[Odee]

...does it ever make you concerned that they have not taken the time to read and understand what they are taking?

I mean, I know some people can't spell, can't memorize the exact spelling of some complicated chemical name, or even wish to google for the correct spelling. However, I see some people spell the names in such a way that it seems to indicate that they do not pronounce it correctly either, and I am talking about missing or out of place syllables, or changed consonants.

I just think it's important to look things up! It bothers me that people blindly take medication, assuming that they are perfect, without understanding their mechanisms.

Your thoughts?

(This is not a jab at anyone, I do not take anyone less seriously because they misspell.)

[Perna]

I had a medication save my life, thanks to me discovering it (the surgeon was going to cut, instead, but I wouldn't let him) but I still have the empty bottle from 2003 because I cannot for the life of me remember its name, never could pronounce it and might be able to spell it if I was in a spelling bee because I am a good speller but. . .

I don't think reeling off the names of one's medications, especially if one has several, and being able to spell them, etc. is that indicative of much. Yes, there's a certain laziness :-) in not going to get the bottle so one can copy the name here properly so others can comment if one wants that but I don't read much else into it.

I can never remember the name of my asthma corticosteroid, Flovent, or "corticosteroid" and get angry and confused when they're advertising the men's prostate med on TV, Flomax :-) But I'm quite sure what a corticosteroid is/does/how it works.

[lizardlady]

BAD SPELLERS OF THE WORLD UNTIE!!!!

I don't believe that being able to spell, or not being able to spell, the name of one's medications is any indication of whether one has read the instructions and warnings that come with meds.

As you might guess from my first line I can't spell wortha tinker's hoot(special blessings on whoever invented spell check!), but I read the instructions on my meds and the packet of info that comes with my prescriptions. Doing that I've caught a couple of times when either a could be allergic to a med or it was contraindicated with another med I take.

I take a laundry list of medications for a variety of problems. I also have memory problems related to one of my diagnoses. I keep a written list of all my meds and their dosages in my wallet so I have the information handy when I see a doctor.

[Odee]

Thanks a lot guys for the insight!! Maybe I'm just being judgmental and it's just not that important. Cool.

I have spell checker on firefox. The number one word that I will never learn to spell thanks to spellcheck is definitely. I'm always changing up the vowels. LOL. I also always have to reread my posts because I will accidentally write verbs in the wrong tense, or flip up words that sound alike, and sometimes add or miss words that just don't make sense.
(just now I wrote "text" instead of "tense" and had to fix it.)

[lizardlady]

Odee, something else to consider, as far as I'm concerned, is where I'm writing and who I am writing for. Forums like this tend to be more, I don't know, "organic"? People are typing what they are thinking and feeling with less focus on good spelling and grammar. I admit I cringe if I go back and see mistakes in posts I've made, but the world is not going to end because of it.

Now at work I tend to be little miss OCD about documentation. I run spell check on what I write. I will ask other to proofread what I've written because it's professional documentation. What I write can, and some times does, appear in court records. I sure as shootin' don't want there to be mistakes.

[ECHOES]

I'm not a bad speller, but it would be easy to do with medication names that are unfamiliar and sometimes long and awkward! And it may be a new medication.
I think the directions are written so that all can understand them. I hope so anyway.
I've known very intelligent people who aren't the greatest spellers, so I haven't thought of the connection you make.

[Perna]

My husband knows his medicines but takes them largely because the doctor says to. He's not into taking responsibility for his own health, thinks doctors know more about him than he does, etc. It is interesting to me to look at how medical practices have changed in the last 45-55 years; in its way, it's kind of like how computers have changed, etc. I had a doctor come to my house in the 1950's, when I had measles; I still remember it and his having my windows covered with heavy blankets, etc. so my eyes would not be affected by the light, and his little black bag, etc. Now, we are going to have Obamacare and things are so much less personal and there's a zillion more medicines than there use to be, etc.

[orangepyro]

Yes, that always bothers me. It kind of seems to show that perhaps they just jumped into something without looking. Makes you question lots.

[Nobodyandnothing]

Please bear with those of us who cannot remember the names of their meds, let alone spell them. It may not because we are lazy but because something- maybe meds, maybe ECT, or maybe something else impairs memory. I, too, carry a list of my meds in my wallet. Also, my pdoc has directed that my H give me my meds. He lets me have one day's worth at a time. There is a reason for that, too.

[sewerrats]

Im DYSLEXIC so spelling is out, but most meds have 2 names an easy 1 and a hard, take escitalopram is generic lexapro , same med different easy name , a nhs shrink said what med are you on I said Lexapro and she said WHAT I said escitaloram she said o citalopram , I said no that's celexa she said again WHAT , the reason being her med list was generic she hadnt a clue there real names and these people are trusted with your life, SERTRALINE is ZOLOFT , MIRTAZAPIN is REMERON ,FLUOETINE is PROZAC, and the BENZO, KLOPIN is CLONAZEPAM , ect ect a doc or shrink could put you back on a med you had before with using a different name. WRITE a chart of both names and pin it on the wall above your computer . or if laptop put in drafts, but on the wall is in you face so you don't forget.

