HIV meds
Posted By: sm on 2007-07-23
In Reply to: Mothers of HIV children and news I got this morning - Sortasad
My best friend has had HIV since 1993 and is very healthy otherwise. He was taking many medications but about 3 years ago the doctors did his blood counts and said the disease was virtually undetectable. They advised him to quit taking the meds and see how it goes. They told him the meds lose efficacy after awhile and so did not want him using them until he actually needed them. After 3 years off meds, his counts are still doing great. I wouldn't worry as long as she is still having regular check ups with the doctor and otherwise maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
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BP meds (sm)
When my husband started a medication for BP he started having strong muscle twitching he'd never had before. I think it was something odd, like his pec or abdominal muscles, but I can't remember. The MD had just started him on 3 new meds, one of them being a BP med. That's the one I suspected, and sure enough, muscle twitching was a possible side effect, especially if the patient exerted himself and perspired a lot. I think it could cause potassium depletion and that was the reason for the twitching.
I don't think the depression meds --sm
should be taken in conjunction with pot. Anger and anxiety issues were already present prior to father's death. He may be grieving on some level, as his own psyche will allow, but sounds more like an excuse to me. I have lived with these types in the past. His lack of ambition is probably due to the pot, as well. Thinking of the child, I feel that separation from the source of this frustration would be the best thing for the boy. Counseling rarely works for the spouse, but it would probably benefit you. Go with your gut reaction on this as to what is best. You live with the man, and you know more about him than what you can post here. Trust your instincts. Good luck to you.
Fibro meds
I was diagnosed in January of this year by a rheumatologist after having problems starting last August that began with a rash and my GP did a battery of tests - the rheumatologist started me on 1500 mg of Relafen (which has greatly diminished the tender areas like my hip areas), I also take 150 mg of Zoloft, 600 mg of neurontin, 50 mg of Tramadol every 4 hours as needed (which do me has not really helped the pain 100%, but it does lessen it a good bit) and I take a muscle relaxer at bedtime and sometimes during the time. These meds do not zap me and I feel more functional with them than before. I also take Halcion if I am unable to fall asleep, however, these days it seems that I am so exhausted that I have no problem sleeping as long as I am not hurting and the muscle relaxer at bedtime seems to help with that. Of course now that my inflammatory markers are at a near normal range I am walking 30 minutes a day and have begun stretching exercises 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes at night to help with the muscles. The rheumatologist has said that all of these will change as the fibro progresses and I age (I'm only 33) but he said if we stay on top of it it should be very tolerable for me from now on - I am thankful to my GP for the referral to this doctor because I have read of so many stories where the GP ignored the patient's complaints only putting them on powerful pain meds and not really getting to the source of the problem or telling them that there is nothing wrong or nothing they can do...I feel now that the pain is being managed, my biggest complaint is being tired at doing the simplest of things - like folding clothes - I feel that I need to rest after I do that - whereas before it was just a normal thing. My rheumatologist has stressed that sleep/rest is very important so he says when your body tells you to stop and rest - do it - whatever it is you have on your to do list can wait - otherwise you're gonna really feel bad and then nothing on your to do list will get done. I see my rheumatologist every 3 months right now and he says once I am doing okay on the meds and everything seems in check we'll go to every 6 months and then yearly until something goes out of whack and my treatment needs changing - he seems to really be on top of things.
What meds are you taking? Do you see a doctor on a regular basis?
Needing meds
I think just the opposite - it's the rest of you who could use the meds - or at least not be so judgemental - but I have found that this board - regardless of the subject has quite a few very rude, mean and just downright B***tchy women - sorry if you were offended, but it was my right to BF as long as I chose - and until you work hard enough to get a law passed against it - it's something you must deal with - I think that most of you are jealous of the fact that this is not something that you could do - or wanted to do - maybe you are feeling jealous because my kids are great - we have great relationships and maybe your kids don't even speak to you unless they need money - Most of you would give anything to have a family as close and functional as mine. However, it is something that you will never know. God has been very good to us - and thankfully I followed his Word and not yours.
Thanks - have been seeing a psychiatrist for meds
After a couple of years or so on the same meds, they stop being as effective. That's why we're trying Cymbalta.
I am more cyclothymic than bipolar (rapidly cycling, less extreme mood swings). I tend toward the depressive end of the scale most of the time. The Cymbalta did trigger my hypomania - but I'm hoping once my body gets used to it, it will keep me on the higher end of the scale but not as far as hypomania.
