Drugs are funny stuff...

[Edbear]

Any one got funny stories of side effects and reactions to prescrition drugs?

I am on 6 different meds for a variety of issues, three of them just for blood pressure... :mellow: That's in addition to the painkillers, Tramadol and Diclophenac.

I've been a prescription druggie for most of my adult life, and my medical file is a varied and interesting one for the Docs. I've nearly died five times and had a few accidents and injuries, the latest was tripping over a trailer drawbar and faceplanting the concrete, leading to stitches and a neat scar and either cracked or severely bruised ribs, (again...). I'm now called scarface the fall guy... :doh:

Over the years I've lost a few body parts, fortunately not ones critical for life. :sunny:

I've experienced pretty much all the different painkillers, living on Pethedene for 12 months back in '80-'81, Fortrol and Morphine, etc. and most recently in hospital, Ketamine. This was an interesting drug, I halucinated on it consistently, and while in ICU in Auckland when my lungs decided to shut down after my accident where I broke my back.

My wife and family were at my bedside, scared stiff whether I was going to pull through, yet they couldn't stop laughing at the silly stuff I was coming out with! Even back in the ward, I'd find myself having a conversation with the nurses, only to wake up and find there were no nurses there! <_<

Today I decided to go over all the meds I'm on to see what the side-effects were so I could isolate and stop worrying about symptoms that were caused by the meds and not by my own health issues. Needless to say, I found I''ve got an uphill battle against these side-effects, and I'm going to get a review from my GP to see if I can withdraw from any of them.

Of the six meds, five cause fatigue and tiredness, three cause weight gain, three can cause impotence and sexual dysfunction, one can casue prostate problems, two cause memory loss and lapse of concentration, one interferes with vision, one causes fluid retention, and two cause sweatiness. :confused:

I do tend to go to bed rather early and have some trouble with fatigue, I am having a real problem getting those extra 5kg off, I'm as absentminded as someone with Altzheimers and my poor wife is despairing at times how forgetful I can be. :no:

My ankles swell with the fluid retention and I tend to sweat a lot at night, sometimes soaking my pillow.

I have an enlarged prostate requiring a med to prevent it restricting the very important tube... I get checked annually for any other problems and so far so good, my PSA level is normal.

Sex? It's going to take a lot more than a few pills to stop me... :shifty:

I know many people have a variety of health issues so you might call this the "Med thread" for anyone wanting to let us in on some of their experiences.

[Grumph]

I've taken myself off Statin drugs - cholesterol meds - due to the hallucinations.
talk about technicolour dreams...
Funnily enough the period on them coincided with a period when the motors I built went particularly well....
You have my admiration Ed - I find it hard enough keeping track of what i'm on and I'm only on about half of your collection.

[Edbear]

I've taken myself off Statin drugs - cholesterol meds - due to the hallucinations.
talk about technicolour dreams...
Funnily enough the period on them coincided with a period when the motors I built went particularly well....
You have my admiration Ed - I find it hard enough keeping track of what i'm on and I'm only on about half of your collection.

It can take from 2 to 6 weeks for the body to adapt to a medication, so I don't recommend stopping a med without consulting the Doc first. Especially for such as heart or cholesterol issues. Along with Blood Pressure, these are called silent killers and you don't realise how serious your situation is until it's too late. I'd suggest going back to your Doc and talking about it with him and get your Cholesterol rechecked.

[onearmedbandit]

After my accident in '97 I had great visuals/experiences on the morphine they had me hooked up to. One was of walking down the corridor to ask the nurses to make me a sandwich, realising I didn't have my morphine stand with me, and opening my eyes and discovering myself sitting in my armchair n my hospital room. A gorilla also made an appearance once, watching me from the armchair as I lay in bed.

After getting out of hospital I would still experience visuals on the morphine I was prescribed. I distinctly remember reading a bike magazine one day, I can still remember the layout of the page. Once again opened my eyes, sitting in my lounge with no mag in sight.

I was on 35 pills a day when I left hospital to combat the pain, and as time tracked on it seemed the number or strength was only increasing. Then my doctor informed me that certain combinations of the pills I was on could lead to nastiness later on in life, so right then I gave them all up. Not an easy thing to do, but very liberating.

