Have you ever mixed and matched medicine?
By Amber
@AmbiePam (85606)
United States
March 5, 2010 12:08pm CST
What do I mean? A lot of people take prescriptions, but a lot of people also end up taking over the counter medicine like allergy pills. Have you ever been on a medication, needed another one, but weren't sure if it were okay to combine them? There are sites that let you enter the name of the medicines and they tell you whether or not there would be complications.
Or maybe you just take Tylenol, but you have to take it so often you get to wondering, have I taken too much? Maybe you can't remember if you took it like the directions said. And have you ever been in so much pain that you don't care if your medications were not supposed to be combined?
Please, please note I am not advocating the use of mixing and matching drugs or medications. I completely recognize this is a serious matter, as some people have lost their lives by accidentally doing that.
6 people like this
11 responses
@supermarketsoap10 (17)
•
5 Mar 10
My sister is a paediatric nurse and advocates taking paracetamol and ibuprofen together if you have a cold. She says that taking them together is more effective than just taking one or the other. I took them together after a really heavy cold a couple of weeks ago and got over it in a few days, and didn't need time off work unlike almost everyone else where I work.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85606)
• United States
5 Mar 10
That is really cool! She comes in handy, huh. 
I have to admit, sometimes I don't check. I am on prescription medication for something called PCOS, and am on an anti-depresasnt because I am bipolar. But I get sinus headaches on occasion. And although I read the directions, and don't take more than it says, I am not too cautious about whether or not that sinus medication would interfere with my regular meds. I mean, I have common knowledge like a lot of people, and KNOW there are some allergy or sinus meds you can't take with some things, but I always think that one dose won't make a difference.
I have to admit, sometimes I don't check. I am on prescription medication for something called PCOS, and am on an anti-depresasnt because I am bipolar. But I get sinus headaches on occasion. And although I read the directions, and don't take more than it says, I am not too cautious about whether or not that sinus medication would interfere with my regular meds. I mean, I have common knowledge like a lot of people, and KNOW there are some allergy or sinus meds you can't take with some things, but I always think that one dose won't make a difference.2 people like this
@BlueAngelRS (2899)
• Canada
5 Mar 10
Oh that is good to know I will remember that for when I have a cold or my kids get a cold.....Thanks supermarketsoap....
@PurpleTeddyBear (6685)
• Canada
5 Mar 10
Oh wow! I have Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome too AmbiePam but I'm not on anything for it, and I am bi-polar as well, but I am one of the few that do better without medication. That is really weird that you are on anti-depressants for bi-polar I was told that because the 2 are different (bi-polar and depression) that IF I were going to go on meds for the bi-polar it would probably be lithium or something!
2 people like this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
5 Mar 10
I have combined over the counter medications, even though I know it's not a good idea. When my son was little, I had bursitis in one shoulder frequently. A friend told me about a combination of things that help change these episodes into a 1 or 2 day event instead of the week or more that I'd suffered before.
When my mother was living and combating cancer, each of the several doctors she had prescribed different medications for her. They would always giver 'samples' plus a written prescription. On one occasion she ended up in the hospital because of a bad interaction. After that (it was pre-internet days), I got in the habit of stopping to talk to our pharmacist before even giving her anything new, sample or not. Pharmacists are also excellent resources for information.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85606)
• United States
5 Mar 10
I don't know how many doctors I have had over the years, who have prescribed something for me, and never asked if I was on something else. Not even doctors who knew I had been seeing a specialist. Do they never wonder if what they prescribe could interact with something else I've taken? So I make a point to tell them, even if they don't ask.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Mar 10
I think pharmacists are more informed about meds and interactions than docs. If I were a doctor EACH AND EVERY TIME I prescribed something I would look the meds up on a computer to see what interactions there might be to other meds. Years and years ago, my pharmacist actually saved my life. I had a bout of bronchitis and went to the doc (a good one I might add and liked him)--he gave me an antibiotic and an asthma type medication. So take the prescriptions to the pharmacist (this was in my pre-computer use days too)----the pharmacist nearly had a heart attack since he said if I had taken the two together.....uh, well lets put it this way, I wouldn't be typing this--it was a fatal combo 
2 people like this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
5 Mar 10
In my mother's case, each of the doctors she saw maintained an up-to-date list of the medications she was on, she had to review it and make any changes each visit. I doubt any of them really looked at it though, otherwise she wouldn't have ended up in the hospital. It's too bad that doctors don't use the same software that pharmacists use, checking for interaction histories.
