Would your doctor take one of these medications?

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts)
Jun 3rd 2008 9:00AM

Medication is supposed to make you feel better, but even the safest medication is not risk-free. Doctors usually weigh the benefit of the medication with the potential risk factors. But some medications have more risks than others. According to Men's Health, there are at least eight commonly-prescribed medications that doctors (the ones interviewed anyway) wouldn't even take themselves.

Before I share the list with you ... a disclaimer. This information came from a magazine. When making medical decisions, you should not rely on a magazine. You should talk to your doctor. So if you are taking one of these eight medications, do not stop taking them. Suddenly quitting a medication can be very dangerous. Instead, do a little research and take the list to your doctor to see what he or she thinks.

Promise? Ok then, here's the list:

Advair (for asthma)
Avandia (for diabetes)
Celebrex (for arthritis)
Ketek (for infection)
Prilosec and Nexium (for heartburn)
Visine Original (for irritated eyes)
Pseudoephedrine (for sinus trouble)

For better strategies to treat the conditions in question, click through to Men's Health and read what their doctors had to say.

Source

Comments (4)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Chris 6-03-2008 @ 10:02AM

This is kinda scary. I suffer from chronic gerd, and am only 27 years old. Nexium and Prilosec have been my saving grace since the disease hit me around 19.

So do the math, I took Nexium for about 4 years before switching to Prilosec, which I've been on for another 4 years.

I've tried to stop taking them, and I can't. The acid reflux hits within 36 hours of stopping the drug.

Here's the kicker: Men's Health suggests losing weight... Great, but what if you're in great shape???? I run, eat well, and it still affects me if I don't take this drug.

What am I supposed to do????

Bethany Sanders 6-03-2008 @ 10:06AM

Chris,

Like I said in the post, take the info to your doctor. My own doctor prescribed me Nexium as well (I had to quit taking it, because it gave me terrible headaches) and many of the others are widely prescribed drugs as well (Advair, for instance). A conversation on the benefits and risks may ease your mind.

We've had several posts on our site, too, about natural ways to ease GERD. But if it's severe, medication may be the only way to go,

Chris 6-03-2008 @ 10:06AM

I'd also like to add that I've been told by every single doctor I've seen, including stomache specialists that there is no risk in taking these medications long term....

Nova11 6-03-2008 @ 11:21AM

Arrrgh...just went through this with my doctor. When he told me to take Claritin D(for my sinus troubles) I cringed and told him i hated the stuff (makes me feel super strung out and jittery...cant sleep) He then told me NEVER to take the 24 hour stuff....that it had 180mg of pseudoephedrine and that it was super dangerous. Still, he wanted me to take the 12 hour stuff...which is just as awful as the 24 hour. So...because it makes me feel awful, i just dont take it and rely on my nasal sprays instead. Wish he had recommended something better!