**mild language warning**
When it comes to the many medications that are commonly prescribed for people like us...the word "potentially" gets tossed around a lot. Could "potentially" cause heart attack or stroke...could "potentially" cause intrusive thoughts and/or suicide....could "potentially" cause high blood pressure....could "potentially" cause mental confusion...could "potentially" cause muscle aches and/or spasms...could "potentially" cause...could "potentially" cause...and so on and so on.
It's kind of like a prediction. They...being doctors, big pharma, research and medical groups and any of the like...have identified "potential" side-effects and they've broken them down into a three groups: common side-effects...infrequent side-effects...and rare side-effects...these are again broken down into whether the observed reaction to the side-effect is mild, moderate, severe or even life threatening. And from this information they can provide the appropriate warnings to what may "potentially" happen with the use of medications...both good and bad.
I think what bothers me most about the phrase "could potentially cause" is that they don't really know. Based on many lab tests, clinical trials and research groups etc...they have an idea what will or may happen...but they don't exactly know how each person will be impacted by a medication...that is until we take it. This why our doctors keep such careful notes about how we're doing when taking medications. Our doctors report their findings and it helps to build research data.
When it comes to the many medications that are commonly prescribed for people like us...the word "potentially" gets tossed around a lot. Could "potentially" cause heart attack or stroke...could "potentially" cause intrusive thoughts and/or suicide....could "potentially" cause high blood pressure....could "potentially" cause mental confusion...could "potentially" cause muscle aches and/or spasms...could "potentially" cause...could "potentially" cause...and so on and so on.
It's kind of like a prediction. They...being doctors, big pharma, research and medical groups and any of the like...have identified "potential" side-effects and they've broken them down into a three groups: common side-effects...infrequent side-effects...and rare side-effects...these are again broken down into whether the observed reaction to the side-effect is mild, moderate, severe or even life threatening. And from this information they can provide the appropriate warnings to what may "potentially" happen with the use of medications...both good and bad.
I think what bothers me most about the phrase "could potentially cause" is that they don't really know. Based on many lab tests, clinical trials and research groups etc...they have an idea what will or may happen...but they don't exactly know how each person will be impacted by a medication...that is until we take it. This why our doctors keep such careful notes about how we're doing when taking medications. Our doctors report their findings and it helps to build research data.
What might be a mild reaction for one person "could potentially" be a severe adverse reaction for another. What could be a mild reaction that passes in a few days for one person can become intolerable for another. What could be a moderate reaction for one person can be life threatening for another. And that's just giving consideration to one medication.
We are often prescribed multiple medications and each medication interacts with us differently and with each other when combined. "Potential" reactions and effects just went up and continues to go up each time you add another medication. And this is when the medication circle often begins.
Have you ever taken a medication that warned of the "potential" for increasing/causing thoughts of depression? Have you then needed to take mediation for depression because it actually did cause it for you? Or maybe it worsened the depression you're already living with?
Have you ever needed a medication for one illness but it caused another? It's another "potential".
Have you ever taken a medication to counter balance the effects of another just so you could continue taking it? for example taking a medication to settle an upset stomach that is caused by one of your meds?...it's another "potential".
Sometimes...when combining certain medications together there is the "potential" for the combination to cause another illness entirely. And when it does...and you go to your doctor...you hear the words...."Well, I told you it could potentially happen".
And here comes the RANT...
UM yeah...you told me it could potentially happen but you also said it might not...you also said the medication would be helpful for me. Now I'm in worse shape than I was before. I'm popping pills every day. I can't function, I can't think, I do nothing but lay around all day with my head filled with a fog and yet I'm supposed to consider this living? I don't think so!
Truth is doctors have no flecking clue what will happen when they prescribe a medication...they're guessing. And they're hoping that they're right. Sometimes they are and sometimes they're not. But in the end? we're the guinea pigs to big pharma. Cause truth be told...they don't really know either how a medication will impact you. They're going by clinical trials and they're banking on the average...the average being that most people who take a pill will benefit from it. But the thing is? we react differently. And they get to use the word "potential" to cover their butts. I understand why there are so many lawsuits against some pharma companies...they can be wrong too...even with all their testing...they can be wrong.
The use of prescription medications is a personal choice and I'm not ranting here trying to change your mind. But I am ranting trying to get you thinking about why you're taking medications and to encourage you to educate yourself on what you are taking and what it's supposed to do to and for you. What medications could it possibly interact with? what illnesses could it potentially create for you? Education is key! it's paramount to your healing and recovery. If your choice is to use prescription medications as a component to your health care...do so wisely! Ask your questions! Be informed!
end of rant for now...take good care of you please
We are often prescribed multiple medications and each medication interacts with us differently and with each other when combined. "Potential" reactions and effects just went up and continues to go up each time you add another medication. And this is when the medication circle often begins.
Have you ever taken a medication that warned of the "potential" for increasing/causing thoughts of depression? Have you then needed to take mediation for depression because it actually did cause it for you? Or maybe it worsened the depression you're already living with?
Have you ever needed a medication for one illness but it caused another? It's another "potential".
Have you ever taken a medication to counter balance the effects of another just so you could continue taking it? for example taking a medication to settle an upset stomach that is caused by one of your meds?...it's another "potential".
Sometimes...when combining certain medications together there is the "potential" for the combination to cause another illness entirely. And when it does...and you go to your doctor...you hear the words...."Well, I told you it could potentially happen".
And here comes the RANT...
UM yeah...you told me it could potentially happen but you also said it might not...you also said the medication would be helpful for me. Now I'm in worse shape than I was before. I'm popping pills every day. I can't function, I can't think, I do nothing but lay around all day with my head filled with a fog and yet I'm supposed to consider this living? I don't think so!
Truth is doctors have no flecking clue what will happen when they prescribe a medication...they're guessing. And they're hoping that they're right. Sometimes they are and sometimes they're not. But in the end? we're the guinea pigs to big pharma. Cause truth be told...they don't really know either how a medication will impact you. They're going by clinical trials and they're banking on the average...the average being that most people who take a pill will benefit from it. But the thing is? we react differently. And they get to use the word "potential" to cover their butts. I understand why there are so many lawsuits against some pharma companies...they can be wrong too...even with all their testing...they can be wrong.
The use of prescription medications is a personal choice and I'm not ranting here trying to change your mind. But I am ranting trying to get you thinking about why you're taking medications and to encourage you to educate yourself on what you are taking and what it's supposed to do to and for you. What medications could it possibly interact with? what illnesses could it potentially create for you? Education is key! it's paramount to your healing and recovery. If your choice is to use prescription medications as a component to your health care...do so wisely! Ask your questions! Be informed!
end of rant for now...take good care of you please
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