Re: Spent 4 days in the hospital - other similar sounding drugs

[Guest guest]

I've run into this also in doctor's offices. I think it sounds to

them like " Zyrtec " which is an antihistamine. When I told them that

it was for allergic asthma (as well as allergic sinusitis) I think

that they thought I was just mispronouncing it. And, the thing about

it being for allergies was just a " ho-hum routine unimportant " type

of attitude.

Zyprexa is another drug that sounds similar but is completely

UNrelated. As I recall (feel free to correct me), Zyprexa is for

bipolar disorder. It's REAL IMPORTANT to make sure they don't write

down the wrong drug. Xanax is another similar sounding word that is

completely unrelated. It's a member of the benzodiazapine family and

is used as an anti-anxiety drug. I believe there's some sort of diet

drug (not sure) that has a similar name but I'm running out of

recollections now!

It's also important to make sure they don't diagnose you as having a

disease you don't have based on their MISunderstanding of the drug

you're taking.

I carry around a 3 page typed med history (including what I'm

currently taking, recently took, and allergy/idiosyncracies) in my

purse so that when I can't remember a thing under stress, it's all

there.

> > > >

> > > > From: uca79iii <uca79iii@>

> > > > Subject: [ ] Spent 4 days in the hospital

> > > >

> > > > Date: Monday, October 20, 2008, 7:01 AM

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > But NOT for asthma. I had bursitis on my elbow that suddenly

got

> > > > severely infected and my whole turned arm red and swolen.

After

> 4

> > > > days of IV antibiotics and strong pain killers I was fine.

> > > >

> > > > One thing about hospital food is that you always get enough!

> > > > One bite is enough LOL! (grin)

> > > >

> > > > Of course, none of the doctors or staff had ever heard of

> Xolair.

> > > > When they went over my meds they all asked " what is this?

Never

> > > heard

> > > > of that before, what is it for and what does it do? "

> > > > Fortunately, I had just had my shots 2 days before.

> > > >

> > > > There were 3 different respiratory therapists giving me my

nebs

> > > every

> > > > day. NONE of them had ever heard of Xolair. These people are

> > > supposed

> > > > to be up on the latest meds for people with lung problems

aren't

> > > they?

> > > >

> > > > Year before last, many xolair users including Kathie (also a

> member

> > > of

> > > > this group) and myself took training classes to become patient

> > > speakers to

> > > > educate the medical community on xolair and what is about.

> > > >

> > > > Strange that this drug has been out on the market over 5

years

> now

> > > and

> > > > some doctors and other medical professionals have never heard

> of it.

> > > >

> > > > Don't doctors have to go to some kind of training every few

> years go

> > > > keep up on the latest meds? Do they at least read their

> Physicians

> > > > Desk Reference?

> > > >

> > > > Well, I am now back home, breathing fine and with a normal

left

> arm!

> > > >

> > > > Doug

> > > > Group founder

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > __________________________________________________

> > > >

[Guest guest]

>

> I've run into this also in doctor's offices. I think it sounds to

> them like " Zyrtec " which is an antihistamine. When I told them that

> it was for allergic asthma (as well as allergic sinusitis) I think

> that they thought I was just mispronouncing it. And, the thing about

> it being for allergies was just a " ho-hum routine unimportant " type

> of attitude.

>

> Zyprexa is another drug that sounds similar but is completely

> UNrelated. As I recall (feel free to correct me), Zyprexa is for

> bipolar disorder. It's REAL IMPORTANT to make sure they don't write

> down the wrong drug. Xanax is another similar sounding word that is

> completely unrelated. It's a member of the benzodiazapine family and

> is used as an anti-anxiety drug. I believe there's some sort of diet

> drug (not sure) that has a similar name but I'm running out of

> recollections now!

>

> It's also important to make sure they don't diagnose you as having a

> disease you don't have based on their MISunderstanding of the drug

> you're taking.

>

> I carry around a 3 page typed med history (including what I'm

> currently taking, recently took, and allergy/idiosyncracies) in my

> purse so that when I can't remember a thing under stress, it's all

> there.

>

I carry a typed out list of all my meds in my wallet. I gave this list

to them at the hospital and they made a photocopy. They STILL forgot

to give me two of my normal meds. When I asked why, they would say

" your doctor didn't have this on your chart. "

Evidently, he had a good reason for not having me on them.

One doctor I go to has his Pharm D. then an MD and then his specialty.

The man knows his stuff and keeps up with it all.

When he first saw Xolair on my list he said: " Hey, I see they have

you on xolair. Great stuff for asthmatics. "

Doug

[Guest guest]

Zyprexa is an antipsychotic medicine that was first used for

Schizophrenia. It is not the typical mood stabilizer medicine which was

originally an anticonvulsant used for epilepsy. I led a support group

for people with bipolar and unipolar depression.

________________________________

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of uca79iii

Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 4:24 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: Spent 4 days in the hospital - other similar

sounding drugs

--- In

<mailto: %40> , " instdesgn1 " <instdesgn1@...>

wrote:

>

> I've run into this also in doctor's offices. I think it sounds to

> them like " Zyrtec " which is an antihistamine. When I told them that

> it was for allergic asthma (as well as allergic sinusitis) I think

> that they thought I was just mispronouncing it. And, the thing about

> it being for allergies was just a " ho-hum routine unimportant " type

> of attitude.

>

> Zyprexa is another drug that sounds similar but is completely

> UNrelated. As I recall (feel free to correct me), Zyprexa is for

> bipolar disorder. It's REAL IMPORTANT to make sure they don't write

> down the wrong drug. Xanax is another similar sounding word that is

> completely unrelated. It's a member of the benzodiazapine family and

> is used as an anti-anxiety drug. I believe there's some sort of diet

> drug (not sure) that has a similar name but I'm running out of

> recollections now!

>

> It's also important to make sure they don't diagnose you as having a

> disease you don't have based on their MISunderstanding of the drug

> you're taking.

>

> I carry around a 3 page typed med history (including what I'm

> currently taking, recently took, and allergy/idiosyncracies) in my

> purse so that when I can't remember a thing under stress, it's all

> there.

>

I carry a typed out list of all my meds in my wallet. I gave this list

to them at the hospital and they made a photocopy. They STILL forgot

to give me two of my normal meds. When I asked why, they would say

" your doctor didn't have this on your chart. "

Evidently, he had a good reason for not having me on them.

One doctor I go to has his Pharm D. then an MD and then his specialty.

The man knows his stuff and keeps up with it all.

When he first saw Xolair on my list he said: " Hey, I see they have

you on xolair. Great stuff for asthmatics. "

Doug