Medication Side Effects Given on TV Scaring persons. Plus, illness caused by side effects.
Posted by PIXIKU to Men's Health, Dec 26, 2010 7:59am
I know of several who have quit medications after becoming alarmed by side effects of medications given on Television Commercials. For example: A man discontinued ABILIFY after seeing side effects on TV.
Actually, I'd been concerned about side effects of Abilify too & felt like...
I know of several who have quit medications after becoming alarmed by side effects of medications given on Television Commercials. For example: A man discontinued ABILIFY after seeing side effects on TV.
Actually, I'd been concerned about side effects of Abilify too & felt like Judas not speaking up after he said that's why he quit taking. I understood his concern though because I'd shared that concern... just he seemed to be doing well so I didn't want to rock the boat sharing my shared concern from seeing commercial.
Ideally, someone doesn't have to take medication yet life isn't always ideal. He had to be hospitalized when changed to Abilify while changing from lithium as withdrawal of transition he was told can be and was life altering. Sadly, had changed to be able to type better since lithium caused him to shake, he said, and doctor said Abilify wouldn't. The lithium made it difficult for him to teach his online music course since required a lot of typing, he'd said. The Abilify caused him to lose that job.
I guess like so many I've heard about relapses after discontinuing medication yet from personal observations of relapses. Relapse began BEFORE discontinuing medications & instead stopping medication one of symptoms of a relapse in progress. Though some discontinue antibiotics when feel better w/o finishing prescription... a whole different scenario. When he quit Abilify prescribing doctor was working with him, he said, to wean off.
Man who quit Abilify seemed to be doing okay after quitting until began Blood Pressure medication that can have an adverse effect of mania. Presently, is suffering one of WORST manic episodes ever has had and not sure he will recover from. In fact, ironically, the lack of sleep and excited state defeats purpose of taking Blood Pressure medication as I'd imagine lack of sleep & over excitement (MANIA) can precipitate heart attack or stroke too. Interestingly, he always begins smoking during mania.
My mother was a casualty of Vioxx she took for knee pain who'd been quoted JAMA article had "heart benefit" by prescribing doctor that doctor who wrote JAMA article later said she was misled by Merck. So... many taking medications in the same drug class as Abilify are reluctant to due to the side effects from life threatening to diminished drive causing relationship problems.
How sadly ironic that blood pressure medication began when got health conscious going off Abilify can cause mania that he began teetering on week began BP meds and now is somewhere out in left field so far not sure if he'll ever make it back.
So would any of THE DOCTORS want to take Abilify or Vioxx if prescribed and what advice can y'all give to persons freaked out by side effects given on commercials or that see on medication print outs? I've always heard that if you begin feeling odd after beginning a medication to talk w/prescribing physician.
I sort of feel like Dr. Jim Sears' dad that if at all possible best to not take medications by adopting a healthy lifestyle. For, A BIG PART, of why many wind up WAY out in left field is when don't keep consistent healthy habits like set times to go to bed. Pretty soon body has no idea what person plans to do next & consequently neither does person. That IS how important healthy habits are.
No medication will teach you NOT to stay up all night and not all folks have common sense NOT to. Depression is a sign something needs to change and usually that's changing habits to exercising, consistent healthy sleep/eating schedule, learning to budget finances & time etc. Perhaps, we need more clinics to teach healthy habits because the one constant I see leading to exacerbation of symptoms is unhealthy habits.
Sometimes there IS a reason someone is anxious or depressed and often times it is circumstance or inability to manage circumstances since never learned how. However, this time I'm not entirely sure the side effect of mania of blood pressure medicine wasn't culprit because gentleman I'm referring to had done mostly well for five years. I'm sure like w/insulin some can only manage condition Abilify prescribed for w/medication. However, healthy habits have been know to lead a person to no longer need diabetic, blood pressure etc. medications if the type that bad habits precipitated.
1) What if side effects on commercials alarm person so much quits medication
2) What if side effect exacerbates a condition a person has a propensity to
(Such as BP Medication that can cause mania)
3) Can medications become co-dependent for persons to not make necessary changes that if made, i.e., learned/practiced healthier habits would reduce and/or eliminate need for medication. Cooper Institute discovered exercise elevates mood in a depression study.
4) Do we need Emotional and Life Skill Education K-12 since parents cannot teach what they have not learned so we can all be on the same page of healthy habits? I think so. THANK GOD FOR THE DOCTORS... leading the way to healthier habits not just as a New Year's Resolution and an every day, life long solution.
