yesterday I learned.....

[bubba]

that one of the meds MM gets after chemo has been causing him problems.

He is one who never gets headaches. Since he has been on chemo, he has headaches, bad ones, for a few days afterwards. Luckily, I found something he can take that works well for him. Yesterday, I had to get a refill on one of the prescriptions. He takes two a day, with food, for three days after chemo.

I've been picking this same drug up for the entire time he has been on chemo. We have told the nurses of the headaches. Yesterday, I spoke to the pharmacist. I've not been given a list of side effects until yesterday. One is headaches! Another is severe stomach pain (he also has that). At least now we know what's causing it. Unfortunately, there is nothing else to give him. He's already on two others for the same, but has to take them at the same time after chemo for three days. Glad for him he has only four more chemos to go.....

[Doloris]

Re: yesterday I learned.....

you should talk to the pharmacist about the way you are feeling. Maybe he can recommend something that will work for you

[JCY]

Re: yesterday I learned.....

If you are concerned about drug side effects, you can look up that info. yourself on line at drugs.com. or just google the name of the medication. Our pharmacy always gives out an info. sheet with prescriptions. I don't think there's a drug out there -- whether Rx or OTC -- that doesn't have side effects. My DH has a lot of problems with all medications. He tested positive for the blood test CYP450, which means he's missing a part or all of a gene that helps the liver metabolize meds. Some people are just more sensitive & will have many side effects, while others may have very few.

[bubba]

Re: yesterday I learned.....

you should talk to the pharmacist about the way you are feeling. Maybe he can recommend something that will work for you

That is what I was talking to him about! I mentioned since we had a surplus of that one pill (an extra months worth that won't be used), if I took it, was that a problem? He quickly said that I did not want to take it and started telling me why! That was when I told him none of his staff had told me that prior and we had never gotten any sheet of the side effects with it.

[Sandy Navas]

Re: yesterday I learned.....

I love pharmacists - NOT . . . but oft times they do know more about the side-effects than the physicians. Sorry, medical personnel, but it is true . . .

[Bjvarizona]

Re: yesterday I learned.....

We have been so lucky with our pharmacists. Have gone to the same CVS for years and even with turnover all have been great! Each RX has a printout about the med and this last pharmacist has even written hand notes on occasion. Of course, I think we contribute greatly to their bottom line! Lol

[K. McEuen]

Re: yesterday I learned.....

Pharmacists know a lot more about the detailed side effects and benefits of drugs than doctors do. It is their specialty. My orthopedic surgeon even called the pharmacy to ask what the best broad-spectrum antibiotic was to put me on before surgery. I had told him what to use, and when he got off the phone with the pharmacist he looked and me and said "I should have just listened to you!" He knew the guy in the pharmacy would be more up to date on the newest drugs that he was. I've even taken meds in and asked them if they were the same thing because they looked totally different (something my dad was taking for his leukemia before he died) and were in the same bottle. The pharmacist said same drug, different manufacturer and the hospice people shouldn't have put them in the same bottle because it confuses people. They have always been super helpful and they do know their stuff.

[stationarymom]

Re: yesterday I learned.....

I have always had better luck getting info from Pharmacists than from a Dr.I even had to call the pharmacy once because all a Dr would tell me about a med my son had to use was that he might be jittery.My son had seven doses of steroids for an asthma attack and I wanted to know what the toxic symptoms were.

[SallyO'Sews]

Re: yesterday I learned.....

Wow - I thought it was illegal not to give the patient all the information... Maybe only in Connecticut? I even have to sign an electronic form stating that I received written information, and that I had the opportunity to ask any questions of the pharmacist.

Thanks for the update on MM, Pat - quilty hugs to you both!

[bubba]

Re: yesterday I learned.....

Wow - I thought it was illegal not to give the patient all the information... Maybe only in Connecticut? I even have to sign an electronic form stating that I received written information, and that I had the opportunity to ask any questions of the pharmacist.

Thanks for the update on MM, Pat - quilty hugs to you both!

I had been told information, but I learned I was not given all of it. And the other day was the first time they gave me one of the sheets with the drugs.