Should You Second Guess Your Doctor?

According to the Associated Press, an estimated 2% of a prescriptions filled in the US are for drugs that have not been reviewed by the FDA. This means that the medication you get filled at your local or online pharmacy may not be as safe or as effective as your doctor would have you believe. This is not to say that you doctor is in conjunction with the pharmaceutical companies to prescribe you dangerous drugs in order to get a bonus for padding their bottom line. However, this does mean that before you put anything in your body that may potentially have adverse effects on your health, you should take the time to do research on the drug.

If you are taking something as important as Avalide it is good to do research to make sure you are getting the quality medication that you need.

The internet is a great place to go to find information about medications you are currently taking as well as those you have on order at an online pharmacy. By law, pharmaceutical companies must report what the drugs are meant to treat as well as any side effects experienced by patients who used the drug. However, people react differently to different types of medication, so it is a good idea to search online for anecdotal feedback about the drug’s effectiveness. Look for patterns. One or two people saying they experience nausea when taking a drug isn’t as meaningful as 40-50 people saying the same thing.

Another thing you should look for is drug interactions. Your pharmacists can help you in this area. Even if you order your medications from an online pharmacy, you can often email questions to them regarding the medication. You can also go to a local store for feedback. Either way, inquire about how the drug interacts with other medications, supplements, or herbal remedies you may be using. A particular medication may not be harmful by itself but have dangerous consequences when paired with another.

If you do decide to order the medication from a local or online pharmacy after you have done your research, carefully monitor how you feel while on it. It will take awhile for your body to adjust to the medication and you may feel some discomfort during that process. However, if you still feel poorly after the adjustment period or you begin experiencing unpleasant side effects from using the medication, then go back to your doctor for a reassessment. If necessary, get a second opinion. When it comes to taking care of your health, you just can’t be too careful.