Prescription Drugs & Herbal Remedies

[AgedCrone]

Extract from Daily Telegraph Article ......mentions Levothythyroxine, Lanzoprazole & Amlodipine.

[Gnarli]

This article, or one very like it, was in our paper today too. It shows how important free and honest communication between patients and their health professionals can be.

J

[AgedCrone in reply to Gnarli]

Absolutely, self prescribing should be actively discouraged.

I am not at home at the moment ...read the article on line & thought I'd post it in case just one person thought twice about taking a remedy that reacts against their prescscribed meds,

[Gnarli in reply to AgedCrone]

I'm inclined not to take anything unprescribed. I simply don't have enough knowledge of pharmacology. Cautious or coward?

[AgedCrone in reply to Gnarli]

It's just plain common sense Gnarli!

[Gnarli in reply to AgedCrone]

I hope you're having a lovely time in the warm, AC

[AgedCrone in reply to Gnarli]

Sadly not in a warm country...just down in London..but in fact the weather is lovely!

[bobski1 in reply to Gnarli]

Thanks for this posting. It is surprising how may do not know that most of todays medicine still comes from plants or are plant based,just as few are totally unaware that some plants can be downright dangerous depending on the time of year or which part of the plant they use.

[nomoreheels]

It is worrying that we hear so often of people taking herbal remedies that are potentially harmful with the meds they're prescribed, not necessarily their RD meds, PPI's too, commonly coprescribed with NSAIDs. I've said it time & again they must check with their prescriber before using, feels like I'm nagging at times but I do it for just this reason.

[oldtimer]

Unfortunately, the response from some health professionals to being told about self-medication with herbal and other alternative medications can lead to the patient never mentioning it again! If you feel that your doctor or nurse may be unsympathetic to hearing about alternative therapies, please check with the pharmacist. It is really important to avoid interactions that may be unexpected!

[AgedCrone in reply to oldtimer]

I think I have seen in some GP surgeries a notice saying please tell your doctor about any OTC remedies you are taking.

I think the answer is just don't take anything else if you are taking prescription meds.

You can always turn it on its head and ASK the doctor of he thinks xyz will help....that would avoid him feeling as if was wasting his time prescribing if you were undoing any good by taking the wrong thing.

Some GP's are delicate little flowers!

[BonnieT]

I take vitamin supplements only, all doctor approved. Not herbals ever. My pharmacist is also a help when I have medical questions between doctor visits.