aware of but should be.

    I don’t think it’s necessarily a false representation  @stig because I was specifically interested from my own perspective, those who do take a lot of medication and how they feel about it and of course not everyone will be interested in the topic. I hope your continued good health and fortune continue from here to eternity, you may be a lucky man?
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,628
    I won’t comment further because it absolutely is everyone’s right to question and do with their bodies whatever they think best for them. My parting shot though is that you disregard medical advice at your peril. 
  • LenGlover
    LenGlover Posts: 31,661
    I take 6 tablets a day now, having never taken anything other than the odd vitamin pill, following my stroke in January 2021.

    It goes against the grain but I don't want another stroke so go with it.
  • sillav nitram
    sillav nitram Posts: 10,169
    ShootersHillGuru said:
    I won’t comment further because it absolutely is everyone’s right to question and do with their bodies whatever they think best for them. My parting shot though is that you disregard medical advice at your peril. 
    The point also is  @shootershillguru I’m not and I don’t think others are disregarding medical advise and those who choose a different route and have success, that this can be equally valid and you’re right it is an individual choice but it’s also important to not necessarily follow everything that the medical profession suggest or offer, without considered reflection. I was offered an operation on my lower back which the specialist was keen to do but having consulted with another specialist he encouraged me to not have it because of the approximate closeness to my spinal chord. I took his advice and didn’t go ahead with the operation and thankfully I’m glad I sought a second opinion. 

    I’ve only ever encountered one doctor/specialist in my medical history that has offered an alternative to the medical model in relation to the condition that I was seeing them for, which I welcomed because it seemed they were open to the potential of an alternative approach and even maybe, mind over matter.
  • JohnBoyUK
    JohnBoyUK Posts: 9,022
    For me...
    Blue ventolin/salbutamol pump for when asthma requires it
    Naproxen (anti-inflammatory) for my back when I need it (dehydrated discs L4, L5 & S1)
    Omeprazole (1 a day on the days I have to take Naproxen) to protect my stomach lining
    Fexofenadine (strong antihistamine) for hey fever (have to start taking around March time and then dont stop until end of September!)
    Smallest dose of Ramipril for my slightly elevated BP.

    I'm quite fortunate at 47 to be on so little.  I used to run and cycle a lot but injury put paid to that so I just walk a lot more instead now.

    Arsenetatters said:
    I take a couple of pills for bipolar and a gut one to stop bleeding if I take ibuprofen.
    Happy to take the bipolar ones as I’m really unwell without them but I try to resist taking others where possible. 
    I’ve had a few experiences where I’ve been given medication for something and it has a negative effect on bipolar. One was a steroid injection in the backside that a head of rheumatology gave me without telling me what it was or that it was voluntary- oh and also not looking to see if i was taking anything else or had any other illness that might be affected. Pretty pissed off about that. 
    So I tend to do as much research as possible into anything that’s given to me before I decide if I want to take it. 
    I also think alternative therapies have their place. Trying acupuncture at the moment.
    I feel for you.  My brother has been bipolar for almost 20 years now.  It took him and the docs 10 years to work out what type and what balance of drugs would work best for him with the least amount of side effects.  He also suffers from chronic pain and fatigue.  Its probably the worse combination you could get because they say exercise is good for mental health but because of the pain and fatigue, he cant exercise and constantly feels like crap.  But the drugs they could give him for the pain and the fatigue effect his bipolar, so there's very little they can do.  Its a vicious circle and his quality of life really suffers.  


  • Wheresmeticket
    Wheresmeticket Posts: 17,304
    edited August 2023
    For some time we've had social prescribing which recognises that many health conditions derive from or are exacerbated by socio-economic drivers - poor diet, lack of exercise, loneliness and poverty all contribute to the underlying causes of many if not most of the illnesses from which older, and sometimes not so old patients suffer.  However GPs are overwhelmed with patients expecting to receive meds, and who happily disregard advice around their lifestyle until the problems of obesity, cardiovascular disease, depression and anxiety are embedded.

