Knowing Our Medications

[Guest guest]

This is an add-on to my post on Autoimmune Disease:

When I receive inquiries from across the nation, one of the first things I ask

them is to give me a list of medication they are on. More times than not, they

are on one or more medications that list this as a potential adverse reaction.

It surprises me how often an admitting patient history fails to review the

medications a patient is on. As an RN I know that patients are asked which meds

they are on, but that is purely to identify any underlying diagnoses we need to

be aware of. A good PharmD, usually on staff of AHECs, or Area Health Education

Centers, where doctors do their medical school residencies. In care planning

patients, the PharmD's role is to scrutinize the risk of medication reactions

between other medications, herbs, vitamins, and even foods. It is so rare that a

patient suffers an adverse reaction that we get lax in thinking they actually

happen. But they do.

I also encourage people who already have a diagnosis of Pancreatitis what

medications they are on to do a medication review. More than a few are taking

medications that many people I talk to are on medications that are known to

cause Pancreatitis.

This happened to me. My Pancreatitis Pain was getting out of control, without

any obvious precipitating factors. None of my doctors could figure it out. I was

having secondary complications. I finally sat down and looked up every one of my

numerous medications. (Hand across the forehead) Lasix!!!!! I called my doctor.

She looked it up. Wala! The Lasix was discontinued and I had minimal pain within

24 hours.

We are so fortunate that we live in an age where we have so many resources

available. Healthcare providers have a ton of work to do; the patient has to be

willing to help. Together working with a care plan team, answers gradually

surface.

Karyn E. , RN

Executive Director, PAI

http://www.pancassociation.org