I stay as far away as I can from any prescription medicine unless I am absolutely  convinced I really need it. Having a doctor in the family, I know some of what goes on. Sometimes we need the medication and I'm not here to tell anyone to go off of it. Each case is different.
 
True story- My dad married a woman after my mother died. Since they lived in another state I was seldom in contact with them. My sisters kept telling me how secretive his wife was. She would always answer the phone and it would take an act of god for her to let any of use actually see him. When we spoke with her, she said that my dad needed to be on dozens of medications to be healthy. My sister showed up once with a video camera and his wife almost went ballistic. She held a firm grip on all of his doctor visits making all of the decisions. Eventually we got more info on the doctors and the meds demanding more information. As it turns out she was telling the docs my dad had all of these conditions and in return she was getting tons of prescription pills for him, one of those was similar to a horse tranquilizer ( I'm not kidding ). No wonder he was always sleeping when we tried to call him.
 
I'll shorten this up now- She was trying to kill him and collect his pension. She is no longer his wife. She should be tried for attempted murder. My dad is now only on a few prescriptions and has been doing fine without the others for over 10 years. He's well into his late 70's now and living on his own. To this day I can't believe this lady got away with this. Apparently a person can tell a doctor almost anything and get a prescription in return.

What we need desperately is a drug that makes people smarter about advertising.  Not just for other drugs, but for everything from toothpaste to political candidates.
 
I don't think most people realize just how deep into their heads the folks on Madison Ave have gotten.  It doesn't seem so anyway.
 
If people weren't so busy with their shiny portable stuff, maybe they could spare a few moments once in a while to think about things that really will matter 5 years from now.
 
I understand avoiding physical activity ( ;) ), but thinking is fun, dammitalltoheck!
 
EDIT to add - If there is no cover charge, you are the product!!

Beagle
you do realize that in the United States you have a choice of which doctor you go to, right?

Witch doctor?  See reply #3 Beags! 

michaelhanson
I'm on a Statin, but that's it for now.

I was on statins but I took myself off once I educated myself on cholesterol. Cholesterol is one of the most necessary substances in our body. IT is essential for our brain to function properly (along with the rest of our body). Foods high in cholesterol DO NOT raise your blood cholesterol levels. Cholesterol isn't even cholesterol, the "good and bad" are high density and low density lipo (sic) proteins. One carries the other out of the blood stream (they combine)together they are one of the few things that can freely cross the blood brain barrier. The brain does not let just anything in. If there is not enough of one, the other has nowhere to go except to stay in your arteries.
Statins have a lot of BADs side effects.
When I got off my "cholesterol" levels when up a little then they came down and a bit and stabilized. Statins commonly make your joints hurt.
I was on three BP meds and they wanted to put me on another, my heart rate was in the high 40s. When I was younger my heart rate was high. In my 40s, when doing light outside work it would go up to 150 or so. I was having some stress from doing to much, going every day with the kids coaching travelling softball teams at ball tournaments. Then during the week rec teams. That year between my wife and I we both worked, I ran a business, and we were coaching four teams... 7 days a week at the some field. Finally my heart started to sort of "flip flop" at night when I would lay down. It scared me. The doctor determined it to be a benign condition and that a little atenolol, a BP medicine would make it stop. It did. Eventually I did get high BP. The came the "cocktails of BP meds. Finally last year I had enough. I stopped the statins, I tod the doctor I wanted to change, to get my heart rate up. I'm now on 2.5 mg of Bystolic (half a pill) and a 10mg Lisinopril twice a day and I may try stopping those. My BP is now regularly about 140/75 the bottom number hardly ever changes but sometimes the upper number goes below 120.
Cut back on bread with gluten. It is absurd to try to completely cut out gluten but it isn't too hard to cut back on it. I guess if I were allergic to it, then it wouldn't be hard to cut it out. Cut back on white foods, don't try to eliminate them, it's a losing battle. Cut back on sugar. I like sweet coffee with half and half. I used to use several spoons of sugar in a travel mug. I now use one level spoon of sugar, a tablespoon of Splenda (for baking kind), and two packs of Sweet Leaf brand stevia (it has no funky taste).
 