    So as regards the alternatives to meds, lifestyle change is probably the most supported by evidence, but also the one that places the most responsibility on the patient themselves.

    There is a little limited evidence for acupuncture in some circumstances, but before you know it you get into the realms of reiki and homeopathy and all the rest of the wand waving bullshit.
  • Kap10
    Kap10 Posts: 15,577
    ShootersHillGuru said:
    sillav nitram said:
    ShootersHillGuru said:
    sillav nitram said:
    As I’m nearing the end of my sixties, predictably my health is deteriorating and I now find myself, on what feels like a lot of medication 💊!

    Heart, Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Gastric and the rest, I’m consuming 6 pills a day, which to me feels like a lot, I’m sure others may take much more?

    Of course if it prolongs my life, then of course it’s a no 🧠 er.

    But there’s so many arguments for and against these days, depending on each agenda? I’m not totally convinced about the Doctors recommending even though their experience and knowledge would suggest they know what their talking about but pressure from pharmaceutical companies makes me wonder?

    I’m also not convinced that all these chemicals are sitting comfortably with each other, even though it’s suggested side effects are rare, weight gain always seems to be one I experience despite the suggestion that the medication doesn’t do this?

    My brother always suggests for me to explore the alternative route but my body has already endured a lot and the alternative route wouldn’t kick in for some time. So, one asks do I have the time to try it out?

    Anyway, a bit long winded but how do you feel about the medication 💊 you take, means to an end or otherwise?
    Listen to what your doctors in the various disciplines recommend. Listen to what they have to say and in my opinion it’s best to exactly follow that advice. With the greatest respect to your brother alternative routes are for the birds. I’m presuming that your various health problems are being addressed by specialists in their fields and not just on the advice of your GP. Doctors are not on a commission for prescribing medication and they need to justify any treatment using evidence based practice and will be challenged on anything outside of that. Best wishes that it all comes together and you feel tip top.

    MrOneLung said:
    i would suggest any medicine prescribed is done so for a reason 
    Of course, the evidence is there, so I do   @mronelung

    I’m inclined to agree with you and I am seeing relevant specialists. @shootershillguru

    However, I was taking a prescribed opioid for 4 years which later was withdrawn and is no longer prescribed because of its addictive qualities. The Sackler family who produced Oxy Contin and have been highly discredited for their lies about their product. So, I don’t think these companies are beyond question?

    Equally when combined with another medication I was taking at the same time, it had a side effect, know as “drop attacks” where I’d fall over for no apparent reason, I once fell down the stairs at Tottenham Court Road tube station. Thankfully I was only shaken up, rather than badly injured. Unbelievably, when I spoke to a medic, saying what if this was to happen when crossing the road, their reply, could you not cross roads!!!! Doh!

    I’m not necessarily advocating alternatives or specifically listening to my brother, on the other hand I don’t think all alternatives are unfounded. Having read, ‘A Statin Nation’ written by a doctor, it can’t help but make you think?

    I’m also not suggesting doctors are on commission and I know they have to be accountable but they do get pressurised by pharmaceutical companies to use their products over another’s.

    So I don’t think all is what it seems?

    Thanks for your well wishing 🖖
     The days of drug reps trawling around GP practices with little freebies for doctors are long gone. Evidence based practice is king for a reason and all are now governed by strict NICE guideline which provides guidance as to the best care and  treatment for specific conditions. Working outside of these tried and evidence based guidelines would require a doctor to seek permissions in the first instance from his practice and then from the local health fund providers. Quite honestly it just doesn’t happen. All drugs available for prescribing in this country have undergone the strictest of tests and there will be peer reviewed research available for every single one. There are always scientists that are outliers for anything you care to think of. That’s from drug prescribing to climate change. Statins like all drugs are not without their side effects and risks but to use statins as an example, they have saved countless lives worldwide. The medical profession is as well governed as is humanly possible and the doctors and scientists that work in it are pretty special people. I’d treat any advice or information outside of the norm as very suspicious. That’s only my opinion and of course everyone must do what they see fit for themselves.
    Its long gone here but not in USA hence the pain killer addictions. NHS is well regulated on freebies and back handers.

