PSA: Always ask your Dr and Pharmacist about drug reactions when starting any new med.

[Coventina]

I had a little adventure yesterday: spent almost 24 hours in the hospital due to "bottoming out" as the cardiac nurses described it.

As a person with numerous health issues, I take a LOT of different prescription medicines. Well, one new med my GP gave me decided not to play nice with the others, and down I went.

I am perfectly fine now, after a battery of tests to check if I had done any damage to my heart (no, thankfully).
But, it was a pretty close call. I was lucky that I did not completely black out and I was able to rouse my husband (he sleeps deeply) and tell him I needed to go to the ER.

Now, I look forward to months of arguing with my insurance company about why I went to the ER and had to be admitted when there was technically nothing wrong, except for my heart almost stopping.

But, at least I live to fight with them.

I don't know how this managed to slip by my GP and my pharmacist, who are both wonderful people I have good relations with.
But, lesson learned. Will always ask them to double check if any new med will get along with the others.

Be safe, all!

[malaise]

1. You be safe

Glad you're OK.

[Coventina]

2. Thanks. I've had some weird stuff happen in my life, that was up there

in the top 5 at least!!

[malaise]

3. I can imagine the scare

They all become more serious as we age

[Coventina]

4. Yeah, I thought I was having a heart attack.

Glad it wasn't, but it was pretty freaky.

One of the tests they ran at the hospital was a chemical stress test.
That's when I REALLY thought I was gonna die for sure!

I hope I never have to do THAT again!

[HipChick]

5. How can you check?

I'm always wary of this situation...esp if something decides to go South on me..

[Coventina]

7. The best way is to review things with your pharmacist

I only use one pharmacist, so she knows everything that I take.

So, I'm not sure how this time it was missed.

But what I will do in the future is to ask her if any new drug will interact poorly with anything else I take.

[Tipperary]

6. I always read the handouts that come with the meds.

My pharmacy always asks if I want any “counseling” about the drugs. I do not take any meds, except when I have been injured. I always ask about side effects, but I hate and distrust drugs of any sort so that is probably why.

[Coventina]

8. I actually did have counseling about the new drug that caused the problem.

So, this was completely unexpected.

I wish I didn't need any prescription drugs, but, unfortunately, I have really bad genetics.
As a result I have prescriptions from my GP, my OB/GYN, my arthritis doc, and my sleep doc. Now it looks like a cardiologist is going to be added to the mix.

[Vinca]

9. Good advice. My husband had a horrible experience that landed him in the hospital for a day, too.

Glad you're feeling better.

[McCamy Taylor]

10. Also get all your meds at the same drug store.

Have seen bad reactions when folks get meds at different pharmacies. Say Bactrim at one store, methotrexate at another. Automatic renal failure. Or Bactrim and Coumadin--bleed out. If you use only one pharmacist, he/she will automatically check for interactions. Or tell you that this new med is a duplicate. Beta-blockers, for instance, can be used for migraine, blood pressure, heart, anxiety.

Also, be aware that some "nutritional supplements" may be laced with prescription meds. Since viagra was invented, the incidence of people having low blood pressure with nitroglycerin has risen dramatically--and most of the people will tell you that they do not take viagra. I think that there is viagra in some "male enhancement" vitamins.

And carry a complete list of meds and allergies with you at all times, because the ER will not know what the "red blood pressure pill" is and if you tell a doctor "I had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic but i don't remember what it was" you will not get an antibiotic rx even if you have an infection that requires one.

[3catwoman3]

16. "...because the ER will not know what the "red blood pressure pill is."

So true. Nor will your primary care provider be able to guess which topical preparation your dermatologist gave you when you ask for a refill of "that white cream in the little tube." Oh, yeah, that white cream in the little tube. They're ALL white (mostly) and they ALL come in little tubes.

And, finish the whole course of treatment - don't save the last couple pills so you can self treat similar symptoms that may happen again, and DON"T share a prescription with anyone else.

And don't ask your doctor or nurse practitioner to prescribe an antibiotic over the phone. The best we can ever do over the phone is guess at a diagnosis, and I do not wish to run the risk of guessing wrong for someone.

[Ms. Toad]

11. And remember drugs include your favorite vitamins and herbal remedies.

Those all need to be reported to your doctor, in addition to recreational drugs and alcohol. They don't always matter - but when they do, they really matter.

[Coventina]

12. Excellent reminder. St. John's Wort is an herbal remedy for anxiety.

But it causes a bad reaction when taken with anti-depressants.

Great reminder to read up on OTC herbs and vitamin supplements.

[Ms. Toad]

13. I've had "natural" remedies and vitamins

that I had to stop taking with sodium warfarin (brand name Coumadin), and in advance of surgery. I would have known, since I check all drug interactions, but most people would not have thought about Vitamin E and a risk of bleeding and might not think of listing vitamins and herbal supplements when they provide their doctor with a list.

[Coventina]

14. Yep. A very important reminder. List everything all the time, everyone!

[RandomAccess]

15. People can also check for themselves on line --

in fact, IMO everyone who gets a new drug ought to check for "side effects" because there are always more than listed on the piece of paper they give you -- and you need to know what to possibly look for -- AND drug INTERACTIONS if you take many.

So sorry you had this experience. Good luck with the insurance people.

[womanofthehills]

17. Agreed, I take nothing without checking online for side effects

I had a dr. tell me a side effect my mother was having from a drug, was not a side effect of that drug. I went online and found hundreds of people having the same side effect. When I confronted him, he said - well I have never seen it. She went off the drug and it went away.

Best way to check for side effects is to type in FORUM after side effects and you will get side effects people are actually having vs just the drug companies listing. My favorite is askapatient.com.

[GulfCoast66]

18. I once went to a doctor in the box, a walk-in clinic. Which I don't normally dislike

A cold had turned into an infection and they prescribed anabiotic’s, I think a Z pack.

When I told my doctor about it several weeks later she told me that it could have interacted with my blood pressure medicine and put me at risk for a heart attack. I will now not take prescriptions from someone who does not ask what medicines I am taking. There are simple programs to warn them what not to prescribe.Posted too early

[3catwoman3]

19. I am so happy to hear that you...

...will be around to do battle with your insurance company. Wishing you strength and quick healing.

[csziggy]

20. Keep a page on your computer with all your drugs, supplements, etc

Print it out and keep a copy with you and give a copy to every provider.

I have one that lists those, plus a list of the operations I have had since 1993 (I am up to fourteen) with the dates and procedures. At the bottom I have listed my doctors for different specialties.

I print it out and take the copy to every new doctor. They love it since it's hard for their nurses to ask all the right questions, especially if you are a new patient.They always want to give it back but I want them to keep it in my files. Now, many of the offices are completely digital so they scan the copy and return it, which is OK.

In addition, check to see if your providers have a patient portal with your medical history. If they do, get online with it and make sure that it is correct. So far I have three, maybe four different patient portals I check - one each for my GP, cardiologists, and orthopedic practice. There might be a separate one for the hospital. I have had to correct things on the patient portal as well as at the offices for my doctors.

So long as I am able I will keep on them so my records are accurate.