Anyway. I take some meds for a bad back, I cut them back too. They try to put you on "Time Release" meds but I like control. I like to take less if I'm not hurting and have a few extra if I have a bad day. I never run out. I always take less than prescribed because I see it as a slippery slope. I've seen people go down it, not me thank you.
I have to take medicine for reflux. My dad was plagued with it too. The only one that works for me, and I've tried them all is called Dexilant. My insurance has decided that they no longer want to pay for it so I may have to come out of pocket an extra $220 a month. They wanted me to take Protonix. I tried it. I had to take a Zantac in the afternoon, then Tums after that. I was still having reflux. It is worth $220 a month to not have stomach acid coming up my throat.
I take Plavix because in 2007 I asked to have my heart checked. I had no symptoms but all the men on both sides of my family die of either heart disease or accidents, mostly heart disease. My primary care heard a murmur. I have a bicuspid aortic valve where there should be a tricuspid. That got me to the cardiologist who did a treadmill test with the injection. He told me I had no problem but since I was there and since I have such a strong family history they would go ahead and do a heart cath but he told me they weren't going to find anything. They did the catheterization, the doctor looked at me and, no kidding, said "you should be dead". He said my right coronary artery was 99% blocked. I went straight to a bigger hospital in an ambulance and got stents that day. The heart surgeon told me I had two, an 85% and a 95% blockage and some others they weren't going to worry about. I had grown accessory veins around the blockages... so, yes, I like doctors. So I am on the Plavix still. I don't like the bruising but I do like living.
Other than that allergy meds, Alieve, vitamins and supplements. Melatonin at bedtime, baby aspirin, and a little muscle relaxer or I'll lay awake for hours.
Up this morning at 6:30, writing this after looking up "Cholesterol Myth". There are lots of links some selling books. I found one (maybe English isn't the doctors first language, I noticed one mistake) but it seems to cover the bases. There are many though. Don't worry about cholesterol, you will know when something is wrong, don't ignore it when you do. Most people who die from heart attacks ignore the warning signs or never get checked.
http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol/
 
I changed my diet to higher fat/ lower carb and protein somewhere in between. I was more rigid at first but it works. Meat, butter, all the god natural stuff, saturated fats.. but you have to keep the cars LOW. Your cholesterol will fix itself. Your body makes cholesterol, it is essential. If it is too low, there is a problem. Doctors have known for decades that eating foods high in cholesterol don't raise your cholesterol levels. The problem is drug companies push their studies to sell their drugs. Don't think for one minute that drug companies want you "well", they want you to have symptoms so they can sell you drugs for those symptoms. THEY educate the doctors and it is a shame.
I feel better now than I used to. I think if I went ahead with back surgery and got off the meds I take so I don't feel like I have a nail sticking in my back, maybe things would get better but it is a balancing act. I've not been comfortable with the surgery idea. I've seen people helped and I've seen people get worse... besides that I have arthritis in my spine too and am not sure how much help I would get but I am going to talk to a surgeon in probably June. I have several other things on the schedule that I need to get through first.
 
I don't think most people need all the drugs that doctors prescribe but then again my mom and dad were on quite a few meds, a lot actually. Mom died just shy of 98 and dad was 97 and in fairly good heath and good spirits until the very end. The day he died, in his bed, when old friends came by he couldn't sit up but he was, "HEY Buddy"!! I'm so glad to see you". He was always like that. Mom had dementia and needed help but she would still get up and come in the dining room in the morning and get her coffee and breakfast, then sit in her chair. They both died quickly when the time came. So, prescription medicines are not all bad, not if you need them. Everyone is different. Take what you thin you need, lose the rest.
I'm glad I dropped the statins and am taking less BP meds (oh and my BP went DOWN when I started taking less BP meds). I don't imagine my cardiologist is too thrilled but neither him nor my regular doctor say anything about it. They see the numbers and say "OK".
One thing I am going to address and it is one of the reasons I am going to talk to the surgeon is that the pain meds have lowered my testosterone. I'm am not sure about testosterone replacement therapy, maybe a little but I don't want a lot.. but last check it was under 200 and that is too low.
Well, time to get my morning coffee and meds!! LOL.
 
