Ever got a prescription from a doctor than had Side Affects happen? Since a PCP should know your health record, shouldn't he also know if a certain Side Affect could hinder your health and tell you about it and/or not even prescribe the medication for you. Find a different one? Ok, here we go: When I went to see a new doctor, "new" meaning I have never seen this doctor before, but had to fill out forms about my health history, which included that I was a Diabetic II. So, this new doctor prescribed me Prednisone, that has made my distant eyesight blurry and hike-up my blood glucose. He didn't mention a word to me about these two things possibly happening. One of the numerous things it is taken for is ringing in the ear, of which I had. It was a 10-day prescription and I started noticing the eyesight blurriness during the second 3-day taking. Really didn't think much about it (my fault). Don't test my blood as much as I should, and hadn't tested it while taking the med (my fault again). Did read the Side Affects of the med online, but that wasn't until day 7 of taking it. I took all 19 pills in hopes that it would stop the ringing noise. Didn't happen. My eye doctor, after doing some tests to see how my eyes were, told me the Prednisone messed up my vision thru my blood. He said, "should clear up in a few days". "Ok, doc, still waiting" I said to myself this AM. Anyway, the doctor, who prescribed me this med was, and notice I said the word "was", going to be my new Medicare doctor/PCP, but will now go with the doctor who is my wife's PCP. He knows me from being with my wife during her every 4 months visit. Question is: Should have this doctor told me about the Side Affects that would involve my eyesight and blood glucose to hike up a lot, since it was written in my health record that I was a Diabetic II? Should've he prescribed this med to me in the first place? And, how many depend on their doctor to give them the right medicine that won't hurt them, especially if it's written down in health record about a certain thing you have that could be affected by the wrong medicine?
@Cody Fousnaugh , I think you are right about not making that doctor your PCP. I've taken Prednisone a couple of times, but only for short periods of time, and my doctor explained to me that if I had any reactions to this steroid to call his office right away. So I looked Prednisone up, and since Diabetes is on the list of, "Don't Take If You Have", I would not trust that doctor.
Primarily the doctor. He should have reviewed your history before writing the script. Now days doctors seem to focus on why you're there to see them and lesser on the patient's health history except if you've been with that doctor for awhile. Being a new patient though I think it is unacceptable for a doctor not to review the new patient's health history either take the time discussing one on one and/or reviewing the written history that is why we complete new patient registration forms and what a medical record is for. If the medical record hasn't been received to review ahead of time I would expect the doctor to have mentioned it and reviewed medical history face to face. When my doctor retired he referred me and other patients to another doctor. On my first visit he did exactly that - first and then discussed why I came in that day.
I usually depend on the pharmacist. They always ask if I've taken something before and even if I have do I have any questions about the med. Meds are their area of expertise...that's what they went to school for. First thing I do is read the paper I'm given listing side effects etc, who should not take this med, interactions with other meds and so on. I did that with my antibiotic, although I've taken it in the past but a long time ago. I was having diarrhea at the time so I asked about taking Imodium. The pharmacist told me the same thing my dr did. Since I have diarrhea and the antibiotic may cause it, just take one pill a day...don't want to get constipated. I ended up not really needing it so only took one. Every time I get a med I'm asked if I want to talk to the pharmacist. Meds affect people differently....that's why every side effect known to man is on the list...even if one person had it happen.
Actually this doctor wrote on the back of his business card how much to take each day, but wrote on the prescription to the Pharmacist a different dosage (that was put on the bottle). I had to show the Pharmacist what the doctor wrote on the back of the business card and the Pharmacist told me to go by what the business card said. So, during this discussion, the Pharmacist forgot to ask me if I knew the Side Affects. I believe there are a certain percentage of people that don't read Side Affects of meds when they get them. I generally don't. I firmly believe the doctor should have talked to me!
You should, it's really the pharmacist who knows meds better than the dr. Pharmacists should have everything you take on their computer. I've never not gotten a paper with my receipt and I've always been asked if I need any explanation. I also ask them if I'm buying something OTC if it might interact with anything I take. It's always the head pharmacist that gives this info, not the techs. It's also why there is another little window with a chair by it...it's for when you want to talk to the pharmacist....that's the only thing they do at that window...and give shots. I've been using the same dr and the same pharmacy for the last 14 years...Walgreens...they know me. I used to go to Target and they were so sweet there, they knew my name and even noticed if I got a haircut but they had a bunch of new pharmacists come in and I decided to switch to Walgreens then because it's much closer...in fact it's my closest store...a few blocks. target was about 3 miles. In 14 years I never had a mistake made....and in 14 years there was only one NP that was there for a year that I couldn't stand at my drs office. When I didn't have insurance I went to the NP because it was cheaper than the dr but once I got Medicare and supplemental I switched to the dr who happens to be a cardiologist but also a general dr. When I had the abnormal ekg it worked out well cause I had all the extra tests in his office and he also talked about the results right away after the stress test and the echocardiogram. He's also a geriatric specialist which now I guess is also good for me but when I started with him I was only 52. There's also a holistic dr there, that's one I wouldn't ever go to. In general...it's a great office....I know the nurses and receptionists quite well.
Don't know about other Pharmacies, but at Walmart, a Tech gives out the meds./takes the money and the person leaves. Don't remember if I've ever had a Pharmacist talk to me about/ask me if I knew the Side Affects. Still think it's the doctor's responsibility and other people here would probably agree with me. HE knows (or should know) the patient's health history, not a Pharmacist.
Tech does the same at Walgreens but if you want to talk to a pharmacist then it's the head pharmacist that does the talking. Guess Walgreens is more thorough than Walmart. If you know the answer...why ask? Ultimately you're responsible for your health, that's the way I see it. If I was diabetic, I would have opened my mouth at drs office when he's prescribing meds I've never taken....you're not a child. I also don't care who agrees with you....my way has worked for me with no blurred vision ever!
Will have to "agree to disagree" on this one. A doctor should know the patient that is sitting in their office. I filled out health history forms for a reason....to let this new doctor know about me. One of the replies I got stated that. The doctor has a professional decree to uphold. Not talking to a patient about a certain medication, that could affect their health just isn't right.
When I have questioned side effects with the doc - I'm told to ignore them ! I don't ignore them and rarely take medication. The capsules I take for the nerve damage have no side effects and you can't get them prescribed I always do me research first
I am a doctor, but some may call me old fashion because of my age, but I think it's mainly the dotor's responsibility to review the patient's history before prescribing medications. as we say in medicine, 80% of correctly diagnosing your patients depends on both history and physical examination. Giving prednisone makes blood glucose rise, and with the rise of blood sugar, it can sometime cause vision problems such as diabetic retinopathy. In this case, even if the patient has a responsibility to inform his doctor about certain side effects after taking the medication, but it is mainly the rsponsibility of the attending physician to evaluate the patient's condition thoroughly. I think patients would appreciate having a prescription drug that may not be very fast in making them recover but has a constant and long term effect without and serious adverse reaction, rather than having a drug that has immediate effects but also have grave side effects on one's health
Please read what our "forum doctor" says in this Thread and Patsy also agrees with him. Seems like you have something against the way my wife and I act at our age. Oh well.
You are imagining things, Cody....I haven't looked at or cared about this post since yesterday. I don't care how you or your wife act at your age. I'm not the one with blurred vision. I take responsibility for my health and that's all that really matters to me. You want the dr to be at fault? Fine, he's at fault...why don't you sue him? Also, just because someone says they're a dr on a forum doesn't mean anything to me. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. I don't take advice from people on forums and I was done with this thread yesterday...quit bringing me into it...please.