Medications can be of assistance when dealing with various human conditions from basic cold and flu symptoms to pain control as people pass away and everything in between. While this may be beneficial to patients when applied properly and in correct dosages, things can quickly turn nasty when complacency is involved.
There are a number of excuses which come forward when investigating the issues of medication beyond face value. Over worked doctors, unmanageable caseloads, pressure to push the latest from pharma reps, etc. the list goes on, but what is for sure is that those that suffer are the patients who are putting their faith in clinics and their doctors to make the right decisions for their general well-being.
This perfect storm comes together when doctors prescribe a number of medications and dosages without considering the other medications which have been previously prescribed. Patients, being ignorant to what the medications are, trust their clinics/doctors and take medications prescribed without thinking about it any further. This is where the game can become as deadly as Russian roulette.
Russian Roulette is a lethal game where players places a single round in a revolver, spin the cylinder, places the muzzle against their head, and pulls the trigger. The supposed country of origin of this game is Russia coupled with the roulette element of risk-taking and the spinning of the revolver's cylinder, which is similar to spinning roulette wheel. With their powers combined this is Russian Roulette Medication.
In my own personal experience and also speaking to many people who have been involved with the medical system with extended contact, it seems that very similar stories emerge. Patients feel as though there are rushed through the consultation, when trying to discuss areas of concern Doctors can seem disinterested, are not engaged and seem to be ignoring cues of standard communication. After many attempts of trying to express themselves patients can become depressed and anxious about their consultations, while some will give up trying completely while expressing pessimistic views of their interactions.
This kind of learned helplessness can be expected as when doctors do end up reviewing medications prescribed the conflict in meds is often blamed on the patients. Many a time have patients been told that they should not be taking these medications together, or for more than a certain amount of time, etc. and when the patient states they were just following the recommendations in the consultation, Doctors will deny such recommendations were made…. Even when it was that same doctor prescribing all the meds.
This was the situation which was a great cause for alarm. Doctors did not know which meds they had prescribed previously or how it would conflict with new medications and when realizing the conflicts patients are blamed for their ignorance, but this is why we go to “professionals” in the first place is it not? So we can have the assistance of someone trained in the medical field to diagnose and prescribe treatment. This kind of complacency when treating patients with medication can cause considerable adverse effects, deteriorate organs, and in worse case scenarios cause death.
Above is a look at some of my own medications which have been prescribed, i have been on these medications for a number of years, but this is only about half of what I have been prescribed. I reviewed what I was taking after being chastised in a consultation about using these prescribed medications. Later in another consultation i showed this photo to a pain medication specialist who described it as “a cocktail of medications” that is dangerous to be taking, and that’s only going on what is in the photo. Keeping in mind that , like many others, i was only doing what i was told to do by a medical professional, this was infuriating. While trying to establish what medication i should be taking the blame game had begun and was at the forefront of the discussion, again the health concerns of patients is not paramount.
Im going to hit you with the hard facts of the matter here... No one cares about you and your well-being as much as you do, in many cases you are seen as just a case file number that creates revenue. Doctors are pushed to get through their patients quickly, to keep the revolving door turning, and also peddle pharmas goods. Clinics are a BUSINESS and you are not the customer, you are the WORK that clinics get paid for.
What this means is a that YOU have to take the wheel and do whats best for you, because your best interest is not high on the list of priorities in the grand scheme of the medical field. The system implemented is not taking care of you, it is taking from you. You cannot trust the system in place or its employees to make decisions with your best interests in mind. Its up to you to research what medications you are putting into your body, how it will affect you, what you can and cannot take in conjunction with said medication. Relying on the system is an exercise in futility.
How do you do this I hear you ask? We live in the age where information is plenty if we seek it. The internet is full of wonderful places that can help find relevant data. However, there is also places which can lead people astray when seeking truth. The best means of finding relevant contemporary information is to go to Google scholarto seek the data. Google scholar provides access to scientific, evidence based, research papers in many different fields. These papers can be useful in presenting relevant information to various service providers and learning about what medications you are taking. Armed with this knowledge you yourself can make an informed decision on the risks and benefits of taking any medication prescribed.
It is unfortunate that it has come down to this, the system in play cares only for creating profits while hiding behind the guise that it is caring for the people, it will continue to do so as long as we let it. We have the ability to implement change, at the very least in our own interaction with the medical field, by countering the complacency displayed with solid contemporary scientific data. By being informed and making these decisions from a place of understanding. It may seem like a lot of work in practice, but when its your life is on the line…. Isn’t it worth it?
