The recent withdrawal of the prescription drugs Vioxx and Bextra have arthritis patients concerned about their health, lawyers busy with lawsuits, and Congress poring over thousands of pages of documents obtained from the manufacturer. The drugs, part of a family of medications known as COX-2 inhibitors, have recently been shown to increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes among users who take the drugs for long periods of time. These findings have more and more people starting to pay more attention to the drugs that are prescribed for them.
Many people, when ill, see their doctor and ask them to prescribe something that will make them feel better. When appropriate, their physicians will do so, and the patients typically run down to their pharmacy to get that prescription filled. They then take their medication as prescribed, usually without giving it much thought. This is probably not wise, especially in view of the recent findings with Bextra and Vioxx. Patients would be well advised to become more informed about the medications prescribed for them. Here are some things you can do to be more informed about the medicines you take:
# Ask your doctor questions. Make sure he or she knows about any allergies you might have to particular medications. Ask if there is anything important you should know about the drug, its use, or its side effects.
# Ask your pharmacist if there is anything you should know before taking the medication. Does it interact with other medications? Are there any known risks associated with taking that particular drug?
# Read any documentation that comes with your prescription. Many pharmacies include lengthy information sheets that discuss the drug, side effects, prescribing information and more. That information is useful. Read it.
# Go online and find the manufacturer's Website. Many drug companies establish Websites devoted to particular medications. There you can find detailed information covering just about anything you'd care to know about the drug, including the results of test studies and the likelihood of particular side effects.
The Food and Drug Administration has some fairly strict standards regarding prescription medications that are brought to market. It is unlikely that any medications currently offered for sale are patently unsafe. Still, one can always benefit from staying informed. The more you know, the safer you are. If your doctor prescribes a medication for you, learn about it. It can only help.
Copyright © 2005 Retro Marketing
About Charles: Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including http://www.Bextra-Info.net, a site devoted to the withdrawn drugs Bextra and Vioxx, and http://www.StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted structured settlements.
Do you need Omega 3 fatty acids?Do you need omega 3 fatty acid in your diet? This question on the importance of omega 3 fatty acid can be clarified by examining the medical evidence regarding the omega 3 benefit. Omega 3 fatty acid are important building blocks for the cell membran...
Full Article Allergy Equals Addiction Craving particular foods can be a sign of a need for a nutrient that is in the food that is craved. The body is demanding food that contains a particular nutrient. This can be very straight-forward. For example, I spent three months in Sri Lanka, a...
Full Article Childcare Provider Safety is More Than Childproofing You have plugs in all your outlets, locks on all your cabinets, and have crawled the floor looking for any dangerous items within reach of a toddler. Your home may be safe for children, but there are other steps you should consider to plan for saf...
Full Article Ten Factors of Price Sensitivity: How To Avoid the Potholes Pricing problems are often like potholes in winter. You know theyre out there; sometimes you just find it awfully difficult to steer around them. The same could be said for price sensitivity, either as a buyer or a seller. Sometimes you never kno...
Full Article Allergies Causes & Treatments There are many causes of allergies. Some people are allergic to foods such as nuts, chocolate, and shellfish, some to medicines. Some suffer from allergies to animal dander such as cats, some from seasonal allergies such as pollen in the springtime...
Full Article Basement Dehumidifiers - Basements are the most common location for dehumidifiers. Because of their low elevation and lack of air circulation, the air can moisten and stay moist for a long period of time. This causes mold and mildew to build up, which is not only an unplea...
Full Article