Fear of Taking Meds « Pain Management and Migraine Relief

While looking at posts on my Migraine and Pain Management message boards, I have noticed the fear of taking meds as a theme. The fear of med side effects is legitimate, and when people read all of the possible side effects and interactions, it can lead to significant concern and hesitation to try a new medication. Sometimes it comes down to weighing the risks against the benefits and remembering a few things.

Meds react differently with different people. What some folks experience while taking a drug does not mean everyone will experience the same negative or positive effects.

Every medication is a foreign substance taken into the body. Therefore there is a chance of reaction with any medication. However, if a patient takes a drug as prescribed and is monitored by a physician, any problems should be recognized and reported promptly. This enables drug doses to be regulated and side effects minimized if the drug is not stopped and another prescribed.

Medication is but one approach to chronic pain. To gain the best results, it often takes a multi-faceted approach to treat pain. In this case, having an open mind to various alternatives can be very helpful.

Some folks take herbs feeling they are harmless. Be very careful. Herbs if taken without proper research and supervision can be harmful and even deadly if taken in combination with other herbs or prescribed medications.

Some meds have temporary side effects that resolve as the body gets used to the drug. At the same time, it often takes time for the body to build a blood level that will result in benefits. Quite often people will start a med only to stop it too soon, thus losing the chance of realizing the full benefit the drug might have for them. Therefore, it is important to give meds a fair chance to work before writing them off as being ineffective.

These are some things to ponder if you find your doctor prescribing new medications for your condition. I hope they help you as you work with your doctor as a team to find the best combination of treatments and modalities for your individual condition. May you find the relief you need and so greatly deserve.