    As much as I love Charlton Life I would rather put my health in the hands of those with medical degrees and experience than the health school of Charlton Life or Facebook. In my career I have marketed energetic therapy, alternative remedies and transcendental spiritual therapies*, the NHS ones were more reliable.

    *I've known therapists who relate their conditions to the mental trauma of their birth and more than that things that took place in a previous life! STICK TO THE NHS (even though it is not perfect).
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,628
    Wheresmeticket? said:
    For some time we've had social prescribing which recognises that many health conditions derive from or are exacerbated by socio-economic drivers - poor diet, lack of exercise, loneliness and poverty all contribute to the underlying causes of many if not most of the illnesses from which older, and sometimes not so old patients suffer.  However GPs are overwhelmed with patients expecting to receive meds, and who happily disregard advice around their lifestyle until the problems of obesity, cardiovascular disease, depression and anxiety are embedded.

    So as regards the alternatives to meds, lifestyle change is probably the most supported by evidence, but also the one that places the most responsibility on the patient themselves.

    There is a little limited evidence for acupuncture in some circumstances, but before you know it you get into the realms of reiki and homeopathy and all the rest of the wand waving bullshit.
    Superb.
  • Carter
    Carter Posts: 14,252
    DaveMehmet said:
    You need it if you want to be a record breaker 

    When he used to hit a high C on that trumpet, you couldn't fit an American Express card between the cheeks of his arse 
  • sillav nitram
    sillav nitram Posts: 10,169
    Wheresmeticket? said:
    For some time we've had social prescribing which recognises that many health conditions derive from or are exacerbated by socio-economic drivers - poor diet, lack of exercise, loneliness and poverty all contribute to the underlying causes of many if not most of the illnesses from which older, and sometimes not so old patients suffer.  However GPs are overwhelmed with patients expecting to receive meds, and who happily disregard advice around their lifestyle until the problems of obesity, cardiovascular disease, depression and anxiety are embedded.

    So as regards the alternatives to meds, lifestyle change is probably the most supported by evidence, but also the one that places the most responsibility on the patient themselves.

    There is a little limited evidence for acupuncture in some circumstances, but before you know it you get into the realms of reiki and homeopathy and all the rest of the wand waving bullshit.
    Totally agree.

    But how do you change people's attitude towards self care and themselves, there may be a whole host of reasons why they can't care for themselves in the way they need to, we all have our complexities and idiosyncrasies. From my own perspective, my mental health often gets in the way of me doing the right thing and I'm often my own worse enemy.  @Wheresmeticket?

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  • Wheresmeticket
    Wheresmeticket Posts: 17,304
    sillav nitram said:
    Wheresmeticket? said:
    For some time we've had social prescribing which recognises that many health conditions derive from or are exacerbated by socio-economic drivers - poor diet, lack of exercise, loneliness and poverty all contribute to the underlying causes of many if not most of the illnesses from which older, and sometimes not so old patients suffer.  However GPs are overwhelmed with patients expecting to receive meds, and who happily disregard advice around their lifestyle until the problems of obesity, cardiovascular disease, depression and anxiety are embedded.

    So as regards the alternatives to meds, lifestyle change is probably the most supported by evidence, but also the one that places the most responsibility on the patient themselves.

    There is a little limited evidence for acupuncture in some circumstances, but before you know it you get into the realms of reiki and homeopathy and all the rest of the wand waving bullshit.
    Totally agree.

