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In reply to the discussion: The medications that change who we are [View all]PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,853 posts)It required a physical, which I didn't pass because of high blood pressure. Sigh.
So I needed to acquire a primary doctor, who prescribed medications to lower that blood pressure. And I must emphasize that she did it in simple and cautious steps. The blood pressure got lowered, I was able to get the insurance policy, but I was quickly caught up (at least in my perspective) in a merry-go-round of medication and side effects.
Blood tests showed that I had high cholesterol, which I'd been aware of some thirty years earlier. So I was prescribed statins for that. Then something else. I'm forgetting the details because this was nearly a decade ago. I told the doctor that I wasn't willing to take more than three medications, no matter what. Plus, I was having some side effects that were no doubt from the statin meds. A bit later, an appointment with her was cancelled by her office, and I never rescheduled. That was over three years ago.
So now, I'm 71 years old. I know I have high blood pressure, which I also know isn't a very good thing. I'm sure I still have high cholesterol, but that's not been conclusively demonstrated as being bad. Meanwhile, I'm the healthiest person I know at my age. I don't take any prescription medications. I get around more than fine, unlike far too many of my age mates.
I don't want to sound as if I'm telling others not to get appropriate medical help, or not to take genuinely needed medications. But the truth is, that far too many of us are over medicated. If nothing else, if you're taking something to counteract the effects of some other medication, then think about it. You probably are being over medicated.