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Dear Pharmacist,I had a staph infection and was in the hospital. Upon release, I was prescribed an antibiotic and then another. My pharmacist warned me not to stop taking the drug, but it made me terribly sick, so I quit taking it. Tell me honestly, what happens when antibiotics are stopped early and please don’t place fear in people if we don’t want to take artificial drugs.
W.R., Silver Springs, Florida
With antibiotics, stopping abruptly isn’t dangerous, but it could bring on a new infection. In your case, a staph infection could morph into a life-threatening version called MRSA (pronounced “mersa.”) and that’s why your pharmacist advised you to take the complete course of the drug.
I don’t advocate pill-popping, in fact, I find the big commercial push for medications rather annoying. I prefer natural methods for healing, and the sensible use of medications at very low doses when needed. So even though I don’t mean to “place fear” in people, I inevitably will because stopping some drugs in a hurry is just plain dangerous.
Here is a partial list of meds that should NEVER be stopped abruptly:–Pain pills: Vicodin or Lortab (hydrocodone), Oxycontin, Ultram (tramadol) and Duragesic (fentanyl) all have to be weaned very slowly. Stopping suddenly can cause DTs (Delirium tremens), a serious withdrawal reaction. Never cut patches or break tablets in half because this could be lethal with some pain meds, especially long acting formulas. Call your doctor for specific instructions.
–Sleeping pills: Ambien (zolpidem), Sonata, Lunesta and Restoril (temazepam) and Klonopin (clonazepam). Most sleepers are physically addictive, so they must be taken nightly. Rozerem (ramelteon) is the exception to this rule and is not addictive. Neither are over-the-counter Sominex and Nytol.
–Anti-Seizure Drugs: These meds are also used for nerve pain and include Neurontin (gabapentin), Dilantin (phenytoin), Lamictal, Tegretol (carbamazepine) and Lyrica.
–Steroids: Used for allergies, pain and arthritis including methylprednisolone and prednisolone
–Antidepressants: Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), Wellbutrin, Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro, Effexor
–Blood Pressure Meds: Hundreds of meds in this class, and they should all be slowly weaned. Stopping suddenly could dangerously spike your blood pressure.
–ADHD Drugs: Drugs for attention deficit such as Ritalin (methylphenidate), Concerta, Adderall, etc.
The following meds MAY be stopped abruptly if necessary:–Bone builders like Fosamax, Actonel, etc.
–Arthritis drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen, Celebrex or Mobic (meloxicam)
–Cholesterol drugs in the statin class (Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor, lovastatin)
–Sex pills like Cialis, Viagra and Levitra
–Aspirin used to thin the blood
I have had back problems for many many years. I had back surgery a few yrs back, in fact every member of my family has had back and or neck surgery. My Specialist advises me that I need neck surgery, due to a buldging disc, which causes a lot of pain. My neck feels like I’m holding up a heavy weight for a prolonged time. My lower back and especially my legs hurt about 95% of the time. If I sit too long, or stand too long, or after I finish my housework. At times, my leg/legs will hurt so bad when I’m sitting or lying down, that I have to either get off that particular leg or stand up, but by this time, the pain won’t go away, then I have to resort to taking my pain med. and wrap my ice pack around my lower back. I have gone to pain management for about 4 years, two years prior to surgery and two after surgery. The doctor gave me injections in every possible area in my back, where he thought would help. But to no avail. I was then pushed onto the nurse practioner, who told me to have my family do my work and I should just sit. This doesn’t work for me, I work at home and I work outside the home. I keep active even when in pain, I have to get my work done. The only way I sit it out, is when it gets to the point where I can’t even bend to sit down. This has happened many times. Then after it gets so bad, I go to the E.R., because I always wait until the weekend or night time. One time, I called my pain management doctor, to let them know, I had a lot more pain. I was told they would call me back. This started on a Monday and by Friday when I called, she assured me that someone would call me. Well, by Monday morning, my husband had to come home from work to take me to the E.R. Every movement I made hurt unbelievably. While waiting for my husband to get home, pain management calls and tells me the doctor wants me to come in for an injection, I laughed to myself, and I told her, I can’t lie down for an injection, let alone move without having pain. She suggested I go to the E.R., gee you think?? Anyway, I quit going to that office. I was in a pickle and got no help. So my family physician, sort of took over my care and gives me Lorcet 10/650. I take them only if I need to. The week before Thanksgiving I called for a refill. I knew I was getting low on pills and because of the upcoming Holiday, figured the office would be closed for part of that week. That was on Nov. 17 and I managed to make my Lorcet last. My pharmacist has tried numerous times to contact the doctors office both by phone and fax, and they do not get any reply. So I called for the 3rd time and left a message on their RX refill line. They have this gal who works there, I do not know if she is a nurse or what, but I do know some other people who go to that practice also complain about her. She finally calls me Friday, of course, I’m at work, and leaves me a message that I am to call her back and speak only to her. Well now it’s the weekend, I have one pill left, I have been taking Excedrin back and body and Advil, without relief. I can’t believe that it took that long to get back to me, and she actually didn’t get me. So I’m guessing it is about my RX, since it has not been refilled. My question is, after this long story, well first I have nothing left for my pain, and second, can you just quit taking this drug abruptly? My son who works in the Pharmacy, got me some names of pain managment doctors, who I will with reluctence call, I guess it was the experience I had with the first one that discourages me. He didn’t really help and the injections even after insurance paid were costly. My son and his fellow pharmacists, think I should try one of these names on the list I have. I am just shocked that it took my doctors office so long to reply, this has never happened before, when her nurse is overseeing things. I have 3 days to go with one pill and don’t know if this will cause any reaction from not taking them.
This is more of a question: If I took 2 caplets of Excedrin Back and Body, then 2 hrs later took 1 dose of 500 mcg naproxen (mixing the two meds one time–I then discovered they shouldn’t be mixed–how severe (potentially) is the effects? I have not noticed any rash, stomach discomfort, or any adverse reactions so far (after 4 hrs, and the Excedrin Back and Body should be wearing off now–and I won’t be repeating this combination again) I hurt my back muscles (left side), so I took Excedrin Back and Body. 2 hrs after I took the dose, I also took 1 500mcg naproxen (not realizing that: 1. naproxen is also an NSAID, and 2. that naproxen and Excedrin are not supposed to be taken together). the naproxin was prescribed for me several weeks ago by my podiatrist for plantar fasciitis), believing that the naproxin was a muscle relaxant. After I took the dose of naproxen, I was looking up treatment for back injuries and discovered that the nparoxen was actually an NSAID, and that I shouldn’t have taken it with Excedrin on board.