[venusss]

There was a debate on scaring the noobs...

but shouldn't everybody be aware of the risks of the things you are doing? I mean, let's say you travel to some African country... will you read the warnings for travelers, although these are usually scary and include all bad possibilites that will likely NOT happen to you, or will you say "I don't wanna scare myself" and thrust yourself into unknown?

My grandmother died of alergic reaction to an antibiotic... and it's likely she could make it if she was aware how such alergic reaction looks like and that it's not just symptom of your actual illness.

By being aware you don't have to scare yourself. You are being aware and possibly protecting yourself.

[-jimi-]

I think it must be the person's own responsibility how they seek info. Before the Internet era, a friend of mine bought this bigbutt medical book for family use, and after a while he asked me if I wanted it. Sure, it was lovely and expensive. But why? It came out he couldn't distance himself from the info and he got really, really hypochondriac. He said the book wasn't good for him so he'd rather give it away. He knew I had no health anxiety so the book would find a good home, LOL.

I think it is how people using the Internet also must think. Some people work themselves up to a point where it is unhealthy and they might find googling things (symptoms, side effects) doing them harm. Often they realize it and they go easy on the info, and a person like that might handle this forum part with some care.

Everyone knows their own mind the best, and I think we all stay away from some stuff online. We do what is best for us as individuals. I think we need to ASSUME responsibility of the reader. If I post something called "Problem with my Xanax" I assume those scared of reading about Xanax do not open the thread.

BUT if someone posts a thread telling he is scared of the new med and doesn't want to hear "stories" but wants a little reassurance, I think THAT needs to be respected too.

I think we can come far if we stop walking all over each other... and keep the titles descriptive. Those who are sensitive can stay away from stuff they can't handle.

Me, I'm the opposite, I worry less the more I know.

(And... I'll take ya off my Siberia list now... LOL)

I think there needs to be full disclosure but that isn't the same as spelling out every issue. The doctor should give them the highlights. You don't have to communicate all the characteristics but I think two things need to be communicated for sure:

1. Meds are a serious decision and may have long term consequences.
2. Recommend that they do some reading and let them know where to start.
3. Any side effects that are serious enough to call. For example aseptic meningitis is something most people won't easily recognize but it can be very serious. This is a side effect of Lamictal.

If they choose not follow through it is up to them. The idea is to disclose how to get the information and what questions to ask. I don't think that is scaring people. Strictly my opinion.

I remember the pill book! It made the rounds in high school. Don't ask me why. Hardly anybody was taking prescriptions.

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Personally, when I start a med, I much prefer to come here or other sites with discussions between people actually taking the meds than to only reading the prescription insert which is completely statically based and impersonal. I want the real life stories.

Generally what I see here is that when people request information about a med, they get a variety of responses from "this med is great and I had no problem" to " this med is the devil incarnate". I think that's a good thing because it shows the reality that no two people respond exactly the same way to any med, and at least I can get a bit of a forewarning about possible problems to look out for.

My pdoc is very good about warning me of the most common side effects he sees in his own patients, but it still helps to get input from actual patients.

[Lauliza]

My dad had the Pill Book too! I remember seeing the lists of side effects for some of the meds, some of which I had taken, and getting a little freaked out. But in reality I experienced very few of the SE's listed. Still it's good to know the possibilities and be aware of what could, even if it likely won't, happen. Because like in Michanne's experience with Lamictal, sometimes scary things happen. My h almost died from an allergic reaction to antibiotics too. You need to know what to look for but not become neurotic about it.

[krisakira]

I think information about medications is always helpful. No one should have to limit what they say about a medicine, because it is up to the person to handle triggers themselves and if they're worried about a side effect and get literally scared about it, chances are they don't know the actual facts or statistics about the side effect. The more knowledge the better. But never settle for half truths. They can be scary. We have to know all the facts first before making assumptions about what the meds will do to people. I don't think sheltering people from stories and facts about medication will do any good other than the "ignorance is bliss" foolishness. Knowledge is power.

[splitimage]

I think there's a balance between listing every side effect possible, even the really rare ones, and only giving generic most common and mild side effect listings.

Pharmacy handouts on drugs are a good example.

I get all my meds at Shopper's Drug Mart which is a big Canadian chain.

Years ago, like around 2003, they used to give really detailed meds handouts whenever you started a new med. I remember when i went on risperidone, my Dr. told me I'd be freaked out by the meds handout, but not to be scared off by it, and that the most common side effects were X. Well I got the meds hand out, and it was 2 pages of small print nastiness, really scared me. But I trusted my Dr. and started on it. About a week later I was in New York for a conference and I started lactating. That really freaked me out. But I remembered that had been listed as a possible side effect of risperidone. So I just got the number of a local pharmacy in NY called them, talked to the pharmacist, and confirmed it. Stopped the freak out. If I hadn't known it was most likely the med, I would have really been panicking.

They've stopped handing out detailed meds sheets - I don't know why. Now the meds handouts are so generic and minimalistic that they're virtually useless. According to the meds handouts I've recieved the possible side effects for all my meds are the same, nausea, dizziness, and possible drowsiness. Well trust me, that's no where near the full story.

Now if I want a complete picture of a meds side effects, I go to mayoclinic.com and read their meds info sheets. They're really complete and informative without being alarmist.

splitimage

[-jimi-]

I think it sometimes pays off to be careful reading up about the med in whole. I was suggested 2 different meds that I accidentally had read up on in the past, and I told the doc please read where it says Don't take this med if you have systemic lupus.

I'm glad I caught it before I had actually gotten the med and paid for it.