If you were prescribed a medication....
 

If you were prescribed a medication by a doctor, would you just trust the doctor and take it without doubt, or would you go and research it first?

I would read the information leaflet that comes with it, and then take if there is no reason not to. The leaflets tell you if there are any reasons you shouldn't take it, like medical history or other medications. I'll also trust that the medication has gone through the proper, stringent medical pharmaceutical safety trials for it to be licenced for use.

Researching it would probably make me less likely to take it, mainly because most people will only write about a negative experience with something. You'll come across more horrific experiences than you will someone saying they never got any side effects and that it worked brilliantly for them.

When I said research it, I meant from websites like the electronic medicines compendium, not other people's experiences because other people's experiences are often biased.

Then no, because I wouldn't really see the point. The information leaflet provides a patient with enough information for them to make a decision as to whether or not they should use it. And if they have concerns then they should go back to the doctor who prescribed it and/or see a different doctor for a second opinion. Also, if they do take it and have a nasty reaction, then they should be seeking medical attention anyway.

I have a habbit of just trusting the doctor most of the time, but I will from time to time read up about the meds, just to see what kind of meds they are and stuff like that..

But I pretty much trust the doctor..They know more then me after all.

The patient information leaflets are basic at best.

I always read up a certain amount about a (psychiatric) medication first. Simply because I'm curious and interested about it. It's not so much that I distrust doctors, I just like to be informed. However, I feel that no amount of information can really ascertain whether or not a medication will work for me and so it's trial and error in my circumstances. Since going on my medication I have informed myself of some of its long-term effects so I can adjust my lifestyle accordingly in order to reduce some of the risks.

Yes, but then they are all the vast majority of patients will need. Very few will have any knowledge or understanding of pharmaceuticals, pharmacology, or medicine generally. The patient information leaflets will tell you what the medicine is most commonly used for, any important information about who should not be using it, and side effects to expect and to look out for. That is all that most people will need or want.

Fair enough. I suppose I'm unusual in my perhaps excessive need for large amounts of research and knowledge. I always end up finding research papers and postmarketing data on my medications. But then I'm addicted to information.

I usually research the medication before I take it, and then decide whether or not I will take it based on what Ive discovered about it.

I, like you, am addicted to information. :)

Good :)

Do you discuss your concerns with a medical professional?

I usually trust the doctor but I always read the leaflet before taking it. I do research the medicines I'm taking but that's because I'm just curious about how they work rather than not trusting the doctor.

That wasn't really the question here.

I'm simply answering Oly, that's all. :)

I tend to avoid reading too much about possible side-effects, because I think that the more you're aware of, the more likely you are to have them. I will check whether there are interactions with other meds I'm on though, or query doses (a couple of years back, a pharmacist gave me the wrong dose of a drug that caused me to become quite manic - the capsules were similar in colour and I didn't notice for about 10 days) Doctors are only human, they can make mistakes.

I research like crazy, but that's mostly because I used to trust my doctor without a second thought until I got prescribed something which shouldn't be prescribed for asthmatics after their computers crashed and they couldn't access all my notes. So without knowing it I was taking pills that were making me sick, and I was under the impression that they were just really bad side effects. Now I look everywhere I can for information so I can be sure that it's safe for me to take what I've been given.

I reseach stuff quite a bit. My dad got prescribed statins and was having really bad side effects and when he went to a different doctor to ask if there was an alternative he found out he didnt even have what they were supposed to treat, hed just been prescribed them automatically because he had a heart attack. He was finding it really difficult to walk, and all for nothing.

Did he get myopathy?

I suppose I trust my Doctors to a degree. I've been prescribed medication, read the leaflet, found something that concerned me but still ended up taking them.

I ask my doctor about any and all risks/side effects then I go and research using the National Drug handbook and hospital website when i'm on shift.

I trust my doctor for putting me on a med that is right for my symptoms/diagnosis but I like to know and and all side effects and interactions since my last doctor gave me 2 med's that shouldn't be taken together.