Medication threads
 

Random thread, and I can't work out how to start it so I'll just fire away with a random ramble.

I don't mind threads asking about specific effects of medications, but when there's just "Has anyone been on fluoxetine, what's it like?", I find that the thread often does more harm than good, because there's bound to be someone who comes on and says "Oh my god it made me so suicidal." Like sertraline made me want to stab people, but there's no point saying that and scaring people off, so I always instead say that I've heard of people who've found it helpful, but other people seem to seek out threads about medication they've not agreed with and enjoy telling scare stories.

The side effects listed on the packet are already enough of a warning about side-effects and I just feel like people who've never been on medication before will freak out when people talk about ALL the negatives, especially when negatives are often incorrectly attributed to a medication.

I'm not saying we ban medication threads, just wondering if anyone else is slightly worried by them and if it's maybe something we come up with ideas about how to improve?

Sorry if this is a non-legit thread to make =S

i have nothing to add to this other than i wish people would use the search function instead of their being twelvty threads all asking the same thing.

If you type a medication name into search, chances are, threads come up.

handy handy.

I have nothing constructive to say, except I agree it is getting annoying in some of the threads.

It's why I don't go into sertraline threads and declare I aquired an IBD due to taking sertraline anymore. Mainly because it is probably TMI and because it is a rare side effect.

No one searches anything on here. There are always threads and threads that have been made four hundred and eleventeen times.

It's annoying.

^that sounds like a good idea!

And we could maybe have a little note to people replying asking them to try not to catastrophise?

^um, not sure what you're saying with that post? It doesn't have details of particular medications and if people are ceeb to search for threads, they're definitely going to be ceeb for reading the main site, which let's be reasonable, no one really reads anyway =S

I believe the Sticky, under the Mental Health Information Package was going to be updated (2009) but I am unsure if this happened; either way, the page exists already, and if more information is needed perhaps it could be taken to the CT to look at.

I don't believe in censoring the negative impacts of medication; one of mine made me incredibly unwell, and it's important that members make informed decisions, rather than accepting things on blind faith. Telling members there are no negative impacts of medication is irresponsible in my opinion, and contradictory information would be printed on the information leaflet in any case.

What about threads asking about how to deal with (minor) side effects? Because sometimes there's not that much information out there, like one of the pills I am on causes me to dribble in my sleep (nice) and if I hadn't spoken to someone else who takes it I wouldn't have known about a good way to deal with that. I understand that asking about possible side effects can be counterproductive, but if you are already experiencing side effects would that change things?

Sorry, not very well worded, brain is mush.

Lio, I dribble in my sleep and I am not on medication!

/hijack over

But my point is that the medication already has a list the length of my arm about adverse effects on the leaflet, which freaks people out enough, why add to that by telling people dramatic stories? I think it's actually more responsible of me to tell people about the good things I've heard about it, because the placebo effect is really strong, so if I say oh my god sertraline made me want to stab ALL the people, and neglect to mention that actually my girlfriend and ex-housemate found it really helpful, then a) they're less likely to take the medication that has been prescribed to them for a legit reasons and b) they're less likely to experience the positive psychological effects.

Yeah, I think that makes sense Lio :) And I think posting about stuff like that is very different. It's just the very generic ones that have a) been answered seven hundred times before and b) tend to get overly negative responses.

Have to agree with this!x

But this isn't what was proposed. The leaflets already have pros and cons of medications. Maybe a sticky with up to date medication information would be a good idea.

Telling scare stories isn't helping people to make an informed decision. Besides which, they should be talking with their prescriber about side effects specific to them (and consulting medication leaflets), not random people on the interwebz.

Search on RYL is pretty bad. Results are generally a massive mash-up. Its better to put search terms in Google and then add "recoveryourlife.com" because you'll get a better menu of results.

Or do the advanced search and just ask for thread titles instead of the quick one at the top of the screen. I've searched threads for all of my medications because I don't like making threads and it was very helpful.

I don't understand when, often, people are prescribed meds and come here asking how to take them/what they do. Do you not feel safer asking the medical professional who prescribed you? I agree with the original post. I don't geeet it.

I think it's a difficult one.

For example I answered a thread on medication the other day and I have found the medication to be helpful but I had horrific side effects (which are quite common seemingly) when I started and I persevered with it and they eventually went. If I hadn't of been in hospital when I started it I wouldn't of persevered and I thought it was important that they realised the effects would wear of.

That said I think my reaction to prozac was pretty special and unique so I wouldn't talk about it as it would be scaremongering.

It's a really difficult balance

People here clearly have the internet and a search engine. I agree it does more harm than good at times. Opinions on medications aren't really that grand. It's best for people to speak to their GP or use accredited sites to search for side effects etc.

I wouldn't make them but when I was changing meds fairly often I used to search the forums before I took each one. It was really helpful and reassuring. I guess it depends on who's looking as to whether they'd be scared off as such.
I was searching for curiosity and to widen knowledge. By now they've probably all been made so maybe new ones shouldn't.

Hello I think that it can be useful to ask questions on here regarding meds. I asked one recently about Prozac side effects and someone replied that they had had similar but they went away after a week. The answer calmed me down and I was no longer panicking. It's also good to know If certain meds helped or did not. I agree that I think it's better to list both good and bad side effects so peoPle can make informed decisions
Lotty