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Read this internet headline yesterday or the day before but didn't go deep into the article. I may get back to it.
What an alarming statistic. When you stratify the adult age brackets, my guess it is higher for "older" retired people like those who frequent here.
Comments?
Due to all my health issues, I take a whopping number of prescriptions either every day, or a few "as needed". Some, like the mentioned cholesterol and BP meds are almost obligatory as one ages.
Each year, My Dr.s and I go through my list and we try to pare it down as I don't like them all, but I suffer sometimes serious consequences if I drop a med. Having had some various 15 major surgeries doesn't help, with at least 3 more on the horizon-all for various different things, not a single problem.
So, armed with good insurance I pay for, I have to take them.
A couple have gone generic OTC, so I can get them supposedly "cheaper" but "more expensive" as OTC is usually higher than my co-pay.
I don't like being a walking pharmacy and some wonder how I keep track of all of them, well, I don't have much choice..and most are A M or P M taken only, with only a few @ 3 times a day as needed.
St John's Wort, no matter how pure the origin, has many side effects and contraindications. I took it back in the 1990s and it blew my TSH (thyroid) levels sky-high: normal is up to about 4.0, mine was 58.0. The internist said it was the highest he had ever seen and immediately hospitalized me. I was having ataxia and memory blackouts. I was left permanently hypothyroid as a result. Luckily my prescription meds for that work really well.
Sorry that happened to you. It's important for us to bear in mind though that any substance can have wildly different effects on different people. I take supplemental magnesium for several imbalances and it works great for me, but I hear from a friend that it has adverse affects on her. Another two friends have totally managed their moderate depression with St Johnswort, with no side effects. Everyone's body chemistry is different.
But often those living longer have chronic conditions so that their quality of life is severely diminished. Thinking of my in-laws who are both in their 80s. They have not been well since turning 60 and spend their old age dealing with chronic disease - diabetes, high bp, heart issues, anxiety, depression, chronic pain etc. The amount of meds they are on is astounding to me.
Went to a funeral of a 95 year old. Sounds impressive, but she was under 24/7 care for the last 18 years. One other attendee said she had cared for her dad for 20 years!! He also passed in his 90s
My mom was 88 before her health went wonky and she couldn't live alone. I hope I'm that lucky. And really, I will be happy with 70 years on this earth!
50% of adults are female, and probably 95% of them are on some form of contraception at any given time. So 60% is a relatively low figure, especially once you add in 4% of men have asthma and 6% have migraines.
The British royal family has long been treated by homeopathic physicians. I wish it was more widely available here in the U.S.
It is, I have homepathic remedies piped into my house. On every floor I can open a valve to dispense wicked strong remedies like 1 in 1000000000 icthyous uranea.
It is, I have homepathic remedies piped into my house. On every floor I can open a valve to dispense wicked strong remedies like 1 in 1000000000 icthyous uranea.
I can't believe the number of people on this board who claim to be so cavalier about taking their prescribed meds. There's nothing cute, smart or noble about letting a medical condition go untreated.
As a Primary Care R.N. I find the comments on this thread of great interest. I certainly respect the beliefs of those who feel prescription medication is akin to arsenic, and having had one foot in complimentary healthcare modalities, and the other in the allopathic model of care for many years, I fully understand how you feel but must let you know that many "natural" supplements taken as a substitute for prescription medication also have their risks. Two patients come to mind that have experienced very negative effects self treating with these so called natural supplements. One patient chose without the knowledge of his doctor to take Red Rice Yeast as an alternative to prescription cholesterol reduction medication as he feared the potential side effects statin medications can an do produce in some patients. But this patient was not aware that Red Rice Yeast also can negatively impact liver functioning, and he learned that only after his skin turned the color of a Cheeto and his LFTs were off the charts. Another patient I know skin is a permanent death grey color from long term over use of ingesting Colloidal Silver. For those who choose the non allopathic healthcare path, I can't recommend enough to do so under the guidance of a naturopathic physician. Naturopathic physicians are very educated in both models of care, and for those who want to combine both prescription medication with natural supplements their guidance is invaluable.
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