Have you taken medicine prescribed for someone else?
By worldwise1
@worldwise1 (14885)
United States
October 2, 2008 2:09pm CST
I woke up this morning in excruciating pain because my back had decided to go out without me.
I have had serious back pain problems for many years, but had not been bothered by it recently. I thought it was too early in the morning to phone someone who could come to my rescue, so I tearfully braved the pain until about 8:00 A.M. Then I phoned one of my daughters because her boyfriend is older and has some of the same medical issues that I do. I related my problem to her and asked if she could get her hands on some muscle relaxers. Now, I do not make a habit of taking other people's medicine, but in this case I was prepared to throw caution to the wind. She soon arrived with some of his muscle relaxers and told me to look them up on the Internet to make sure it would be safe to take them -which I did. I found they were a generic brand of some I had taken previously, so I took one and made myself comfortable to allow it to take effect. I'm happy to say that when I awakened from a short nap I was back to about 50% of normal. That is why I am now able to be online. I would like to know if you've ever had to take medication that was prescribed for someone else in an emergency situation?
I have had serious back pain problems for many years, but had not been bothered by it recently. I thought it was too early in the morning to phone someone who could come to my rescue, so I tearfully braved the pain until about 8:00 A.M. Then I phoned one of my daughters because her boyfriend is older and has some of the same medical issues that I do. I related my problem to her and asked if she could get her hands on some muscle relaxers. Now, I do not make a habit of taking other people's medicine, but in this case I was prepared to throw caution to the wind. She soon arrived with some of his muscle relaxers and told me to look them up on the Internet to make sure it would be safe to take them -which I did. I found they were a generic brand of some I had taken previously, so I took one and made myself comfortable to allow it to take effect. I'm happy to say that when I awakened from a short nap I was back to about 50% of normal. That is why I am now able to be online. I would like to know if you've ever had to take medication that was prescribed for someone else in an emergency situation?4 people like this
11 responses
@di1159 (1580)
• United States
2 Oct 08
Guilty as charged! Yes, I think that when someone is in really bad pain, they don't care as long as it provides relief. I'm a migraine sufferer and have been for many years. Since I currently don't have insurance, I can't afford to pay a doctor visit, let along medication, so when a really bad one strikes, I'll ask a friend for one her pills which provides fast relief. I know it's not what I should do, but when you feel like someone is splitting your head open, you could care less.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
2 Oct 08
i'm with you on that, di! Sometimes we just have to do what is best in that moment in time.
@monochrome_lie (407)
• Canada
2 Oct 08
I feel the same way when it comes to my heartburn and acid reflux... I could really care less if it's not the "right" thing to do when all I want to do is make the pain go away. It's sad that something as simple as not having insurance can turn the best of us into a bunch of criminals.
1 person likes this
@belk89 (1103)
• Philippines
3 Oct 08
I did take medicine that is prescribe to my mother. As long as the brand is generic it is safe to take other peoples prescription as long as you only take the right dosage. Sometimes when i am really sick and in need of medicine i look up at our medicine kit and check the medicine available. I search first online if the medicine is safe to be taken without doctors prescription.
1 person likes this
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
5 Oct 08
People without insurance very often can't access medication either, so they need to seek out extra-legal relief from pain...
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
3 Oct 08
That is exactly what I did, belk. I even research all new medications that my doctor gives me.
@shana123 (2095)
• India
3 Oct 08
My mom wont give such tablets to me or to my brother , i learnt this from my mom that one should not take other tablets , if am not too well i will ask her to do something when i was small , she will take me to hospital or give tablets which doctor already prescribed me , once i was having bad cough i asked her to give something to save me from the cough , she said that she will search for it , then my dad told my mom to give my brothers tonic to me , she refused it .I dont know why but that is a good habbit , may be this muscle relaxer dint do any harm because these things you might have already have prescribed for you. in my opinion , one should not intake tablets or tonic which is prescribed for someone , that too people who have crossed 40 years shouldn't do because they may be diabetes or bp patients.for one it works for others it harms so beware from now on!
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
3 Oct 08
I have taken medication prescribed to someone else, but like you I am very careful about it.
*
Prescription Ibuprofen is nothing but a serious strength version of the over the counter pain remedy.
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
5 Oct 08
Very true. Of course, many people take higher dosages of over counter meds than the bottle recommended.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
3 Oct 08
The prescription medications are always stronger than what you get OTC, CraftyCorner.
1 person likes this
@nandigamharika (159)
• United States
3 Oct 08
Hi
I this has happened to me also one time.I took tablets that was prescribed to my mother.Since its a homeopathy tablet any body can use it,doctor said.Thats why I used my mother tablets,other than that I never used any other medicines without any prescription....
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
3 Oct 08
There is a decreased chance of risk, nandigamharika, when the medication is of the homeopathic variety.
@nicholejade (2430)
• Canada
2 Oct 08
I have been a back pain sufferer for almost 3 years now and I do take medication that is from other people. I look at it like this if it helps why not. There is really no harm in taking it. However I have asked my doctors to put me on these types of medications and they say that I don't need them. Then they go into the big speil of you shouldn't take other peoples medciations blah blah blah. Well sorry to say if you can't perscribe me something that is going to work and help me I'm going to take them either way.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
2 Oct 08
I agree with you in many ways, nicholejade. Extreme pain calls for extreme measures.
@nicholejade (2430)
• Canada
9 Oct 08
Doctors can sit there all day till they are blue in the face. Obviously if something works I am going to take it whether I get a perscription or not. I have had a few tell me they won't write me one for something so I just walk out and say I will get it with or without you. When you are in pain like many of us have been in you will do what you have to do to get some releif even if it's for a short time.
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
3 Oct 08
Yes, I have but only if it was something that was prescribed to me that I was out of. For example, when I ran out of steroids in DC I took someone else's. It was only because I wasn't able to refill my prescription in DC without paying for it, which I couldn't afford without my insurance which didn't cover out of state refills.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
3 Oct 08
That is why, stephcjh, I went online to research it before I took it. I was not familiar with the name, but I did know the names of this type of medication that had been prescribed for me many times in the past. This was the equivalent of them.
@izathewzia (5134)
• Philippines
3 Oct 08
I,too experiences back pain. My physical therapist-friend always come home to check on me and gives me soft massage and some therapy. It helps a lot. If you are in pain, you are really willing to do the things you ought to just to relieve it even a little.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
3 Oct 08
It's crazy to suffer with pain, izathewzia, when someone you know and trust has something that can help relieve your pain.
@planeswalker (102)
• Singapore
2 Oct 08
i have not experience any emergency situation before but i do take medicine prescribed for someone else. i hate to go to the doctor and mostly i get illed, i either buy my own medicine or take others. or some time i will just let my body naturally heal by itself.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
3 Oct 08
You really should know what you are taking, planeswalker, just to be on the safe side.