    But how do you change people's attitude towards self care and themselves, there may be a whole host of reasons why they can't care for themselves in the way they need to, we all have our complexities and idiosyncrasies. From my own perspective, my mental health often gets in the way of me doing the right thing and I'm often my own worse enemy.  @Wheresmeticket?
    Yes there's no easy route. Changes to cigarette and tobacco use show it can be done if the political/ social will is there.
  • sillav nitram
    sillav nitram Posts: 10,169
    Wheresmeticket? said:
    sillav nitram said:
    Wheresmeticket? said:
    For some time we've had social prescribing which recognises that many health conditions derive from or are exacerbated by socio-economic drivers - poor diet, lack of exercise, loneliness and poverty all contribute to the underlying causes of many if not most of the illnesses from which older, and sometimes not so old patients suffer.  However GPs are overwhelmed with patients expecting to receive meds, and who happily disregard advice around their lifestyle until the problems of obesity, cardiovascular disease, depression and anxiety are embedded.

    So as regards the alternatives to meds, lifestyle change is probably the most supported by evidence, but also the one that places the most responsibility on the patient themselves.

    There is a little limited evidence for acupuncture in some circumstances, but before you know it you get into the realms of reiki and homeopathy and all the rest of the wand waving bullshit.
    Totally agree.

    But how do you change people's attitude towards self care and themselves, there may be a whole host of reasons why they can't care for themselves in the way they need to, we all have our complexities and idiosyncrasies. From my own perspective, my mental health often gets in the way of me doing the right thing and I'm often my own worse enemy.  @Wheresmeticket?
    Yes there's no easy route. Changes to cigarette and tobacco use show it can be done if the political/ social will is there.
    Amen Bro;)

    Equally the alcohol use as well, both are coping mechanisms that ruin peoples lives and the Government do f*ck all about it.
  • holyjo
    holyjo Posts: 1,326
    MrOneLung said:
    i would suggest any medicine prescribed is done so for a reason 
    I think we can take that as a given . Question is wether the reasons are all good . I would venture that few if any GP’s have any real understanding of the interaction of different drugs.

    10 Years ago my father was ill in hospital and they doctors told mum and the kids that they were withdrawing all of the drugs designed to help my Dad recover / get well . Used to be called the Liverpool method .He would need to go into the hospice for the last few days of life. 

    They stopped the drugs and three weeks later the hospice kicked him out as he was not dying . He lived the next six months drug free slowly deteriorating but without pain and then passed

    Although grateful for the hugely positive impact prescribed medication can have I am also sceptical of big Pharma and suspect drugs are over prescribed 
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,628
    edited August 2023
    holyjo said:
    MrOneLung said:
    i would suggest any medicine prescribed is done so for a reason 
    I think we can take that as a given . Question is wether the reasons are all good . I would venture that few if any GP’s have any real understanding of the interaction of different drugs.

    10 Years ago my father was ill in hospital and they doctors told mum and the kids that they were withdrawing all of the drugs designed to help my Dad recover / get well . Used to be called the Liverpool method .He would need to go into the hospice for the last few days of life. 

    They stopped the drugs and three weeks later the hospice kicked him out as he was not dying . He lived the next six months drug free slowly deteriorating but without pain and then passed

    Although grateful for the hugely positive impact prescribed medication can have I am also sceptical of big Pharma and suspect drugs are over prescribed 
    I wasn’t going to post again on this thread but frankly spouting utter nonsense as highlighted above is highly irresponsible and beyond my comprehension. Doctors spend a large part of their ten year education and continuing education on pharmacology and not only that have access to the BNF (British National Formulary) for any prescribing of medication if the are not fully confident on their decision to prescribe. Any doctor prescribing a drug with adverse indications when used with other medications would be struck off.  

  • SomervilleAddick
    SomervilleAddick Posts: 3,577
    I’m 3500 miles away and dealing with a different system, but everyone wants a list of every drug your prescribed, a list of anything self prescribed , and any other drugs ( legal and illegal) before they’ll prescribe you anything. They are all very aware of drug interactions.  

    My doctor has always been good at listening to my reluctance to go down the drug route, but also points out when my efforts to avoid it aren’t working. 
  • Arsenetatters
    Arsenetatters Posts: 5,977
    ShootersHillGuru said:
    holyjo said:
    MrOneLung said:
    i would suggest any medicine prescribed is done so for a reason 
    I think we can take that as a given . Question is wether the reasons are all good . I would venture that few if any GP’s have any real understanding of the interaction of different drugs.