[ducatilover]

I was on amitriptilyne for a while for its nerve block purposes (chronic sciatica).
Sent me mad, I was all smiles half the time. Got very dark on it too.

Good times....:laugh:

[rainman]

Tramadol

That's bad shit, that. I had freaky bad withdrawal when I came off those, and I wasn't even taking as many as the doc said I could - they had me on 2 four times a day, I couldn't take more than 2 or 3 without zoning out.


I've taken myself off Statin drugs - cholesterol meds

Good onya, there's a long list of side-effects of most statins yet the docs hand them out like lollies. I'd rather eat sensibly, do some exercise, and drink red wine...

[Edbear]

I was on amitriptilyne for a while for its nerve block purposes (chronic sciatica).
Sent me mad, I was all smiles half the time. Got very dark on it too.

Good times....:laugh:


That's bad shit, that. I had freaky bad withdrawal when I came off those, and I wasn't even taking as many as the doc said I could - they had me on 2 four times a day, I couldn't take more than 2 or 3 without zoning out.

Good onya, there's a long list of side-effects of most statins yet the docs hand them out like lollies. I'd rather eat sensibly, do some exercise, and drink red wine...


After my accident in '97 I had great visuals/experiences on the morphine they had me hooked up to. One was of walking down the corridor to ask the nurses to make me a sandwich, realising I didn't have my morphine stand with me, and opening my eyes and discovering myself sitting in my armchair n my hospital room. A gorilla also made an appearance once, watching me from the armchair as I lay in bed.

After getting out of hospital I would still experience visuals on the morphine I was prescribed. I distinctly remember reading a bike magazine one day, I can still remember the layout of the page. Once again opened my eyes, sitting in my lounge with no mag in sight.

I was on 35 pills a day when I left hospital to combat the pain, and as time tracked on it seemed the number or strength was only increasing. Then my doctor informed me that certain combinations of the pills I was on could lead to nastiness later on in life, so right then I gave them all up. Not an easy thing to do, but very liberating.

A big problem with drugs is that we react differently as individuals and what may work well for one person could kill another. If a GP or Specialist is good, they will be careful to try one that should suit the individual and especially with psychotic drugs, will start on a low dose trial for a couple of weeks and reassess.

I was hooked on DHC which ended up, along with the disease I had, putting me in a wheelchair and it was a living nightmare to get off the stuff!

[Sable]

The side effects of the illegal ones don't seem nearly as harsh..

[dangerous]

Good onya, there's a long list of side-effects of most statins yet the docs hand them out like lollies. I'd rather eat sensibly, do some exercise, and drink red wine...One of a few Im on, never bothered looking it up, what are these side affects you mention?


Then my doctor informed me that certain combinations of the pills I was on could lead to nastiness later on in life, so right then I gave them all up. Not an easy thing to do, but very liberating. proberly a bit late to say I thought you always a bit nasty anyways :Punk:

Na, resepct to OAB and Edbear... I have it easy in comparasion, altho OAB will no doubt out live me. :violin:


Actually... was just thinking after reading OAB's choice to say no, My dad died of the same cancer I have, after seeing him consume the drugs and the side affects from I swore I will never do cemo, but since then I now have a young family and Im not sure if I would take that chance... ya never know should it happen, it might just work... naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, when ya fucked ya fucked :)

[Virago]

...there's a long list of side-effects of most statins yet the docs hand them out like lollies. I'd rather eat sensibly, do some exercise, and drink red wine...

I'm on Atorvastatin, don't seem to have any side effects at all.

[Edbear]

One of a few Im on, never bothered looking it up, what are these side affects you mention?

proberly a bit late to say I thought you always a bit nasty anyways :Punk:

Na, resepct to OAB and Edbear... I have it easy in comparasion, altho OAB will no doubt out live me. :violin:


Actually... was just thinking after reading OAB's choice to say no, My dad died of the same cancer I have, after seeing him consume the drugs and the side affects from I swore I will never do cemo, but since then I now have a young family and Im not sure if I would take that chance... ya never know should it happen, it might just work... naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, when ya fucked ya fucked :)

Not computing... How's it that you "have it easy by comparison"?

