Help - Severe Medicine Phobia
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| Sat, 12-17-2005 - 8:16pm |
This may be a strange one but it is causing me so much anxiety............
I'm petrified to take new medications and once I do truly feel like I have all of the symptoms that your supposed to Consult your Dr. immediately or Seek treatment immediately. It's so bad that I've been having panic attacks for days which makes it hard to determine what is a side effect and what is just plain old anxiety!!
Does this happen to anyone else? For years I did not have a problem with the anxiety but in the past year it's been bothering me every time that I have a health issue. I've never been on any medication but think that it's time that I was. The attacks are lasting longer and I can't stop them even with breathing exercises.
I have a husband and a 4 1/2 year old daughter and a full-time job, I can't live like this anymore.
I've just recently had to start taking asthma medication (Advair) and it's freaking me out. If I can't take asthma medication how will I ever take medication for my anxiety?
Any advice you could give would be wonderful. Unfortunately my husband, while a great person, has never had an anxiety problem and as such doesn't understand. He just thinks that I'm a mental case.
Thanks for reading,
Melissa

((Melissa)) Yes, it happens to me & alot of others on the board.
Sheri Ann
Hi, Melissa! Welcome to our community. I am sorry to hear about the med fear. You are NOT alone. We all have this or other fears that are similiar.
I have posted before about beginning a new med, such as an antibiotic. I have taken my first dose in the doctor's office & sat for 30 minutes in the waiting area, to be sure I'm ok. When you read the info supplied by the drug companies about *possible* side effects, you must keep in mind that they by law must report all reactions to the meds. There are plenty of people like us out there with anxiety, that report sensations or feelings that probably aren't really a side effect, but must be reported as one. I know how scary it is, but try to keep things in perspective. What *might* happen & what *will* happen are 2 totally different things. I have to agree with Sheri Ann. Keep away from reading the literature with lists of side effects. It causes more harm than good in anxious individuals, like us.
I happen to take advair for my asthma. It is frightening, but keep in mind that this is a drug that you're inhaling. This is not a pill or shot that goes directly into your blood stream. It's like nose drops or eye drops in that the reaction you *might* have would not be anything like something into your blood stream. You might feel a little gritty in the back of your throat from the powder until you learn to inhale it correctly. It's very easy to learn & nothing like an inhaler. I have the worst time getting my breathing & the inhaler coordinated. LOL
Have you learned belly breathing or relaxation or even positive thinking? Check out our *coping tips & tricks* folder below. You can learn to cope better. You will be able to take the meds. Each time you do it, you have a positive experience to draw on for the next time. Good luck & GBU! We care & want you to feel better. (((hugs))) jan
Hello Melissa,
First off, I know what you mean about your husband. I have a great husband and he tries very hard to be helpful about my anxiety but he doesn't understand it.
About your medications. First off, when you take any medication since you are like you are, do not read the side effects. Be sure you tell the doctor what meds you are taking so you don't take something that would counteract. If you've been going to your doctor for awhile he should know if you have any condition that would prevent you from taking the med he is prescribing such as high blood pressure, liver disease, kidney disease, etc.
Once you start taking the medication if you start experiencing something different like headache, diarrhea, constipation or something like that call the pharmacy and ask them if that is a side effect. If you start experiencing something like shortness of breath, itchiness or rash, then call right away.
As for your Advair please take that for your breathing. It will really help and you will probably be the worse for it if you don't take it.
Hang in there. Please feel free to e-mail me if you like at mombear22@yahoo.com.
God bless.