    10 Years ago my father was ill in hospital and they doctors told mum and the kids that they were withdrawing all of the drugs designed to help my Dad recover / get well . Used to be called the Liverpool method .He would need to go into the hospice for the last few days of life. 

    They stopped the drugs and three weeks later the hospice kicked him out as he was not dying . He lived the next six months drug free slowly deteriorating but without pain and then passed

    Although grateful for the hugely positive impact prescribed medication can have I am also sceptical of big Pharma and suspect drugs are over prescribed 
    I wasn’t going to post again on this thread but frankly spouting utter nonsense as highlighted above is highly irresponsible and beyond my comprehension. Doctors spend a large part of their ten year education and continuing education on pharmacology and not only that have access to the BNF (British National Formulary) for any prescribing of medication if the are not fully confident on their decision to prescribe. Any doctor prescribing a drug with adverse indications when used with other medications would be struck off.  

    So….. why would a head of rheumatology give my a systemic steroid injection without checking (it’s written in big letters) if I was bipolar or had any relatives who were. It’s on the bloody nhs patient advice!!
    not saying they are all like this - and certainly should have known better - but it does happen. 
  • lolwray
    lolwray Posts: 4,902
    ShootersHillGuru said:
    holyjo said:
    MrOneLung said:
    i would suggest any medicine prescribed is done so for a reason 
    I think we can take that as a given . Question is wether the reasons are all good . I would venture that few if any GP’s have any real understanding of the interaction of different drugs.

    10 Years ago my father was ill in hospital and they doctors told mum and the kids that they were withdrawing all of the drugs designed to help my Dad recover / get well . Used to be called the Liverpool method .He would need to go into the hospice for the last few days of life. 

    They stopped the drugs and three weeks later the hospice kicked him out as he was not dying . He lived the next six months drug free slowly deteriorating but without pain and then passed

    Although grateful for the hugely positive impact prescribed medication can have I am also sceptical of big Pharma and suspect drugs are over prescribed 
    I wasn’t going to post again on this thread but frankly spouting utter nonsense as highlighted above is highly irresponsible and beyond my comprehension. Doctors spend a large part of their ten year education and continuing education on pharmacology and not only that have access to the BNF (British National Formulary) for any prescribing of medication if the are not fully confident on their decision to prescribe. Any doctor prescribing a drug with adverse indications when used with other medications would be struck off.  

    Whilst @holyjo made a sweeping statement my daughters and my partner ,and in one instance me,have been mis prescribed(not misdiagnosed)medication by GP’s in the recent past.I expect this wouldn't happen in hospital as much but it certainly happens at your local GP.Theres lots of advice on the net about what medication is prescribed for what condition and their effects when mixed with other drugs.I would always advise anyone to check 
  • alan dugdale
    alan dugdale Posts: 3,077
    Allipurinol for gout 
    Pregabalin for CRPS
    Omeprozole
    Vitamin D as have low levels.
  • iaitch
    iaitch Posts: 10,234
    lolwray said:
    ShootersHillGuru said:
    holyjo said:
    MrOneLung said:
    i would suggest any medicine prescribed is done so for a reason 
    I think we can take that as a given . Question is wether the reasons are all good . I would venture that few if any GP’s have any real understanding of the interaction of different drugs.

    10 Years ago my father was ill in hospital and they doctors told mum and the kids that they were withdrawing all of the drugs designed to help my Dad recover / get well . Used to be called the Liverpool method .He would need to go into the hospice for the last few days of life. 

    They stopped the drugs and three weeks later the hospice kicked him out as he was not dying . He lived the next six months drug free slowly deteriorating but without pain and then passed

    Although grateful for the hugely positive impact prescribed medication can have I am also sceptical of big Pharma and suspect drugs are over prescribed 
    I wasn’t going to post again on this thread but frankly spouting utter nonsense as highlighted above is highly irresponsible and beyond my comprehension. Doctors spend a large part of their ten year education and continuing education on pharmacology and not only that have access to the BNF (British National Formulary) for any prescribing of medication if the are not fully confident on their decision to prescribe. Any doctor prescribing a drug with adverse indications when used with other medications would be struck off.  