[Mad-V2]

I watched my 2 and a half year old turn into a happy funny version of the girl off "the exorcist". The nurse had put her on 5mls of morphine an hour for 4 hours, she only weighed around 7kg or so. Was quite funny till she passed out and nearly died from an overdose. Then they decided they'd put her on Ketamine coz they thought she had a bad reaction to the "adult" morphine dose (fucken dumb shits). That ketamine is some muffed up shit yo! I felt like slapping the nurses fat face!
Watch out for those drug dealing doctors out there, I've seen one friend slowly killed by their prescription pills

[XxKiTtiExX]

My old lady was on medication to lower her blood pressure at one stage (she had been suffering from extreme fatigue to the point of falling asleep while driving, and migraines that no matter what medication she took they wouldn't go away). Once medicated her blood pressure dropped, but the side effects kicked in. Severe vertigo, having to lie down before she fell down etc. It was that bad the blood pressure medication was disposed of as she couldn't cope with the extreme vertigo, and serious changes were made around diet and exercise. Weights down. Hasn't had any issues since.

[rainman]

One of a few Im on, never bothered looking it up, what are these side affects you mention?

There's an amazing number of people on statins, Losec, blood pressure pills, whatever... and for life, not just as a short term course of treatment. Ask around any group of middle-aged or even younger people and you'll be surprised how many. At least that's my experience. Wonder how we coped 50 years ago before these wonder drugs were available? Wonder who stands to gain from large bits of the population taking regular drugs? Hmmmm...

Side effects vary and not everyone has them, but see below.


I'm on Atorvastatin, don't seem to have any side effects at all.

Atorvastatin = Lipitor. Side effects are depression, forgetfulness verging on dementia levels, feeling of mental dysfunction, muscle cramps and pain, low libido, heart palpitations, headaches...

I was on Lipex (simvastatin) for a while and had the headaches, depression and chronic forgetfulness. Tried another but that gave me muscle pain and weakness, so I did a bit more research. I have normal LDL but abnormally low HDL, so the ratio's make me fall into their statistical modelling for heart risk. When challenged the doc couldn't tell me the cause of the low HDL, how the statins were going to raise it, whether it was actually a bad thing, why the bloody ratio was so important... so I said no thanks and have not looked back.

Low HDL is apparently called Hypoalphalipoproteinemia, and is genetic - my brother has it too. It's unclear that it's a huge problem, and can probably be mitigated by eating things high in vitamin B2 (vegemite, avos, carrots, leaf veges, meat and fish, plus heaps more, list on Wikipedia under NIacin).

Edit: the doc tried to put me on Bezalip which is a fibrate and apparently addresses hypoalphalipoproteinemia, but apparently it isn't effective on it's own, and combined with statins increases the risk of rhabdomyolysis. Look it up, you won't like it. I didn't, so passed, thanks. I'd rather have the heart attack.

I heard a podcast by this guy (http://www.spacedoc.com/) a while ago. Shitty website but the interview was worthwhile. Can't remember which show it was though.

I don't take Losec anymore either, just figured out what was causing the indigestion and stopped eating it. No worries. I'll take handfuls of drugs when I'm nearly dead. (Actually I won't, I'm happy to go gently into that good night when my time comes).

[dangerous]

Not computing... How's it that you "have it easy by comparison"? Ive never nearly died, unlike my old man I get regular opps and I have bigger issues than that... for now. Also it affects my normal way of life very little, sounds like your the other way around.




Once medicated her blood pressure dropped, but the side effects kicked in. Severe vertigo, having to lie down before she fell down etc. vertago... that is so debilatating, suffered it for 20 odd years, at its worse it drops you to the floor holds ya like a magnet, midely its like being drunk and hungover at once. Nothing to do with medacation tho and theres been many a test done on me from MRA to sticking electrodes in the ear drum.





I was on Lipex (simvastatin) for a while and had the headaches, depression and chronic forgetfulness. Tried another but that gave me muscle pain and weakness,
I am, but dont get headaches any worse, memorys just getting old any way and am on antidepresent Fluoxatine so who would know... 1 in 5 of a heartattach I was so figgered Id give it a try.

[DMNTD]

The side effects of the illegal ones don't seem nearly as harsh..

