Meds you should probably consider not taking...

[Brainonska511]

Thank you Doctor Not-Doctor.

 

[ichy]

Accutane? Give me a break. That drug does amazing things for bad acne, and last time I checked the evidence that it actually causes depression is close to non-existent.

 

[Bignate603]

Prednisone (corticosteroids) - I was just prescribed this because I've been having problems breathing due to a nasty virus I've had for a few weeks.

Seems to be helping so far, I feel a lot better since I've been on it.

When I was on it the stuff worked exactly like my doctor had said it would, and much faster than anything else we had tried.

The side effects were that it made me put on some pounds (mostly water weight, went away in a few days after being off it) and being moody. Small things got on my nerves or made me sad. My doctor had warned me about it so I wasn't surprised and that made it easier to get through. I did go through some withdrawal when I came off it. I had been on it 2 weeks and the doctor wanted to tr taking me off cold turkey so I wouldn't be on it as long but I showed symptoms of withdrawal so he changed it so I would step down instead. That solved it and I was able to get off it without any more withdrawal.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Accutane is the nectar of the gods. After 9 years of fighting with Acne, Accutane cleared everything up in 8 months.

Only side effect was the fact my mouth filled with blood everytime I moved them, and feelings of killing myself, though that was probably from schoo.

 

[SlowSpyder]

Benzos are a life saver for many people. Maybe not litereally in most cases, but they help a lot of people lead a more normal life. That class of drugs is great for certain medical conditions as well. They may be over-prescribed in general, but they have plenty of uses and have proven to be safer then drugs that proceeded them.

 

[ichy]

For alcoholics who're suffering from alcohol withdrawal benzos are quite literally life saving, because untreated alcohol withdrawal can be fatal.

 

[wheresmybacon]

I think it's irreponsible for laypeople to go around offering anecdotal advice on which drugs are OK and which aren't.

Relate stories of your experience, but to offer a list of stuff that is "bad" and shouldn't be taken is stupid.

 

[purbeast0]

i was prescribed xanax from my PCP. the day my dad died i had anxiety as i was sleeping and thought nothing of it due to the circumstances. then over a year later I would wake up randomly in the middle of the night, like once every few months, w/anxiety.

so when i went to my PCP, whom was also friends of my father, for something unrelated, i mentioned this to him. i explained the symptoms and when i would get it and how i could control it better now that i know what is going on, but he prescribed me xanax to take just in case i wake in the middle of the night and need to help calm me down.

well i've used it probably 10 times maybe since prescribed to me and noticed it helped a bit. i get anxiety while flying too and took it before flying and it helped a lot there as well.

can't say i've ever seen a side effect of it either.

 

[TraumaRN]

Kayexalate

Yeah that is a real public health threat since you basically would only ever get that drug in the hospital. And the alternatives are far worse if you don't take it, namely you have to have emergent dialysis and/or you die.

And OP if you can invent a drug that treats hyperkalemia(high potassium) that is as effective and safer then you will be a very rich man...

 

[SlowSpyder]

I take temazepam (benzo) for insomnia as needed. It is quite helpful, and as long as I don't use it more than a few times a week there should be nothing to worry about. It has really been very helpful for me.

 

[Deeko]

Accutane? Give me a break. That drug does amazing things for bad acne, and last time I checked the evidence that it actually causes depression is close to non-existent.

Yea, lets be serious, teens with severe acne are in the demographic thats prone to depression as it is. Blaming it on the drug is just irresponsible parents trying to point fingers.

 

[jlfirehawk]

I had to have a hip replaced from too much prednisone due to avascular necropathy killing the blood supply to the hip.

 

[CottonRabbit]

Many transplant recipients have lost their donated organ and put their lives at risk because they didn't like the side effects of prednisone. Fail thread.

 

[Chaotic42]

I took prednisone for sinus issues about a year ago. Worked like a charm. Of course, so did lowering my blood pressure and losing weight.

 

[ShawnD1]

I take temazepam (benzo) for insomnia as needed. It is quite helpful, and as long as I don't use it more than a few times a week there should be nothing to worry about. It has really been very helpful for me.

My not-sick friend had one of those benzos and he said it knocked him out for like 2-3 days. That is one damn powerful medication. I feel bad for the people who need to take those on a regular basis.

 

[wheresmybacon]

My not-sick friend had one of those benzos and he said it knocked him out for like 2-3 days. That is one damn powerful medication. I feel bad for the people who need to take those on a regular basis.

I had a GF in college with such severe OCD/anxiety/depression issues that she degenerated to the point of literally being non-functional and staying in bed/in the house all day.

After we broke up she took the step to find a new doctor, and a his prescription of an SSRI (can't remember which) combined with extended release Xanax literally changed her life. She graduated with honors and became a successful Pharmaceutical sales rep (ironic, no?).

So yeah, these are powerful meds, but for non-MD's to offer threads on their efficacy is stupid and irresponsible.

 

[The Sauce]

LOL @ OP. Yes, please lets ban those drugs. Everyone with asthma can just die the next time they get an attack. Same for people with hyperkalemia...just let them go, np. I nominate Disappoint for ignorant post of the year award.

 

[ShawnD1]

LOL @ OP. Yes, please lets ban those drugs. Everyone with asthma can just die the next time they get an attack. Same for people with hyperkalemia...just let them go, np. I nominate Disappoint for ignorant post of the year award.

Yep, some of the most hardcore drugs are still legal because they work for some people. I once had a coworker with extreme narcolepsy, the thing where people randomly fall asleep. She was taking prescription meth, that hardcore drug white trash make from Sudafed. It worked great, and maybe even a bit too well because some days she would have this big smile on her face and she would say things like "I wasn't tired at all so last night I cleaned out the basement"

 

[MetalMat]

Benzos are awesome