P.S. Having been an amateur pharmacist when I was 18 till about 30 years old I can say with confidence that abusing drugs is much more fun that using drugs. YMMV but.. I don't recommend it. You have to know your limitations and you'll still might die. I did some fun stuff and I did some stupid stuff. I would NOT want to be young again because I am not stupid. People say, I'd do this or that different... I wouldn't I'd all the same stuff again because I am still me and I'll be me as long as I live. One thing I've figured out is that I can't improve on me because me trying to improve me, just makes more me... if that makes sense. 
I've lived long enough to know who I am and I no longer fool myself about who I am. We are all who we are. We can change habits but we cannot change who we are and "we" are always waiting in the background to break through that new "good" habit. I do believe we can change our actions but not change ourselves. No matter what, we are still here and we still do what we do what we do and think what we think... so I know, if I was young again... pffft, I'd be doing what young people do. We are all different and we all do different things but we aren't that much different.
I'm happy to be where I am in life. That is one reason that the idea of testosterone therapy troubles me... what if it makes me feel younger? What if it changes my hormones, feelings, or thinking so it's like I'm a young man again... heck, I'm liable to wind up in jail if the little head starts to think on it's own again. What? With Cialis and Viagra going generic in a couple of years... yeah, more testosterone and some Viagra! That adds up to a 65 year old adolescent! Time to break out the double knit leisure suit! LOL.. no thank you.
Sometimes you need to think things through to their logical conclusion. There is something to be said for growing old gracefully... and it ain't easy, but artificial youth? Nah.
 
J

Starise
I stay as far away as I can from any prescription medicine unless I am absolutely  convinced I really need it. Having a doctor in the family, I know some of what goes on. Sometimes we need the medication and I'm not here to tell anyone to go off of it. Each case is different.
 
True story- My dad married a woman after my mother died. Since they lived in another state I was seldom in contact with them. My sisters kept telling me how secretive his wife was. She would always answer the phone and it would take an act of god for her to let any of use actually see him. When we spoke with her, she said that my dad needed to be on dozens of medications to be healthy. My sister showed up once with a video camera and his wife almost went ballistic. She held a firm grip on all of his doctor visits making all of the decisions. Eventually we got more info on the doctors and the meds demanding more information. As it turns out she was telling the docs my dad had all of these conditions and in return she was getting tons of prescription pills for him, one of those was similar to a horse tranquilizer ( I'm not kidding ). No wonder he was always sleeping when we tried to call him.
 
I'll shorten this up now- She was trying to kill him and collect his pension. She is no longer his wife. She should be tried for attempted murder. My dad is now only on a few prescriptions and has been doing fine without the others for over 10 years. He's well into his late 70's now and living on his own. To this day I can't believe this lady got away with this. Apparently a person can tell a doctor almost anything and get a prescription in return.

She should have been prosecuted and the doctors called in to question. I bet she is doing it to someone else.
That is horrible. I am SO glad that you guys were able to intervene. Wow... you just never know. When you're not an evil person it is hard to see evil coming. We tend to think everyone else thinks like we do. It is why I hate a thief. I have not been the victim (well a few times) but I remember back about 20 years ago when Walmart would check your bag and receipt every time you left the store. At first I was offended. Then I found out how much they were losing to theft. I wasn't offended anymore. I have a Pest Control business and at that time I was doing  most of the work myself. I was doing a chain of stores all over north GA. I was at one store in Griffin, GA and was talking to them. It was back when cigarettes were displayed on the store counter. They told me they had lost over $100 in cigarette theft in ONE shift... groups of people would come in and distract while others would steal. I was I guess.. amazed. I never imagined. I'll take a nickel back in a store if I get too much change...
I guess this woman who snared your dad was one of "them". I don't get it sometimes, I really don't. I know these people are out there and probably everywhere but I don't understand. Rose colored glasses I guess. I sure am glad that you guys caught on!! Now I'm angry.. but I'll get over it.
J

Anti Hypertensives,
Anti Inflammatories
Anti Spasmodic,
Anti convulsants
Anti pain, (low dose patches)
And, you guessed it,
Anti depressants.