I'm going to give it a while longer to see what happens. Many thanks to all who responded!
No advice about meds, but...
if you are consuming caffeine, try cutting back. It helped me significantly. Even 1 cup of coffee was aggravating my anxiety.
I was on three meds before finding the right one (sm)
Zoloft made me too sleepy, Effexor didn't do much but gave me strange buzzing sensations when stopping it. Prozac, low dose (10 mg a day) has helped a lot. I take it in the a.m. so it doesn't keep me up at night. But by the end of the day it helps me sleep. (I also take melatonin for sleep). At first you may have some palpitations when your body is getting used to the Prozac, not sure about the other meds with that symptom. I definitely think Prozac is the best.
cholesterol meds sm
I was given Tricor (expensive) and it gives me embarrassing gas, only take it when I'm going to be alone, so it wasn't powerful enough and they added simvastatin which they told me to take before bed because supposedly that's when the cholesterol is best treated by this. I found it kept me awake or ? psychological??? I tried to stick to it because I have a doc's appt. Mon. and was so tired and nauseous from taking both, I actually feel like I have the flu. I think I am going to express the desire to just try diet but know I'll catch He*l, as they seem to prefer you to take all this stuff. I never heard of statin shuffle, can't find it, that's awful! Last time my #s were down to normal and they were so excited, well, now I think it's my turn to start to live again. If you can take it with no side effects, then do it, but I'm sick of feeling sick. Both parents had and died of heart disease, so I'm scared. There has to be a better way!
There are some Club Meds that do not
admit anyone under a certain age. Not all are family friendly, some very adult themed.
noncovered meds
Yes... This has happened more in the last 2 years than it has in my other 40!
I asked for birth control about a year ago and chose "the patch". My insurance company didn't cover that, so I decided to go with Depo Provera. Guess what... they didn't pay for that either.... LOL
I commend you for that...I am on Rx pain meds
and on 4 per day or every 6 hours. After doing this for a couple of years, I feel it is time to stop even if it means having to have surgery down the road. If I take even 1 less pill a day I feel the anxiety you mention among many other very unpleasant symptoms if I take less than that (clammy, achy, etc.) How many pills were you taking? And how did you do it?
Can you name 3 meds that don't come with scary waringing?
x
Did you know that vaginal yeast meds
and many of the meds for jock itch, ring worm and athletes' foot are the same exact drug? Now the sprays and/or powders use different ones from some of the creams, but the some of the athlete's creams are just like some of the vaginal yeast creams. It's all for fungal infections, but the makers want you to buy 3 or more tubes please, LOL.
pre root canal meds
Hi, sorry you are feeling bad. I am too, same reason. Here, we have a waiting list for the endodontist and they call you if and when there is a cancellation. I take 2 Advil LiquiGels and 2 Extra-Strength Tylenol every six hours and it works for a while. Do you have antibiotics? Make sure that you check daily for abscess because that is an emergency and must be dealt with. I hope I get mine fixed before my liver falls out from Tylenol. I have had several and now am about to give up because I don't have another $12,000.00 These are all from fillings I had as a child that expanded and made micro-cracks in molars, that then led to this horrible toothache. Last time I had one I had trigeminal neuralgia for 8 months afterward from the injection. Now I know why some people are "suicidal" when they have trigeminal neuralgia. I can't even have cold air on my face or cold beverages or it feels like I am going to die. I am with Hayseed. There has to be a better way to apply fillings and a less expensive way to repair teeth. We are upper middle class and still can't afford all this. Our insurance is of the "very good" variety and only pays a minimal amount for root canals and crowns. Is this discrimination to those of us who have lived to be over 35?
I have ADD and recently went back on to meds
My oldest child does as well.
I had a hard time medicating him until I found the right doc that listened to my son and how he felt and even asked for feedback from teachers and family.
We found a happy medium for him so that he could be himself and not feel drugged and be able to control his impulses as well as stay on task. Now at 21 his strong intelligent young man who no longer needs medication and makes his mommy so very proud of him.
Now on the other hand Mom now is back on medication because it seems with the big M looming on the horizon I need help to be able to stay on task and get my work done.
Don't rule anything out because its not what you want what is important is your child and how he feels. They have some new medicines out there now and Strattera is a good one that worked for my son however it didn't for me I take Adderall.