Hence why I choose to utilise weed (very small amount) at night instead of the barrage of BS prescribed drugs they have me on at the for the last 25 years.

Morphine was the worst by far! Had Tinky Winky, Poe and definitely Mr LaLa going on with me. Those lads can party I must say

[scissorhands]

They want to medicate me for the bad monkeys inside my head

But I say, 'no no no'.

[ynot slow]

Have endured chemo,wasn't bad my side effects,as the dosage varies,but also I decided at the first session I wasn't taking any crap from it,firmly believe the brain is able to help if you want it to,me I'm pigheaded so it helped.

After having another shot with lung cancer 2 yrs ago I left Wellington hospital on pretty strong pain relief,the doc said side effects can kick in,but was lucky they weren't too bad,and only used them at night for 3days.

Worst side effect was when I got totally pissed one night whilst having my bum bag pushing chemo into bloodstream,had wicked hangover,not to mention chucking heaps,blamed it on the side effects of chemo that day.

[Virago]

...I was on Lipex (simvastatin) for a while and had the headaches, depression and chronic forgetfulness. Tried another but that gave me muscle pain and weakness...

Interesting. I started on Lipex, but got severe leg cramps. Was then put on Lipitor.


...Atorvastatin = Lipitor. Side effects are depression, forgetfulness verging on dementia levels, feeling of mental dysfunction, muscle cramps and pain, low libido, heart palpitations, headaches...

Hmmm, okay. Perhaps I'm not so side-effect free after all. I had put my mental dysfunction down to getting older...:laugh: Conversation involving mental dexterity has suddenly become rather frustrating - which is not really a problem when you've got a wife and daughters to finish your sentences for you...<_<

I'll be looking harder at my own regular meds - cheers.

[Kickaha]

Atorvastatin = Lipitor. Side effects are depression, forgetfulness verging on dementia levels, feeling of mental dysfunction

That explains quite a lot about Virago :whistle:

[Virago]

That explains quite a lot about Virago :whistle:

Fuck you too - whatever your name is...:moon:

[XxKiTtiExX]

vertago... that is so debilatating, suffered it for 20 odd years, at its worse it drops you to the floor holds ya like a magnet, midely its like being drunk and hungover at once. Nothing to do with medacation tho and theres been many a test done on me from MRA to sticking electrodes in the ear drum.






Doctor informed her it was to do with her inner ear (at first glance). When she refused to continue taking the blood pressure medication it stopped, two years later she hasn't experienced what she went through again. (It started when she began taking the medication, and stopped once she stopped taking it). So was put down to being medication related vertigo. :confused:

And yes very debilitating. She was ready to quit her job as a result of it.

[kiwifruit]

http://timmoore.co.nz/misleading.html

[marty]

Friend of mine is on Tramadol 4hrly - has been for 10 years. ACC wants to change her to Gabapentin (cheaper? more directed neuropathway pain relief?) We've done heaps of research, but does anyone have some real life experiences?

[Edbear]

Friend of mine is on Tramadol 4hrly - has been for 10 years. ACC wants to change her to Gabapentin (cheaper? more directed neuropathway pain relief?) We've done heaps of research, but does anyone have some real life experiences?

Only anecdotal, but most reports are negative with Gabapentin, not well liked but it would pay to see if anyone actually has experience with it. I find the Tramadol fine, I had the usual nausea and dizziness at first, but cut it down to one twice a day and the body gfot used to it and now I can take two at a time. I'm going to try to cut down again to one at a time, and see if I can manage.

It is addictive to an extent, not nearly as bad as DHC which is really, really, bad!

Having had to withdraw from DHC, I know how bad it can be and it really was hell to get off it!

I'm probably not a great person to ask about side effects as I've been on so many different drugs over the years, I don't think my body and mind really know what normal is these days... :laugh:

[Oakie]

Mrs Oakie was on some sort of anti-depressant a while ago (not for depression but something else ... can't remember.) Instructions were not to use alcohol which was all good until one Saturday night she forgot. Side effect was splendid! She got as horny as hell and became quite the Amazon for a while. I just had to lie back and think of England. Can't remember the name of the pill but if she's ever on it again I'll be offering her a drink ... although I don't know if I could handle the excitement now.