1 person likes this
@PurpleTeddyBear (6685)
• Canada
5 Mar 10
I have a lot of medications that I can't take because I have asthma so that my life kind of interesting! 
Just about every cold medication out there says do not take if you have asthma and if your pregnant or that kind of thing. I do have some things that I maybe should be on meds for but I'm not and I'm fine and I feel in good health other then the whole asthma thing. I have inhalers for the asthma and the only other thing I might take is a tylenol here or there for a head ache or whatever!
Just about every cold medication out there says do not take if you have asthma and if your pregnant or that kind of thing. I do have some things that I maybe should be on meds for but I'm not and I'm fine and I feel in good health other then the whole asthma thing. I have inhalers for the asthma and the only other thing I might take is a tylenol here or there for a head ache or whatever!@AmbiePam (85606)
• United States
6 Mar 10
I used to be on lithium for being bipolar. However, they came out with something better and safer for people who are bipolar that Lithium isn't the best option for. It is NOT an anti-depressant, but I didn't mention that medication in the response further above yours. So I do take it in addition to the anti-depressant. It is called Lamictal, and it does what lithium is supposed to do, only safer, with less side effects, and just in general does a better job.
1 person likes this
@PurpleTeddyBear (6685)
• Canada
6 Mar 10
That's awesome hun!I am glad you have found a medication that is working right, is safer, and has less side effects! That's super!
I am glad you have found a medication that is working right, is safer, and has less side effects! That's super!1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
7 Mar 10
Hi Amber! How are ya girlfriend? It is very serious when you are
on certain meds to watch what types of over the counter meds
you are taking because some of the combinations can really be
deadly! And some people honestly don't realize this! When I
have a cold I have to watch what cold meds I get because I have
high blood pressure and there are certain meds I can take that
are made specially for people with high blood pressure! But,
then I also take "psych meds" so that means a whole new group
of meds and a whole new issue! Mixing and matching meds can
end you up in the hospital or worse and not many people heed
those warnings! Be careful and READ the WARNING LABELS! They
are there for a reason!
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
7 Mar 10
I am on two prescription medicines long term and I also take an array of vitamins. It has all been approved by the doctor now because at first I was taking things that just did not go together. For example I was not aware that St John Wort is not compatible with HRT medication or antidepressants and because I have been prescribed both of those the St John had to go. It is a good idea to run everything past your doctor before you take them because some over the counter tablets can actually nullify the effect of certain prescriptions or worse cause dangerous side effects.
1 person likes this
@joebrpt84 (85)
• Malaysia
6 Mar 10
never... just follow the doctor prescription... you know it is quite dangerous to mix medicine... except if you are a doctor or a pharmacist... don't do anything that can harm you...
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157624)
• United States
6 Mar 10
A long time ago I found myself cross medicating, but did not realize it until I read about it in a book. You have to take into account not just the medicines you take, but also vitamins and caffeine and things like nasal sprays. Some allergy meds will work fine one time, make you sleepy the next and then make you "wired" (not the medical term)One of them made my husband wake up every twenty minutes day and night when he was in the nursing home. He figured it out himself. He had taken it over nine months to help dry up extra mouth secretions, but it finally switched on him. Antihistamines will do that.
1 person likes this
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
5 Mar 10
IF I ever take any medication I would be very careful to research it first. I have extremely good health and have not taken any medication at all for more years than I can remember. I don't even use paracetamol and could count on one hand the number of doses I have taken over the last twenty years.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Mar 10
I think you know me by now that I'm not really big into taking meds at all if I can help it, the most I ever take is aspirin occasionally and even that sparingly--I'm even hesitant about taking over the counter stuff and never in my life have taken Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve since the ingredient in those are worse than aspirin. While I've had pain issues, I guess since my system isn't used to meds, aspirin works fine for me for all my needs
1 person likes this
@BlueAngelRS (2899)
• Canada
5 Mar 10
I can't say as far as allergy meds I've done that but I'm on meds for certain things and if I run out of a percription for my indigestion one that I have to take before meals I have over the counter after meals for that.....The only other over the counter meds I might take are cough and cold ones that are good for my medcial condition or tylenol for pain.....Happy Mylotting...
1 person likes this