If I can be of help in any way feel free to contact me.
First off, don't be so quick to get meds. You just sound like a sm
disorganized person who finds it hard to concentrate. It's called stress. I think too many people are running to the doc for a cure all/fix all, when all they really need is peace of mind and a less hectic schedule. It can be done. As far as the disorganization, start one room at a time. One closet. One cupboard, etc. I had to do this. I was told I was "crazy," which is worse than someone saying ADD. I don't think I'm crazy.
Prayer and church is the one thing that helped me tremendously having never been to church growing up. I'm not throwing religion in your face, but something has to be said about these miraculous changes I've been through since "finding God." He's helped me in every single area of my life including the "craziness, disorganization, beating myself up for wandering when I should be working."
I think the meds suppress the actual symptoms. I've had to deal with much deeper issues and insecurities in my life - always chasing things I shouldn't be chasing after.
Anyways, the kids need me so I better run! I just don't like people telling you that you need meds. I've NEVER taken a medication for anything mental-related. Never. And I have never been happier and more accepting of my life - disorganized or not! The freedom it gives you to accept yourself the way you are is priceless!! it really is.
So they will finally deliver your meds
on Monday but the transcription equipment they have for you has to wait until the 2nd? How messed up is that, you would think they would do it all in 1 trip. Geesh.
I was diagnosed with GAD in 2005. I think everybody's different as far as meds go. SM
I am on Effexor XR 150 mg a day and it works wonderfully for me, although when I forget to take my pill, I do get that strange dizzy, buzzy feeling that someone below described. I also have Klonopin if I need it. It's not as strong as Xanax, but it takes the edge off and helps with sleep.
I'm curious what was the catalyst for you being diagnosed? I have always been a "worrier" ever since I can remember. I bite my nails, but it was always manageable worrying. Then in the fall of 2005, I had a full blown panic attack. It was the worst experience of my life and I hope that I never have to go through it again. I had a gallbladder attack. I new it was my gallblader. I knew I wasn't have a heart attack and yet it was like one half of my brain could not convince the other half. I started feeling lightheaded, dizzy, and like I was in a tunnel. I was at work and someone told me I should go to the employee health nurse. I did and my BP was through the roof, my pulse was 130, and the nurse just ripped that BP cuff off my arm and said you need to be seen in ER and made sit in a wheelchair and wheeled me down there!
The irony is the more urgent she acted, the worse my panic got. Finally, it was established that I was not having a heart attack, but still my body was freaking out. I could not calm down. Then I started crying and cried for two weeks straight. I couldn't sleep at night. I didn't want to be home alone. I didn't want to go out in public. I just basically sat in my house, on my couch for two weeks straight crying and fretting. My doctor tried me on several different medicines including Lexapro and Zoloft, both did nothing for me but make feel nauseous. Then he wanted to prescribe an antipsychotic which made me freak out even more. Being a medical Transcriptionist and knowing about drugs, side effects, etc. was NOT conducive to my anxiety disorder!
Finally, I found a female nurse practitioner who was wonderful. She new exactly what I was feeling. Told me her daughter had the same issues and started me on Effexor. I have been panic attack free going on three years. I get what I call mini panic attacks where I can feel myself starting to freak out, but I've taught myself relaxation and breath techniques that calm me down.
I'm just jazzed to meet people who have the same "disorder" as me, ya know. When I've described my anxiety and panic attack to my family and friends, they just look at me like I should be committed and when I was going through it, my family didn't have a clue what to do with me or to say to me. They were afraid of me, really. My mom kept saying "you need to snap out of it." Yeah, ma. If only it were that easy!
Um, YES and YES?! Haha. Also some of those meds have been found sm
to cause prostate enlargement and I believe prostate cancer.
insurance not paying for meds
Insurance said I had to be on Medicare before they would pay for Celebrex even with rheumatologist asking for exemption.
Frontline: Kids on Meds
The medications that they put the kids on can cause permanent brain damage. Go to PBS.org and watch kids on medications by Frontline.
Good luck.
No, what comes next? Force feeding meds?
Example:
If I am depressed it is MY choice to take antidepressants or not. If I do not feel comfortable with them, no matter what the doctor says, I can stop it.
Antidepressants have a LOT of bad side effect and there are alternatives!
one should never take meds prescribedfto pets
and vice versa! It is even more dangerous for pets! One shouldn't even take meds prescribed to somebody else! This is plain crazy.