    Whilst @holyjo made a sweeping statement my daughters and my partner ,and in one instance me,have been mis prescribed(not misdiagnosed)medication by GP’s in the recent past.I expect this wouldn't happen in hospital as much but it certainly happens at your local GP.Theres lots of advice on the net about what medication is prescribed for what condition and their effects when mixed with other drugs.I would always advise anyone to check 
    I was on Simvastatin and the highest dose of Metformin, 850mg three times a day.

    Pharmacist at Boots referred this back to my GP as there was an issue with medication clashing, GP changed me to Atorvastatin.

    Well done the pharmacist.


  • holyjo
    holyjo Posts: 1,326
    lolwray said:
    ShootersHillGuru said:
    holyjo said:
    MrOneLung said:
    i would suggest any medicine prescribed is done so for a reason 
    I think we can take that as a given . Question is wether the reasons are all good . I would venture that few if any GP’s have any real understanding of the interaction of different drugs.

    10 Years ago my father was ill in hospital and they doctors told mum and the kids that they were withdrawing all of the drugs designed to help my Dad recover / get well . Used to be called the Liverpool method .He would need to go into the hospice for the last few days of life. 

    They stopped the drugs and three weeks later the hospice kicked him out as he was not dying . He lived the next six months drug free slowly deteriorating but without pain and then passed

    Although grateful for the hugely positive impact prescribed medication can have I am also sceptical of big Pharma and suspect drugs are over prescribed 
    I wasn’t going to post again on this thread but frankly spouting utter nonsense as highlighted above is highly irresponsible and beyond my comprehension. Doctors spend a large part of their ten year education and continuing education on pharmacology and not only that have access to the BNF (British National Formulary) for any prescribing of medication if the are not fully confident on their decision to prescribe. Any doctor prescribing a drug with adverse indications when used with other medications would be struck off.  

    Whilst @holyjo made a sweeping statement my daughters and my partner ,and in one instance me,have been mis prescribed(not misdiagnosed)medication by GP’s in the recent past.I expect this wouldn't happen in hospital as much but it certainly happens at your local GP.Theres lots of advice on the net about what medication is prescribed for what condition and their effects when mixed with other drugs.I would always advise anyone to check 
    I was making a general point rather than a specific one related to you and yours . Apologies for any confusion 

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  • holyjo
    holyjo Posts: 1,326
    ShootersHillGuru said:
    holyjo said:
    MrOneLung said:
    i would suggest any medicine prescribed is done so for a reason 
    I think we can take that as a given . Question is wether the reasons are all good . I would venture that few if any GP’s have any real understanding of the interaction of different drugs.

    10 Years ago my father was ill in hospital and they doctors told mum and the kids that they were withdrawing all of the drugs designed to help my Dad recover / get well . Used to be called the Liverpool method .He would need to go into the hospice for the last few days of life. 

    They stopped the drugs and three weeks later the hospice kicked him out as he was not dying . He lived the next six months drug free slowly deteriorating but without pain and then passed

    Although grateful for the hugely positive impact prescribed medication can have I am also sceptical of big Pharma and suspect drugs are over prescribed 
    I wasn’t going to post again on this thread but frankly spouting utter nonsense as highlighted above is highly irresponsible and beyond my comprehension. Doctors spend a large part of their ten year education and continuing education on pharmacology and not only that have access to the BNF (British National Formulary) for any prescribing of medication if the are not fully confident on their decision to prescribe. Any doctor prescribing a drug with adverse indications when used with other medications would be struck off.  