[rainman]

http://timmoore.co.nz/misleading.html

tl;dw

Got a summary?

[kiwifruit]

tl;dw

Got a summary?

drugs are bad

[Usarka]

I'll swap some prescription dexamphetamine for some of your prescription ketamine, morphine, or oxy, or pethadine. :whistle:

[Mom]

*snip* and most recently in hospital, Ketamine. This was an interesting drug, I halucinated on it consistently, and while in ICU in Auckland when my lungs decided to shut down after my accident where I broke my back.

Dang you were funny on that shit! I should not laugh, but you really were not in the reality :lol: Dont you ever, ever, EVER! Get that sick again!


I do tend to go to bed rather early and have some trouble with fatigue, I am having a real problem getting those extra 5kg off, I'm as absentminded as someone with Altzheimers and my poor wife is despairing at times how forgetful I can be. :no:

Yeah, I read a little(a lot) bit, about the side effects of some of my life support regime and find similar issues, and like you will be making a real effort ot wean myself off the ones that I can. Altzheimers is nothing to worry about, I am convinced that I dont have it, Though I have been known to make mental notes on paper and forget to read them :pinch:



My ankles swell with the fluid retention and I tend to sweat a lot at night, sometimes soaking my pillow.

You are menapausal is all Ed, dont stress...



I have an enlarged prostate..

Never had one of them so cant comment :laugh:



Sex? It's going to take a lot more than a few pills to stop me... :shifty:

:Punk: :wings: Me either :o

I wear a medic alert braclet as a result of the last encounter I had with prescription medication that did not agree with me. I am one of those people that dont do drugs well, never have done. It takes me a long time to swallow a panadol for a headache as a result.

Mind you having said that the last 2 times I have been hospitalised was the result of allergic reactions to things. Oysters, then pills. Why the hell can I not be allergic to grass pollens instead?

[Mom]

Mrs Oakie was on some sort of anti-depressant a while ago (not for depression but something else ... can't remember.) Instructions were not to use alcohol which was all good until one Saturday night she forgot. Side effect was splendid! She got as horny as hell and became quite the Amazon for a while. I just had to lie back and think of England. Can't remember the name of the pill but if she's ever on it again I'll be offering her a drink ... although I don't know if I could handle the excitement now.

Beautiful shit drugs are *HI FIVE!*

I got a similar warning on one of the stupid pills I was taking, was a bit concerned so asked the question of the doctor regarding a glass or 5 of wine and the pills. SHe said dont worry, you just will become a cheap drunk...

Not sure the side effects of that one, Maha may have a clue :o

[Edbear]

Dang you were funny on that shit! I should not laugh, but you really were not in the reality :lol: Dont you ever, ever, EVER! Get that sick again!

Yeah, the lack of ability to breathe was a bit concerning... :no:

Yeah, I read a little(a lot) bit, about the side effects of some of my life support regime and find similar issues, and like you will be making a real effort ot wean myself off the ones that I can. Altzheimers is nothing to worry about, I am convinced that I dont have it, Though I have been known to make mental notes on paper and forget to read them :pinch:

Assuming I can remember where I put those wee bits of paper... :confused:


You are menapausal is all Ed, dont stress...

Oh, I wondered about that, (I think Mrs. Bear wonders about that at times, too...) :mellow:


Never had one of them so cant comment :laugh:


Generally they're no problem and you don't even notice them...:sunny:

:Punk: :wings: Me either :o

I wear a medic alert braclet as a result of the last encounter I had with prescription medication that did not agree with me. I am one of those people that dont do drugs well, never have done. It takes me a long time to swallow a panadol for a headache as a result.

Mind you having said that the last 2 times I have been hospitalised was the result of allergic reactions to things. Oysters, then pills. Why the hell can I not be allergic to grass pollens instead?

Well, having a wife and son who have those allergies, I can assure you they are no fun. I guess I'm blessed that I don't have any severe allergies, I just try to kill myself by other means... :stupid:

[Mom]

I just try to kill myself by other means... :stupid:

HOON! :love:

[Edbear]

HOON! :love:

Yep, I'm trying to see how slow you can go and still break something. I crashed my van at 45km/h, then I fell over on concrete while walking back to a car, and most recently while just climbing over a trailer drawbar. Next I'm going to see what I can do by simply standing still... :facepalm:

[Bikemad]

purely recreational you understand............

