Over-medicated?

@kaylenk
What medications are you currently on and at what dosages? I hear you about being over medicated and with the wrong medications to help with symptoms.

It is so important for all of us to educate ourselves on symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, and medications. We need to advocate for ourselves and ask lots of questions. Many times people get put on medication but often there isn’t a full review of all medications to determine if there are adverse reactions causing side effects. If medications are filled at different pharmacies, drug utilization reviews are not really done. I’m sure pharmaceutical companies wants doctors to keep prescribing and not stopping medications. The incentives may keep some doctors doing this. It is easier for doctors to prescribe medications than do testing to get to root cause of symptoms.

kaylenk @kaylenk

Welcome to Mayo Connect.
Every week when I fill my pill containers, I often wish I did not have to take all these pills. But then resolve to fact I do need them.

I keep a list of all my medications, dosages, who prescribed, for what and any instructions of when to take. As @dlydailyhope said, some medications should not be prescribed together. The list should also include any supplements and vitamins you take.

Maybe at next appointment, you can ask the provider to review list and see if all are still needed and if dosages are correct.

If want to check for any interactions yourself, you can use drugs.com Drug Interaction Checker: https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html

When is your next appointment?

Thank you. I, as a senior, am finding I really need to do my homework with meds. Not easy, not coming from a medical background. That being said, with today's electronic information available, I have learned to do my homework before swallowing a pill. I will add, I do NOT make any changes nor moves without discussing them with my ONE Physician I have kept on my payroll. He has been very supportive and always there for this elderly single woman who is insistent on staying in her own home until it is time to leave this planet. My suggestions: Do your homework, if you are going to keep a doctor on your payroll, consult any changes you want to do with them prior to doing. Thankyou Dr. "C".

Yes. I was overmedicated by psychiatry beginning in my 20s. I have had to be at peace that this was done for profit. I have ptsd now probably always did. I have had trauma recovery. I only take now escitalopram dose was 10mg now 5ng. I take lamotrigine 150mg daily for seizure prevention. Dose was 200mg. I have GI issues. Constipation. Gas etc. I am better but am also working on diet. I am so sorry someone else has experienced this. My 2 cents is being deprescribed as many medications as possible under medical supervision.

I’m sorry I haven’t been back here all day. I told my primary today on our virtual appointment what was going on, and that I just need fresh eyes to look at my situation. A new psychiatrist was found for me who really looks at your diagnosis, and is willing to work with people who are just plain burdened with too many meds that nobody knows what may or may not even be working. Not just pile some more on. So he is good at weaning you off, where needed. I’m quite happy about this. He is virtual as well, and in a larger city from where I live.
My old psychiatrist just wasn’t willing to work with me anymore. I felt bogged down.
I already have an appointment with the new psychiatrist the first week of March.

Thank you. I’ve spent more than a year trying to do this very thing with him. Every last vitamin is on his list. But he won’t work with me.

Today my primary doctor helped me find a new psychiatrist with fresh eyes. So she referred me. There really was nothing working for us in talking about my meds anymore. I was not looking forward to our appointments at all. That’s not usually how I am.

Good Morning !!! I thank each and everyone of you for all your comments, hugs, and liked. No matter where you live, Spring is on it's way; and that certainly helps. I live in New Jersey and have not seen a winter like this one. Yup, can clearly remember lots of snow, sledding, being bundled up with so many clothes one could barely walk, and lots of laughter and fun. However, this cold weather really hurts this body which has Leiden Factor V, and I am having a tough time regulating my Warfarin dose. Yes, my primary wants me to go on Eliquis or Xarelto, but this middle class senior cannot afford to, therefore until a generic is made available, which I might be able to afford...warfarin and taking my INR weekly is not a choice, it is a way to survive.
Again, I send each of you not good, but great wishes for a wonderful day. Your, comments and hugs, have brought tears to my morning eyes. Thank you.

i threw out extra meds. my dr slammed doors over my resistance. i live rurally not a lot of choices or dentists or drs.

I had the same thing happen to me. Could not take the side effects thar was making me feel sicker, i stopped taking the medicine and Dr. Banned me.

did you have your teeth pulled?