What is worse; the disease or the remedy??

At night when I am sitting down watching the “boob tube” and see commercials for some medications it makes my skin crawl. I always say; “what the hell is worse, the disease or the illness”.

From my own experience; I came home from the doctor’s office one day and looked up the potential side effects to the medication my doctor prescribed and the word suicide jumped out at me. I immediately called my doctor and he told me not to take it. Hello!!!!!

I realize that all of the side effects listed are not necessarily going to affect everyone that takes the meds but there is always a possibility.

To a certain extent a person has to be their own doctor, listen to what their body is telling them and use good common sense as to what meds they are taking.  If it doesn’t agree with you or hurts, stop taking it and call the doctor.

Let’s face it; many times we are just experimental pawns in doctor black bag. Some of these guys are like the mechanic you go to get your car fixed. They keep guessing and replacing  parts until they fix the car or it falls apart. If this one works fine, if not we will try something else.

There is one thing that you can always count on is; getting the bill. Even if they kill you while trying to cure you, your next of kin is sure to get the financial summons.

Here is an example of one such medicine:

Latuda is supposed to be in the same bracket with the “Cadillac” of medications to fight this horrible affliction which is highly prescribed for the cure of Schizophrenia. When I read the side effects I was flabbergasted.

What is worse, the medication or the illness. In severe cases it must be a very tough choice to make.

ONE OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONS’ ANSWER TO CURING OR CONTROLLING SCHIZOPHRENIA:

MOST COMMON SIDE EFFECTS WITH LATUDA

In clinical studies the most common side effects with LATUDA included:
• sleepiness or drowsiness
• restless and feeling like you need to move around (akathisia)
• difficulty moving, slow movements, muscle stiffness, or tremor
• nausea
This is not a complete list of side effects. Please see the Important Safety Information, including Boxed Warnings, below and on the following page, for a more complete list. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience any side effects while taking LATUDA.
You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Next: Important Safety Information
Review the Important Safety Information for LATUDA. More >
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND INDICATIONS FOR LATUDA
INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS; AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS
Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis (having lost touch with reality due to confusion and memory loss) treated with this type of medicine are at an increased risk of death compared to patients receiving placebo (sugar pill). LATUDA is not approved for treating elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis.
Antidepressants have increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults. Patients of all ages starting treatment should be watched closely for worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, unusual changes in behavior, agitation, and irritability. Patients, families, and caregivers should pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when an antidepressant medicine is started or when the dose is changed. Report any change in these symptoms immediately to the doctor. LATUDA is not approved for patients under the age of 18 years.

LATUDA can cause serious side effects, including stroke that can lead to death, which can happen in elderly people with dementia who take medicines like LATUDA.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but very serious condition that can happen in people who take antipsychotic medicines, including LATUDA. NMS can cause death and must be treated in a hospital. Call your healthcare provider right away if you become severely ill and have some or all of these symptoms: high fever, excessive sweating, rigid muscles, confusion, or changes in your breathing, heartbeat, or blood pressure.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a serious and sometimes permanent side effect reported with LATUDA and similar medicines. Tell your doctor about any movements you cannot control in your face, tongue, or other body parts, as they may be signs of TD. TD may not go away, even if you stop taking LATUDA. TD may also start after you stop taking LATUDA.

Increases in blood sugar can happen in some people who take LATUDA. Extremely high blood sugar can lead to coma or death. If you have diabetes or risk factors for diabetes (such as being overweight or a family history of diabetes), your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar before you start LATUDA and during therapy. Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) while taking LATUDA: feel very thirsty, need to urinate more than usual, feel very hungry, feel weak or tired, feel sick to your stomach, feel confused, or your breath smells fruity.

Increases in triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol and decreases in HDL (good) cholesterol have been reported with LATUDA. You may not have any symptoms, so your healthcare provider may decide to check your cholesterol and triglycerides during your treatment with LATUDA.

Some patients may gain weight while taking LATUDA. Your doctor should check your weight regularly.

Tell your doctor if you experience any of these:
• feeling dizzy or light-headed upon standing,
• decreases in white blood cells (which can be fatal),
• trouble swallowing.

LATUDA and medicines like it may raise the level of prolactin. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience a lack of menstrual periods, leaking or enlarged breasts, or impotence.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have a seizure disorder, have had seizures in the past, or have conditions that increase your risk for seizures.

Tell your healthcare provider if you experience prolonged, abnormal muscle spasms or contractions, which may be a sign of a condition called dystonia.

LATUDA can affect your judgment, thinking, and motor skills. You should not drive or operate hazardous machinery until you know how LATUDA affects you.

LATUDA may make you more sensitive to heat. You may have trouble cooling off. Be careful when exercising or when doing things likely to cause dehydration or make you warm.

Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while you take LATUDA since these can affect the amount of LATUDA in the blood.

Tell your healthcare provider about all prescription and over-the-counter medicines you are taking or plan to take, since there are some risks for drug interactions with LATUDA.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are allergic to any of the ingredients of LATUDA or take certain medications called CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers. Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if you are taking any of these medications.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking LATUDA.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or if you are planning to get pregnant. Avoid breastfeeding while taking LATUDA.

The most common side effects of LATUDA include sleepiness or drowsiness; restlessness or feeling like you need to move around (akathisia); difficulty moving, slow movements, muscle stiffness, or tremor; and nausea.

These are not all the possible side effects of LATUDA. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

INDICATIONS

LATUDA is used to treat adult patients with:
• Depressive episodes in bipolar I disorder (bipolar depression) when used alone or with lithium or valproate
• Schizophrenia

Are you kidding me?? I thing being a little wacky is better than wolfing down that concoction.

One day a  guy was walking down the street and ran into his longtime friend that he knew was ill and taking a new medication. “Harry, how is that bad back you treating you?”

“I am doing much better Bill, thanks for asking. My back pain has subsided quite a bit with that new medication my doctor ordered for me but one of the side effect is my pecker fell off”.