Login
Themes
Search
Main Menu
Categories
Useful Things
Translate
Medications: Part Two
Published by Chapster on 2002/7/24 (381 reads)
This article is the script of an interview we did about medications. The interview was with Dr. James Griffin, Station Director of KEOM 88.5 FM, Mesquite Schools Radio. This is part two of a two part series.
KEOM Community Focus Segment
July 2002
Taped at KEOM studios
Q: So, Mike. Last month when we talked a little about medications, you said we would come back to talk about them some more.
A: Yes, it's a really important subject that can use some thorough discussion. The effects of drug interactions can be devastating. So, as we said last month, the best overall approach to using medications is to regularly have one physician, your primary physician, review your entire list of medications. Medications are like an orchestra: they need to play well together. And, by the same token, the physician is like a conductor: he has to know every instrument that's playing, what it’s capable of, and how it plays with the others.
Q: What other things should our listeners understand about medications?
A: One thing of great importance relates to the use of what are called natural supplements and medications. The health care supplementť industry is now a 4 billion dollar industry. Consumers seem to buy them under the belief that these supplements are all natural and, therefore, cannot cause harm. Nothing could be further from the truth. In some cases supplements are processed differently. But, they still contain chemicals just like medicines. Some of these medicines can have very detrimental effects. For instance, on an internet search for St. John's Wort, a popular supplement used to help mood, the search immediately pulled up lots of web sites touting the benefits of this substance. But, it was only through looking much more carefully, that I found the other information that I was hunting. That is, that St. John's Wort sometimes significantly robs other drugs of their effects. So say, for instance, that you're taking a Digoxin®, a medication for your heart, and your heart desperately needs it. Well, when you start taking St. John's Wort, the good effects of the Digoxin® are minimized and perhaps taken away. The same thing is true of the hazards of St. Johns Wort with several other important drugs, in some cases life sustaining medications.
This example could be given many times over for other popular remedies. Certainly, some of these supplements can provide some benefit. But, the consumer should talk with his or her physician about their benefits and dangers before taking them.
Q: This seems like a real problem.
A: Unfortunately, the supplement industry is not held to the same standards as pharmaceutical manufacturers, especially as to what they reveal to consumers. You know those little slips of information scrunched up in the boxes that hold your medications. Those are there because drug manufacturers are required to provide information about the drug, its use, and concerns related to the medication. The supplement industry, being regulated as a food, not as a pharmaceutical, is not required to include them. Indeed, the supplement industry is required to do very little to protect consumers ( http://www.mmhc.com/jgsm/articles/Jgsm0004/schwartz.htm).
Q: So, do physicians know what to expect with these various supplements?
A: That's a really great question. Of course, it depends a lot on the physician. Again, because the supplement industry is not required to provide information or do significant testing, health care providers are not given information that they can use. Certainly, though, physicians or pharmacists are the best persons to discuss this with before beginning any kind of supplement regimen. While they may not know about the specific supplement, they do know how to do the research to find out about a supplement.
Q: It seems like time is getting by us again.
A: That's for sure. I had more I wanted to say today. I guess we can talk a little more about medications next month. I do want to encourage listeners to hear the radio and television ads for supplements with a more discriminating ear. There are supplements out there for everything, it seems. If it is a danger to have too many cross-working prescriptions, it is equally a danger to have too many supplements, as well.
Q: Mike, where can our listeners get more information.
A: They can get a transcript of our conversation today at our web site, www.elderhope.com . In fact, if our listeners click on the tools and inspiration link on the site, they will see a link to one of our affiliates where they can get information on their prescriptions. Most importantly, today, talk with your doctor, the conductor, and your pharmacist. ;-)
KEOM Community Focus Segment
July 2002
Taped at KEOM studios
Q: So, Mike. Last month when we talked a little about medications, you said we would come back to talk about them some more.
A: Yes, it's a really important subject that can use some thorough discussion. The effects of drug interactions can be devastating. So, as we said last month, the best overall approach to using medications is to regularly have one physician, your primary physician, review your entire list of medications. Medications are like an orchestra: they need to play well together. And, by the same token, the physician is like a conductor: he has to know every instrument that's playing, what it’s capable of, and how it plays with the others.
Q: What other things should our listeners understand about medications?
A: One thing of great importance relates to the use of what are called natural supplements and medications. The health care supplementť industry is now a 4 billion dollar industry. Consumers seem to buy them under the belief that these supplements are all natural and, therefore, cannot cause harm. Nothing could be further from the truth. In some cases supplements are processed differently. But, they still contain chemicals just like medicines. Some of these medicines can have very detrimental effects. For instance, on an internet search for St. John's Wort, a popular supplement used to help mood, the search immediately pulled up lots of web sites touting the benefits of this substance. But, it was only through looking much more carefully, that I found the other information that I was hunting. That is, that St. John's Wort sometimes significantly robs other drugs of their effects. So say, for instance, that you're taking a Digoxin®, a medication for your heart, and your heart desperately needs it. Well, when you start taking St. John's Wort, the good effects of the Digoxin® are minimized and perhaps taken away. The same thing is true of the hazards of St. Johns Wort with several other important drugs, in some cases life sustaining medications.
This example could be given many times over for other popular remedies. Certainly, some of these supplements can provide some benefit. But, the consumer should talk with his or her physician about their benefits and dangers before taking them.
Q: This seems like a real problem.
A: Unfortunately, the supplement industry is not held to the same standards as pharmaceutical manufacturers, especially as to what they reveal to consumers. You know those little slips of information scrunched up in the boxes that hold your medications. Those are there because drug manufacturers are required to provide information about the drug, its use, and concerns related to the medication. The supplement industry, being regulated as a food, not as a pharmaceutical, is not required to include them. Indeed, the supplement industry is required to do very little to protect consumers ( http://www.mmhc.com/jgsm/articles/Jgsm0004/schwartz.htm).
Q: So, do physicians know what to expect with these various supplements?
A: That's a really great question. Of course, it depends a lot on the physician. Again, because the supplement industry is not required to provide information or do significant testing, health care providers are not given information that they can use. Certainly, though, physicians or pharmacists are the best persons to discuss this with before beginning any kind of supplement regimen. While they may not know about the specific supplement, they do know how to do the research to find out about a supplement.
Q: It seems like time is getting by us again.
A: That's for sure. I had more I wanted to say today. I guess we can talk a little more about medications next month. I do want to encourage listeners to hear the radio and television ads for supplements with a more discriminating ear. There are supplements out there for everything, it seems. If it is a danger to have too many cross-working prescriptions, it is equally a danger to have too many supplements, as well.
Q: Mike, where can our listeners get more information.
A: They can get a transcript of our conversation today at our web site, www.elderhope.com . In fact, if our listeners click on the tools and inspiration link on the site, they will see a link to one of our affiliates where they can get information on their prescriptions. Most importantly, today, talk with your doctor, the conductor, and your pharmacist. ;-)
Tags: 
elderly medication supplement tag
| Navigate through the articles | |
Medications: Part One
|
Be Cautious With Supplements!
|
|
The comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
|
||||
