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June 23, 2009, 3:14 am
Flag as Inappropriate mikey  

Are they all really needed? I am wondering if there is any real way to tell how many meds are needed and not, I am sure it depends on the case but it seems like we tend to over Rx a person with so many things and all of them somehow conflict with another one. It has to be a nightmare for the people who use them all.

I wonder about that as well. I try to tell my doctor that I prefer to keep the meds at a minimum. If I don't really really need it I'd rather do without.

This is a very common problem. Especially, when a patient sees more than one doctor and uses more than one pharmacy. It is very easy for medications to get lost in the shuffle. Most people don't bring a list of their current meds with them to the doctor, so a lot of times they make get different medications for the same problem.

I am fortunate to have a doctor who believes in prescribing as little medication as possible. He told me once that he would rather right a prescription for Weight Watchers than right a prescription for blood pressure or diabetic medication.

As Lana said, make sure the doctor knows EVERYTHING you are taking. This includes over the counter or alternative treatments. There are many drug interaction problems that can occur even with alternative medications. Be careful!

Its part of Rx everything and guess to see which messes you up first for most I know. Its really crazy, TV commercials have a huge list of "side effects" from "other meds", its like 1/3 of the commercial is all about what could happen.

My grandmother has heart problems and she's been taking so many meds for years (doctor prescribed). She went again to see some other doctor and he threw out almost half of her therapy as unnecessary. I guess the level of health problems depends on the doctor. :D

I guess you are right NiceJunky. Doctors do have different opinions. Even for an ordinary cold you will get somewhat different therapies with different doctors.