Does anyone read the leaflets in with your medication

[mad4cavs]

They make horrendous reading enough to scare your pants off,I've just been prescribed Hydroxychloroquine, I'm on mycophenolate,steroids,allopurinol collectively their possible side effects are things nightmares are made of I was admitted to hospital for 15days after a severe reaction to docetaxol chemotherapy.what does everyone do read them before taking or take the meds and read when something happens,

[Hidden]

Personally I'd like to read about the risk to benefit ratio of a medication before taking it but this is rarely clearly put. Meanwhile, if possible, I take a very low dose at first to see my own individual response.

As for the hydroxychloroquine for me it was a few weird dreams at first but overall beneficial.

Good luck!

[mad4cavs in reply to Hidden]

I thought I would leave it until Monday to start it more likely to get medical assistance if needed

[zenabb]

They are written to protect the makers from prosecution. Rely on your doctor.

[MilkMaid]

The possible side effects that can be descriibed in these leaflets do make scary reading. I do read the bits about when not to take - such as if you have high blood pressure etc and I look at the side effects if I have an unusual reaction but thats about it.

[Lupiknits]

I always read the leaflets to see what the serious and very rare side effects are, then check the most common, then the less common. Then double-check interactions in case there has been a mix up. To date, on my meds, I have had some of the most common, but they wear off. One anti epileptic med I take has a rare but very serious side effect, fondly called "the rash". Every time the specialist prescribes and pharmacy dispenses they start to tell me .....and I say, yes, I know, "the rash".

After taking a med for a few days and thinking it's upsetting something, I go back to the leaflet.

If ever you are not sure, ask a pharmacist, who often knows the meds better than a doctor.

[Kingfisherblue]

I take hydroxychloroquine and was told the one bad side affect was eye problems. I said oh great. I was told not to worry it does not affect many. Well it affected my eyes. It happened after about two weeks.

I have now a new dr and I mentioned this with the tablets. He said please take the tablets don't read all the side affects.

[Raking223 in reply to Kingfisherblue]

My rheumatologist in Ft. Worth always had me go see an ophthalmologist every 6 to 12 months to check for hyper pigmentation in my eyes because of hydroxychloroquine/ plaquenil prescription

[Hidden]

My doctor talked to me about the known risks of hydroxychloroquine and the prevelance of the different side effects within his experience. He told me side effects are rare and in the most part his patients (he has around 40 with SSc) don't experience any (I haven't had any) and he explained the potential effect to my eyes and advised me on seeing my optician specifically which I did (all fine). I'd ask your doctor to talk to you about each medication in turn - they have a pool of people they prescribe to and know the real incidences of different side effects and if those effects are temporary and/or manageable or when they're not. Good luck with hydroxychloroquine- for me it's like drinking a glass of water ps the tablets are disgusting - don't get them on your tongue!

[grannyannie in reply to Hidden]

Re your comment about taste, I was dispensed one that does not have this. The supplier was Blackrock Pharmaceuticals. I realise you can't choose the brand, however if you have an obliging pharmacist they may try to get them for you. How do you take tablets without tasting them?

[Hidden in reply to grannyannie]

Not too much water, fast as you can & don't let them touch the tongue

[grannyannie in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, will give that a try.

[MEW53]

It's a pain reading the leaflets, but a MUST to read as so easy to have a reaction. All drug companies have to declare all known side effects just in case there is a problem. When taking many drugs it is a good idea to know what reactions you may get if any. My GP and pharmacist are good at checking interactions for me. When I was in hospital in 2014 the pharmacist used to visit me when the doctors hadn't updated the drug sheets with change of dosages. He knew I would have it written down in my notepad and was aware that I had worked on clinical trials in the past monitoring data. It was a big compliment for me, especially when ill.

As I have had some very bad reactions to some drugs in the past I am very careful reading up on the details.

Pain to read all those details but it could help, especially if you have a reaction.

[cowhide]

ALWAYS READ THE LEAFLET there may be something in that applies to you that the prescriber did not know. Also, there may be things that you need to avoid e.g. grapefruit juices, alcohol. There may be suggestions how to take it for best effect, e.g. with food, or last thing at night - these are not always printed on the pharmacy label. I cannot believe that some people do not read the labels on their medication before they start taking it!!!

You just have to bear in mind that some of the side effects are very very rare but they all have to be declared and yes talk to your Dr about it but still read the leaflet.

Perhaps my attitude is different because as a farmer I administer some medicines to my cattle, so I am the one who then has responsibility for looking out for any side effects, as well as needing to know more important information about food chain withdrawals, calculating dose rates relevant to weight, when boosters are needed etc. I can't not read the label and legally treat an animal yet it appears that many humans don't even bother when they are taking their own medication!

[Kingfisherblue in reply to cowhide]

Yes very important to read. It helped me to take tablets at different times to stop being sick.

[GGhere]

Hi Mad4cavs

Hydroxychloroquine. I've been taking this for a couple of years and have had no adverse side effects. I'd been reading on this website about the different medications people are prescribed and wondered why no one had ever mentioned Hydroxychloroquine. Your post is the first time I've seen it mentioned. So I looked it up and read that it is one of the earlier drugs for our condition and not prescribed so much these days, but some consultants consider it to be one of the safest as it has less side effects.

I agree that all the leaflets enclosed with meds are somewhat alarming but I suspect they have to spell out the worst scenario to cover their backs. I'm not happy to be swallowing loads of drugs, these leaflets scare the pants of me too.

[Kingfisherblue in reply to GGhere]

I was just one of the unfortunate people who had eye problems from it. I am being checked regularly too now. Eye always ache dry and sore. I tried stopping for a week a couple of times and my eyes stopped hurting. So I know it is this tablet. But still take it.

[GGhere]

Hello mad4cavs,

I do read the information leaflets that come with medicines. I think we have to bear in mind that the manufacturer has to spell out the worst scenario about reactions to certain meds and for 99% per cent of people the medication will be fine. I've been taking hydroxychloroquine for more three years now without any side effects. I did a bit of research about it on the Internet and read that hydroxychloroquine is on of the earlier drugs prescribed to suppress over active immune systems and that some consultants prefer it as it is the one that gives the LEAST side effects. I've had no adverse reactions to it. I take Hydroxychloroquine sulphate 200mg and my dose is 1 tablet one day and 2 tablets the next day and so on. Hope this gives you the confidence to give it a ty. Best wishes.