20 years of degenerative disc disease and chronic pain I've arrived at this point to just get out of bed. It's a multi modal approach where small doses of lots of things seem to work in concert to bring me relief and minimise the side effects and addiction issues associated with opiates etc.
In another time I'd probably be dead already.

I understand Mike. Though in another time you would probably have better relief. Back around the end of the 19th century and into the 20th you could order heroin and 'works' from the Sears and Roebuck catalog for what was called "old soldiers disease". So many amputees from the Civil War in need of relief. Also DuPont had not yet demonized the killer weed.
The only realy dangerous side effects of opiates are taking too much and not breathing anymore or running out. On the other hand Tylenol, ibuprofen, aspirin, and other "safe" OTC pain meds will harm your liver and kidneys and give some people ulcers.. but they protect the poor drug abusers. BC powders killed my grandmother back in the 60s.
Bottom line, people who have not experienced chronic pain have NO idea. They assume a moral high ground and if you have chronic pain you are NOT on this moral high ground, rather you should suck it up. Chronic pain will get your attention and rule your life, what little it leave you. The government in it's misguided effort to protect people from themselves make it hard for people who need it to get the relief they need. Then they, well some if not most, look at people who are trying to manage pain as abusers. I don't like it one bit. I've dealt with it for nearly 15 years and I've never failed a drug test, never run out (even when a family member stole 37 from me one year over the holidays), nice. I have no expectation of a pain free life but just managed so that I can function. I have a friend whose wife has back problems. She has drained all their savings with MRIs, treatments, she got on meds and overused them. She expects to be pain free, it is sad. She has had three surgeries and is thinking about another one but since she put them in bankruptcy I doubt she will get it.
It is a slippery slope but you have to do something. I was on the patch with break through meds but after about 1.5 years I was sleeping 14 hours a day. I went to what they normally only give as break through meds but I now have more control over how much and when... it is better. I sometimes have to take benzos too to break cluster headache cycles, they will do it... though I am wondering now if I might be getting what they call coathanger headaches. I went through a little over two years with one every day until we figured out what it was. Every day around 4:00 in the afternoon it would come on and just make the rest of the day miserable.
Have you seen the NatGeo series Drugs, Inc.? They have one episode on the hallucinogens. There is a segment on people who use mushrooms for cluster headaches. One woman only has to handle them. Another guy, an everyday looking, father and husband type, middle America, takes a small dose every two or three months (I forget exactly how often) and has NO cluster headaches. Without it he cannot work or function. These are considered schedule I drugs with no medical benefit, that is BS. Legislating from a ground of ignorance and fear. Things like this make me so mad. I'll never accept that someone has the moral authority to tell me or anyone else that we do not have a birthright to possess or use anything that grows on this earth. People should use care but if it grows here, it belongs to mankind. IMO.
Hang in there. Get your testosterone levels checked too. They will go down and lower testosterone inhibits the effectiveness of opiates... which reminds me, it is time to plant my poppies!
 
Sometimes a beer or two helps me but more than that can go either way. One day I'll feel good, another day I'll need to go lie down. I think the biggest problem with alcohol in my case is probably the Plavix. IDK, I just go easy but a little bit helps on a bad day.
I don't know if it will help you but I got REALLY god relief from Cymbalta but it had some intolerable side effects for me, but it worked wonders on my spine pain. Yo might try it to replace some other stuff and have less pain too.
 
Julien

mudgel
Anti Hypertensives,
Anti Inflammatories
Anti Spasmodic,
Anti convulsants
Anti pain, (low dose patches)
And, you guessed it,
Anti depressants.

You forgot Anti-matter. 
(As long as it doesn't matter I supposed you won't be annihilated, ya?)

Hmmm. Does anti-matter really matter? Is there a pro-matter? If they get together will it all be over?

My eighteen year old daughter loves John Oliver.  (me too !)
Guess I did something right !
 
JR