Meds: Addressing Confusion and Fears

On Our Forum "I asked my doctor this recently. I'm relentless about questions about medications she prescribes, but luckily she is a sweetheart about answering. In my case, even ONE night missing just one of my two tablets of Effexor XR will cause me to have extremely (!!!) lucid, realistic, exhausting-type dreams. They are not nightmares per se, just very real and quite exhausting. NOT the typical dream. My doctor told me that this is the response some people have when they START on Effexor, but for me I only get it when I skip a dose by accident, so the key with meds is that everyone's side effects will always be different. I usually try to start a new med or med change when I know the doctor's office is open or the doctor is available should I have any questions ... Please keep us posted, okay? Remember, everyone's side effects will be different. I never had any until I skipped a dose." Join the discussion

Medication A can cause weight gain . . . Medication B can cause hair loss . . . In rare cases Medication C has caused glaucoma . . . Never take Medication D within 24 hours of taking Medication E . . . It goes on and on.

The potential side effects that must be disclosed about all medications can be truly frightening. Frightening or not, it is still important that we educate ourselves about all the medications we take. Doctors aren't infallible. Think of all the different medications they prescribe. They can't possibly remember every detail of every one of them.

Other issues:

• Interactions with other medications
• Interactions with foods
• Medical conditions with which certain medications shouldn't be used
• How to discontinue use of medications — For example, anticonvulsants such as Depakote, Neurontin, and Topamax should NOT be abruptly discontinues. The dosage needs to be tapered down to discontinue. Not doing so puts the patient at risk for seizures.

When your doctor prescribes a new medication:

• Ask him/her about potential side effects and if there's anything else about the medication you need to know.
• Read the information sheet that comes with the prescription when you pick it up at the pharmacy. If there isn't an information sheet, request one. Read it before you leave the pharmacy so you can ask the pharmacist any questions you may have. If that's not practical, read it before taking the medication. Then you can call your doctor or pharmacist with any questions you may have.
• Be sure to take the medication exactly as directed.
• If you experience any side effects, whether it's listed for that medication or not, make notes about them. If the side effects are serious or if they don't dissipate after a reasonable period of time, call your doctor.
• Keep this in mind: Especially with newer medications, there can be totally unexpected side effects. There have been several medications with new labeling lately because of such situations. While it's possible to start experiencing symptoms that are coincidental to the beginning a new medication, it's also possible to experience side effects that are not yet documented.

Resources on this site:

• Drug Profiles
  Here are profiles of many of the drugs used in the treatment and prevention of headaches. Please keep in mind that these profiles are for informational purposes only. ALWAYS discuss any changes in medications with your physician.
• Topamax: Take With Caution
  Manufacturer Ortho-McNeil has issued a warning letter to health care professionals regarding newly discovered potential side effects of Topamax, myopia and glaucoma.
• Triptans: for Migraine, Cluster, & Menstrual Migraine
  Imitrex, Amerge, Zomig, and Maxalt -- the triptans, are used to abort headaches BEFORE they get the best of us. Here's info to help end the confusion!
• Zomig: A New Dissolving Tablet & More To Come!
  Migraine treatment has come a long way from the days when holes were drilled in the heads of migraineurs to let out the evil demons! Zomig now comes in a new dissolvable tablet, Zomig-ZMT, and there's more to come!

• Fioricet and Fiorinal for Headaches/Migraine
  Fioricet, Fiorinal, Fioricet with Codeine, and Fiorinal with Codeine are medications discussed quite frequently on our forums and in our chat room. These medications are both a source of relief to some and a source of problems to others. An article by Dr. Stephen Silberstein and Dr. Douglas McCrory in the December, 2001, issue of "Headache: the Journal of Head and Face Pain" provides a great deal of information, results of clinical trials, and the answers to many of our questions.
• Amerge To Prevent Menstrual Migraine
  In a recent double-blind study, Amerge was found effective for preventing menstrually associated migraines and reducing the duration of break though migraines.
• Drug Terminology - What the...?
  Receptors, inhibitors, half-life, neurotransmitters... The deeper the discussion gets, the more confusing the terms. Let's explore some of them!
• FDA Questions "It-Won't-Hurt" Philosophy
  Because conflicting information abounds, and many people tend to think, "Even if a product may not help me, it at least won't hurt me," the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has set up a collection of tips and resources to help dietary supplement consumers become "savvy supplement users."
• 5-HTP: Check Before You Swallow
  5-HTP is a potentially valuable dietary supplement that promotes the body's production of serotonin. It's important, however, to treat such supplements as you would any other drug.
• Medications Are Medications
  Consumers need to remember that over-the-counter medications are still medications. Headache/Migraine experts are concerned that direct-to-consumer advertising of OTC medications doesn't provide the necessary warnings about OTC's, and they urge proper and responsible use of these medications.

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