    Meta-analyses of the reasons for inpatient admission to medical wards showed that in 7% of cases serious drug interactions were the cause for admission or for prolonged hospital stays (3, e1, e2). Similar conclusions were reached in an earlier Austrian study of 543 newly admitted elderly patients (median age: 82 years), who were taking 7.5 ± 3.8 drugs at the time of their admission (4). The authors regarded 36% of the drugs as unnecessary and 30% as inappropriate for elderly people (see recommendations in the PRISCUS list [5]). For 10% of the patients, adverse drug effects were regarded as the reason for their inpatient admission, and in 18.7% a drug interaction very probably played a part in these effects (6)

    From the National library of medicine. I look forward to your response with interest 
  • Wheresmeticket
    Wheresmeticket Posts: 17,304
    edited August 2023
    .
  • EveshamAddick
    EveshamAddick Posts: 7,019
    I’m 58 in 4 weeks time. Glad to say not on any medication for anything. 😀
  • sillav nitram
    sillav nitram Posts: 10,169
    Interestingly, got into a conversation with a complete stranger while having a coffee in the park with the dog, an American woman.

    She was in London for a funeral of an old boyfriend who died from heart related complications which in turn was as a result of prescribed medications having an adverse reaction and considering the patients history, should never have been administered in the first place.
  • Crusty54
    Crusty54 Posts: 3,233
    ShootersHillGuru said:
    I won’t comment further because it absolutely is everyone’s right to question and do with their bodies whatever they think best for them. My parting shot though is that you disregard medical advice at your peril. 
    I have an excellent specialist diabetes nurse at the Ferryview Health Centre. Coming off Metformin was done in consultation with her and my diet and exercise routine was shown to be working in a comprehensive blood test. This will be repeated at the end of next month.

    I also monitor my blood sugar levels on a daily basis. 
  • holyjo
    holyjo Posts: 1,326
    @ShootersHillGuru….. 

    Any thoughts on the evidence I posted specifically about the interaction of drugs , and how they contribute to ill health . 
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,628
    holyjo said:
    @ShootersHillGuru….. 

    Any thoughts on the evidence I posted specifically about the interaction of drugs , and how they contribute to ill health . 
    All drugs have potential side effects. Some drugs are not recommended in combination with other certain drugs. Some drug interactions will be patient specific. In 2022 there were 1.04 Billion prescriptions written within the NHS. I fully accept and it would be ridiculous if there were not errors in prescribing. How could we think otherwise ? All doctors and others who prescribe are trained in pharmacology and work to and within NICE guidelines. There is also a secondary check of sorts where the dispensing pharmacist looks at prescriptions and should spot anything that might have the potential be a concern. Having said all of that, with 1.04 Billion prescriptions issued and rising every year there will be mistakes. If I was being prescribed a number of drugs I would certainly know exactly what they were for and do a little research for myself. I still have 100% confidence that the system is as safe as any could be.
  • holyjo
    holyjo Posts: 1,326
    Interesting thread. I had a 10 day stay in hospital when a consultant mis prescribed a drug that set off an immuno response. This was perfectly avoidable as a different consultant had noted that I could only take a low dose of the drug - in this case it was human error 

    I stand by my other point. Although GP’s and medical staff will do their best in the former case they get ten minutes with each patient hardly  enough to say hello and good bye let alone really delve into the interaction of drugs . If someone is on say four drugs - that’s the interaction between drug 1 and 2 ; 1 and 3 ; 1 and 4 ; 1 and 2/3 1 and 3/4 etc. who could possibly hope to know all of that particular when dealing with unique individuals 

    Thirdly although undoubtedly the advances in medicine and medication have been critical in the an advancement of life and good health in life I think we should be very wary of big pharma. In the same way weapon developers benefit from war and  the need for weaponry drug companies benefit from ill health and a culture of doling out prescription drugs for anything and everything 
  • guinnessaddick
    guinnessaddick Posts: 28,662
    EveshamAddick said:
    I’m 58 in 4 weeks time. Glad to say not on any medication for anything. 😀
    Likewise, I’m 60 next year, at the moment and not on any medication. You never know what live has got to throw at you. Enjoy your health while you can and try to do something that will keep you in good health into your older years.
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,628
    My warning lights flick on as soon as I see the words Big Pharma.

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