I confess I'd let that slip after the first two months I was on Bisoprolol 1.25mg once a day.
I refilled my dispenser box (7x3dy compartments in a 'wallet' so I can keep track of 'did I take my pills this morning') about an hour ago and as I opened a new box of the beta blocker I decided now might be a good time to review the package insert.
Oh. Dear. The very same month I stopped bothering to read the insert, it was updated - and some of the new updates were worrying. I telephoned the chemist who said the basic medication hadn't changed, just the updates based on Yellow Card reports but I should telephone the GP who'd prescribed it 'just in case'.
The GP who'd prescribed it was a junior and moved on months ago for more training so I've been assigned to her supervisor. He took my call right away (shocker, that, usually I have to wait for him to ring back) and put my mind at ease but also told me he was glad I'd telephoned. Er, and reminded me going forward I should ALWAYS read the package insert on every new box of my repeat prescription, and always telephone him if I had any concerns at new updates - or new symptoms.
Do you always read the package insert every time you have a new box/bottle of your repeat prescription?
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nope, but I am a bloke! with the list of side effects I would worry myself silly. what I want to know is how to open the pack without the insert being in the way every time lol.
I know what you mean about that foldy-fiddly wad of paper getting in the way. I usually take it out of the box, date it then clip it to the fridge until the next box is opened - the old one goes in the recycle bin and the new one goes up.
But I haven't really line-for-line read the thing since Apr 2019. Every now and again I check it for something (usually the side effects paragraphs and usually for someone else who's binned theirs).
The one I've just read after opening the new box this afternoon is marked as having been updated Jun 2019. Oh dear.
I have become a bit lax of late, I am only on 4 tablets a day so reading mine is ok but John as 11, that’s a lot of reading 😩 but you have prodded me that I really must do better. His repeat prescription arrived yesterday so will sit down later and go through them, they have been changing his drugs over the past few weeks and have read the new ones but skipped the normal ones, slap wrist 😩 thanks for the timely reminder.
Thanks all good. Nephew in Ohio the surgeon is looking exhausted, but he says he is good. The thing is only had one virus test in the past 3 months just has his temperature taken as he arrives at the hospital! Nephew who is dentist lives on the American Virgin Islands tested weekly! Seems very odd to me.
No life is too short and I take too many medications.
My statin has been changed recently by my new Cardiologist. I read up on it looked at the possible interactions with my other tablets and will be watchful for any issues.
You made me smile man issues! Never read a map when that’s what we used in the car never read instructions on flat pack furniture! Always had a few screws over😂
When I was given my bag of goodies as I left hospital, I did sit down and read the enclosed leaflets - I was still quite jumpy after my blue light trip in the ambulance, and reading all the possible side-effects didn't do much to settle me!
I still do from time to time read them. Initially the leaflets and the advice on the NHS site suggested that med A should not be taken with med B - but when I've asked the GP she has said I'm OK on them and that they'll check my bloods on a regular basis.
What I do more often is study any press article on any of the meds I'm on to see what the latest consensus is on that medication.
I always used to read them when given something new or if a change had been made but that is as far as it went. Therefore it must be over 20 years since I've read some of them. Do I class that as an Ooops or a Must do Better?
i actually got a row from rehab nurse for asking a question relating to diabetes which the leaflet said not to take if diabetic. she stopped the class and told everyone not to read the leaflets as the doctor wouldn’t put you on them if they weren’t suitable for you. amazing the different theories out there
I'd laugh but it's not funny when the insert says 'other side effects not listed' and I sit there for a wee while asking myself what those unlisted other side effects might be.
I was on sinus medication several years ago - the generic version never gave me anything but relief from my sinusitis but the branded one made me throw up 20 minutes after taking the prescribed dose. It took talking to the chemist to discover the only difference between the two medications was the branded one had a red dye and the generic was white - the red dye cost more and was there 'for pretty' according to the chemist while the generic was white, no expensive red dye.
And the branded one didn't mention the nausea side effect in the insert.
I used to work for a pharma company and I always readthe patient safety leaflet. Mainly for any interaction with other drugs. In my opinion Pharma companies list all the possible side effects so they can't be sued! I've rarely had side effects from any of the commonly used drugs in spite of the sometimes exhaustive list lol
Never read the repeat instructions until a few months ago as thought the GPs knew what they were doing, despite past experience with my both my parents' medication. I now also check the NHS website & Webmd.
Exactly! I do generally trust the medics but I also know they're not always (what's the nicest way to put this?) up to date on our patient histories and/or the current formulations of medications. I really do feel I am a better patient if I take responsibility and do things like read the insert and ask questions.
Nope...I just check for correct dosage every time. 8 different inserts to read. I have the attention span of a gnat so I know I’d gloss over the first and ignore the rest....
Thanks for your post. I was so shocked and in denial about my heart attack I couldn't face reading the inserts for several weeks . I read them once and have read them very time I got a new side effect but wouldn't have dreamt of reading them everytime. From now on I will read them every time I get a refill of my prescriptions so thanks for the information.
God no, never. As long as its the same drug and I've always been totally fine taking it, I have no need to know that some random stranger got a rash with the same drug. Those inserts go right in the bin.
When in hospital last month I was able to advise a nurse on the meds round about the listed side-effects of a certain sleeping pill, Zolpidem, this was on a stroke ward, one of the common side-effects listed was falls, also sleep walking. These are important, they should be aware of the possible side-effects just in case.
The persons falls may not have been stroke related, and could delay rehab.
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