So many things could be called medication, couldn't they? A pet surely qualifies, the power of the mind, the arts, nature, a close relationship, exercise, rest, faith, a social group, a healthy place of worship, and the list goes on!

Does everything on my list act as effective medication for everyone? I think not. But there are endless non-chemical things that serve as medication.

Then there's the field of pharmacology, which manufactures an ever increasing superabundance of products. My first 50 years, I took almost none of them, except for aspirin. Then I hit 50! Over the next ten years I began having a variety of health challenges, and needed to take medication for some of them.

Taking medications responsibly becomes important, in terms of benefit vs. risk, in terms of interactions, knowing when to say no, being aware of the effects of a medication on your body and mind, taking it as prescribed, knowing when you can get benefit from a lower dose. Another list that goes on and on.

Mental health meds can be ones that require responsible management. It can be easy to take more more than we need. When an antidepressant starts becoming less effective, an add-on is often prescribed. Then there's the need to treat a second mental health issue, which requires a different type of medication. And along comes a physical problem that might be treated with a medication that's also used for mental health. Balancing those kinds of combinations can be become a challenge.

I use Drug.com as a resource, for one thing to check interactions. That helps me weigh the risks of what I'm taking. Sometimes, as the information paperwork that comes with every prescription says, "your prescriber may determine that the benefit outweighs the risk", after they've listed a bunch of scary side effects.

I didn't intend to write this much. My own history is complicated, and doctors sometimes don't know what the best treatment would be, which tends to result in lots of trial and error. So often I'm supposed to start a new medication at the same time as something else is going on that clouds the process.

Juggling multiple medications is something that requires wisdom, research and organization. I look forward to my future home in heaven where no medication will be needed.

Y'all stay safe with your meds.

Jim

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