Reading the Fine Print on Medications

After many months, I’m feeling much less pain and more in control of my life. Recently I met with a new doctor, a rheumatologist. He had me go for x-rays in my shoulders and hands, ordered blood tests to get up-to-date information, and after much questioning about my pain and health history, ordered a new drug.

Let me say, I hate taking pills—what a pain (pun intended). But I’m only getting partial relief from OTC medications. Yesterday I received the new medication by mail order, and wanted to be a responsible patient. Ordinarily, I do a lousy job of reading the side effect information; I rarely experience side effects. I figure if I break out in a rash, get dizzy, or it doesn’t help my symptoms, I need to try something else. But this time, I was going to be taking a pain medication that lists multiple ways that I could die or become debilitated. Just about every organ was listed. That might not be much different from many medications and their detriments, but I felt uneasy. Was I really in all that much pain? I’ve only taken one pill, and am hoping that taking it at night will help me sleep better with less pain.

Here’s what I’m wondering and would so appreciate your input on your own health: How do you deal with the list of side effects? Do you have some medications that require you to get regular tests to continue taking it? Do you just refuse to take prescription medications?

I’m probably getting ahead of myself, because it’s too soon to see if I get relief from the drug. Then there’s the question of how long to continue to take it to determine if it’s helping.

By the way, the doctor gave me a great list of exercises for the pain in my shoulders and they are working great. My husband plays physical therapist and is kind but firm about making sure I do them correctly. (I think he just likes bossing me around.)

So what do you think? And what guidelines do you follow for yourself?

If you’re curious, the drug is meloxicam, 7.5mg.

Feedback would be welcome.