[Winston001]

My most vivid experience was being on IV morphine after my bin. My wife tells me I was fascinated by the puppies in a corner of the room. Can't remember that but I do remember the giant spiders made of purple telephone cable. They scooted around the room, up the walls, across the ceiling all while a nurse happily chatted over me.

They were nice spiders, I wasn't even slightly alarmed and everyone else ignored them so obviously they lived in the hospital. Eventually I looked at them and suggested "you don't really exist" at which point they faded away - no wait - back they came larger and busier than ever. :laugh:

[TIBLE_90]

I was on morphine a couple years ago when I got hit by a car, although I could still feel the pain the morphine made everything 'happier'. I didnt care that my leg was fucked I was just in a happy state, was weird. The best high I ever experienced was from the drug they used to put me to sleep before the operations, it was a thick white substance that they injected me with before they injected the drug that knocks you out, it made me feel incredible but only lasted for a minute or two and then they knocked me out.

[Mom]

Best drug experience I have ever had, was while having a good attempt at bleeding to death after surgery. I was convinced I was about to die. The way I was feeling (having trained as a nurse) and seeing how the medicos reacted once they actually realised I was SERIOUS about the bleeding confirmed it for me.

I was so worried about my babies...

Next thing I know, I am fully aware of what is happening :pinch: and telling the surgeon to hurry up and get done with what she had to do, so I could enjoy the drugs...

[FJRider]

... Next I'm going to see what I can do by simply standing still... :facepalm:

For gods sake man ... don't risk it ...

[Edbear]

Best drug experience I have ever had, was while having a good attempt at bleeding to death after surgery. I was convinced I was about to die. The way I was feeling (having trained as a nurse) and seeing how the medicos reacted once they actually realised I was SERIOUS about the bleeding confirmed it for me.

I was so worried about my babies...

Next thing I know, I am fully aware of what is happening :pinch: and telling the surgeon to hurry up and get done with what she had to do, so I could enjoy the drugs...

"you must spread..."






























For gods sake man ... don't risk it ...

[Edbear]

For gods sake man ... don't risk it ...

Oh, it will be under controlled conditions on a closed private road of course...

[oOGixxerOo]

no pain, no gain!

exercise the pain away, go hard out at the gym...

[FJRider]

Oh, it will be under controlled conditions on a closed private road of course...

Just be sure to pull the curtains ... :Offtopic:

[Edbear]

no pain, no gain!

exercise the pain away, go hard out at the gym...

Yup! Got a physio program I do every day.


Just be sure to pull the curtains ... :Offtopic:

Ummm... Open or closed..? :shifty:

[Grumph]

The dye they used to inject before angiograms was pretty good - an all over hot flush....the older guy next to me said "all right for you, mate, try it with piles - just like farting an eight foot flame " Hmmm how did he know ??

Couple of years back went into A&E for some repairs and they couldn't find a pulse...eventually found - 15 BPM ! After convincing them I was OK we all came to the conclusion my GP had been overdosing me with beta blockers....
Changed GP shortly afterwards - never got an apology either.

[Edbear]

The dye they used to inject before angiograms was pretty good - an all over hot flush....the older guy next to me said "all right for you, mate, try it with piles - just like farting an eight foot flame " Hmmm how did he know ??

Couple of years back went into A&E for some repairs and they couldn't find a pulse...eventually found - 15 BPM ! After convincing them I was OK we all came to the conclusion my GP had been overdosing me with beta blockers....
Changed GP shortly afterwards - never got an apology either.

I do think 15BPM is a wee bit slow.... :confused: Wonder what he was thinking?

[Edbear]

Saw my Doc today. I'm going to withdraw from Betaloc as he says it's the one I've been on the longest and may be contributing more to the fatigue than any of the others. It'll take a couple of months to see if I improve much, but it's worth a try.

[Grumph]

I do think 15BPM is a wee bit slow.... :confused: Wonder what he was thinking?

"Well, that's the idle sorted...."

Amusingly enough I felt and functioned quite well like that...well as good as I ever get anyway.