[-jimi-]

If someone who is generally bad at spelling, spells their med wrong I don't care. But if you can actually spell other things, you can spell this as well. It's not "Risperidol". It's not "Xanex".

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by jimi...

If someone who is generally bad at spelling, spells their med wrong I don't care. But if you can actually spell other things, you can spell this as well. It's not "Risperidol". It's not "Xanex".

Depends Xanax sounds like xanex so people assume they spelt it right, I spelt es,citalopram wrong in my last post do to dyslexic an i had checked my post 10 times. There are plenty of goggle site,s with just full lists of shrink meds , just put the page in drafts

Well, until people consistently use the correct spellings for their, there, and they're, your and you're, patients and patience, yadda, yadda, yadda, I'm not going to get too (or to or two) terribly fussed about people having difficulty with with medication terminology.

[Hellion]

I am sure I have misspelled names of medications, but it has nothing to do with blindly taking it or not looking it up. More like if I am posting something I might not pay attention to if I spelled everything right, usually though I included the brand and generic names.

I don't really think misspelling a complicated chemical name indicates one hasn't looked into information about what they are taking.

[Perna]

I have all my medications and medical history (as well as my husband's) and primary care doctor, insurance information, etc. on a sheet of paper in my wallet so I can whip it out at the ER or wherever I need it.

[krisakira]

I am on 8 different medications and can spell each one. Citalopram, Ativan, tenex, Lamictal, propranolol, requip, metformin, and adderall. I take the time to learn about them only because biopsychology and pharmacology really interest me.

I can rarely ever spell the name of my medications correctly.
That's why I always use the brand name of medication instead of the actual name. (Like Risperdal instead of risperidone) I usually do read up on the medication that I'm taking, just so I know the side effects and what it's treating.

[sewerrats]

listen to this one , I was in hospital not mental general for ops on my guts. Took all my meds in with me the nurses put them in a locker at the side of my bed and said they will give me them. I was out of it after the op for days they were giving me double that's 8mg Ativan a day and 40mg of Lexapro , Then when morphine was stopped I was given TRAMADOL on top off all the meds. SERATONIN syndrome BBBBBBBBBOOOOOMMMMMMMM I was of the radar pulling cafters out my body and my **** and was tripping like a good un , till someone when oooooooo tramadol an meds can cause this , my wife thought I was going back to the phyc ward. so nurse,s get med wrong to spelling meds is the least of your worries

[-jimi-]

Not only do I try to spell them right, I learned other countries brand names. I mean if you take an interest in meds, it sort of just happens. If I took a med and only heard the name and never looked at the label, how do I know I'm taking the right thing? People must have looked at labels several times. Or... I don't get it.

I'm not trying to be mean. I just don't get it.

Xanax, luvox, naproxen, synthroid, halcion and ritalin. Yup.

But who comes up with these names anyway???

Halcion sounds like a bird.

[-jimi-]

Originally Posted by sewerrats

Depends Xanax sounds like xanex so people assume they spelt it right

If someone is dyslexic or for another reason have a hard time spelling, then I don't care if they spell their meds wrong. But for those who can spell it seems nonchalant to just toss out any spelling.

I disagree that xanax sounds like xanex, but maybe that is my accent. For me, "nax" rhymes with tax, "nex" rhymes with Tex.

[Nobodyandnothing]

Thanks for making me feel worse about myself than I already am. And by the way, I have always been able to write and spell very well. I guess I am too annoying to be here. Goodbye.
Nobody and nothing...you all just proved that. Please, no responses or pms.

[-jimi-]

I thought you said you had a problem remembering the med names. I don't think anyone then expects you to spell them out. Also you can yell at me if you want, I'm quite the punk you know.

[krisakira]

Please don't base your entire self worth on one little thread on a website.

Originally Posted by Nobodyandnothing

Thanks for making me feel worse about myself than I already am. And by the way, I have always been able to write and spell very well. I guess I am too annoying to be here. Goodbye.
Nobody and nothing...you all just proved that. Please, no responses or pms.

I know you don't want responses, but I did see anyone here attack you personally. In fact, several people thanked your post. You are taking general comments from others about this concept as a personal affront when none was intended.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by jimi...

If someone is dyslexic or for another reason have a hard time spelling, then I don't care if they spell their meds wrong. But for those who can spell it seems nonchalant to just toss out any spelling.

I disagree that xanax sounds like xanex, but maybe that is my accent. For me, "nax" rhymes with tax, "nex" rhymes with Tex.

sounds like this then anex the silent X you would never think of that without seeing it first.