This is something I only started doing recently when a Doctor prescribed me twice the dosage of lansoprazole without telling me why, I started reading the fact sheets supplied with my medication and am beginning to wonder if I should have done it sooner.
Came across this yesterday, don't know if its applicable over here or accurate, I didn't read the whole story as I don't use it.
You always have to read the medicine fact sheets unfortunately, even if it is just a scan read. Do not let them scare you, but you need to understand your disease and the benefits and risks of the medicine prescribed.
All mine have been read and I keep a copy for each medication in the bag with my supply. So if ever anyone else needs to see anything about my meds it’s all together.
Knowledge is power - how else, unless we read the PIL (patient information leaflet) can we understand our health situation and be able to advocate for ourselves? It always amazes me that people dont take this basic step, but I also know that some find it hard as it can cause anxiety for many people. Good thing the forum exists!
hi I’ve been on it for a while and have been told by the consultant that I must take it every day and if I have to have a procedure that requires me to stop taking it I must inform them that my consultant has said I mustn’t ever stop taking it. I have not experienced any side effects and it has really helped me. Hope it helps you too.
A mistake I made as a nurse yrs ago, was when a care assistant asked me about a med, she had been px. I said why don't u look it up if u have questions and gave her a copy of the BNF (the px bible).After reading, she thought she had not one or two of the possible side effects but most of them. I had to spend a lot of time reassuring her this was unlikely and she should discuss her concerns with her Dr.
That advice stands to this day, worried, have questions ? Ask your Dr, why was I px this, is the dose ok, are the things I've noticed serious side effects, or just minor.
Remember px is about helping to solve the problem by reducing the bad symptoms, without making things worse. Drs px a medication knowing all meds have side effects, no drug has yet been invented that doesn't, they hope any minor effects are balanced by the benefit of relieving the cause of the distress in the first place.
But... Sometimes it takes trying different meds for the same illness and balancing the right dose. There are sometimes 4-5 suitable drugs, some work well for one person, while another might work better for you. Always ask you Dr, don't feel foolish, if you have doubts tell him, he can't read minds.
Thanks for your replies one and all ,I do read the fact sheets and have done since 2012, what I haven't done is to read them thoroughly enough and am glad you all brought this to my attention, so thanks, as for my dosage being increased I am following this up when I can get an appointment.
Hi, Like you I suffer with bruises because my skin is so thin. I believe that this runs in the family, I rember my granmdma having similar brusing. Re blood tests, two wedeks ago I spent 12 1/4 hours in A&E, partly because there were problems with my bloods.After a second test my bloods were clear. I was not told what the problem with my bloods was, but the doctor told me that if a second test gave the same result then I would be kept in.I expected that the readings would be sent to our GP,they haven't.However after my MOT last week, my bloods were still clear, so it was a Good News day. Having Angina and taking my blood thinning medication is that I only have to touch something and blood starts to flow followed by a big bruise under my skin.
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