Thanks for the update! Hoping the meds work
for your pooch!
I agree with this. It can take time to find the right meds,
and you are being very affected by his difficulties, so I think you should go together. Men are very resistant to opening up, but you have a child, so that may help motivate you to try to see him through this. I know you have endured it for a long time, but he is going to need help to come out of this. See if Christian marriage counseling is available; you could actually see somebody alone to get support and insights into helping him in addition to going with him to see his therapist.
I'll pray you have the strength to endure and continue to be his soft place to land as he learns to stand up and manage his life like the household leader God wants him to be.
Does anyone use Program flea meds for their pets? sm
I have three dogs and a cat that I was using a topical flea med on. We got a new puppy last week and she had fleas. I washed her and got rid of them, but now have noticed a couple of fleas on the other dogs. Not a lot, but some. I have heard that the Program works better than the topical stuff and would like to try it, but it is rather expensive so I am looking for any input before I buy it. Thanks!!
While you wait, not wanting to give meds, he is
x
I know, I also feel so sorry for the nurse who administered the meds (nm)
x
My son had 3-month psychotic episode from meds sm
I posted about this a few months ago. He is 7 years old and was on Singulair, and it literally caused him to have severe psychiatric problems, to the point of saying he wished he had never been born, once that he was going to take a hatchet and chop off my toes, and generally being an extremely unhappy little boy. Kids as young as 2 years old are being put on this medication, and very few parents are aware that it can cause these kinds of side effects. I am not saying that this little girl is on it or if there is even a way to find out, but it is something to consider. Thankfully we figured out what was going on with my son, and he has been back to a normal happy loving 7-year-old boy ever since.
kids, meds, side effects
I would make sure that he was not having side effects from medication. Seven years is a long time to be on prescriptions and this is the age when most of the boys were taken off medication so they could grow normally through their puberty, as it was stunting growth in some boys that were my son's friends.
Beyond that, 6th grade is the grade when children are picked on the most. If your son has one friend at all, I would try to shore that up.
She should check with her doctors, there are other meds that might not cause diarrhea.
Such as Prevacid, Aciphex, Protonix, or Nexium. (The GI doctors I work for say that any of these should be taken one hour before breakfast.)
Or Zegerid can be taken at bedtime. H2 blockers such as Tagamet, Pepcid, or Zantac also might help, they can be taken at bedtime. Her doctor or a pharmacist would be able to tell her if there's a problem with any of these while taking tamoxifen.
Also, it's important to eat the last meal of the day early and not lie down for at least a few hours after eating.
She could elevate the head of the bed (just putting more pillows there doesn't help) or get a wedge mattress or possibly one of those wedges to put under her pillow(s).
Because meds and utilities are going sky high and no one will hire them nm
....
anyone have an aging dog on meds for arthritis pain??? sm
my bassett is 13 years old and has arthritis in her hips and probably other joints. the vet put her on Carprofen and the first few days she did great! then she started having diarrhea and acting like she's hurting again (shaking, panting, a little whining). I told vet, she said to stop meds until she is over her "sour belly". she tested her diarrhea and it was fine, no blood or parasites. she went without her medicine for a day and a half and it showed, as she couldn't walk as well (which before she went on this medicine she couldn't use her back legs). so i started giving her medicine again. vet said the carprofen was going to be temporary. i was reading some bad side effects for this medicine. i think this medicine is making her have the diarrhea. she's only been on the medicine for about a week and a half at the most.
just wondered if anyone else had pets with arthritis problems and what you used to help. i'm not sure if i should try something alternative. or maybe even Dr. Frank's spray.
thanks
I agree also, change vets...ours put our dog on meds immediately. nm
nm
you have a valid point here, one has always to consider side effects of meds..nm
nm
Maybe joint counseling with his therapist for starters since his meds don't seem to be working. A
s
In his defense, on any of these meds, it's easy to forget if you've taken one yet that morning
xxx
Many meds for depression and mental retardation make people very SM
heavy. My friend has gained probably 75 pounds or more since being on some of the meds. Don't know quite why they contribute to weight loss, but one commercial some years ago said that it does something to the part of the brain that senses when you are full. . . . .
My mom noticed this when she started glaucoma meds a couple years ago - sm
Her lashes are so long now that they actually hit the inside of her glasses lenses! Amazing.
It's not just being alone, but access to meds., alchohol, sex role play, abuse of the younger
s
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