$Unique_ID{BRK02038}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Arthritis and a Patient's Medication Preferences}
$Subject{arthritis medication medications NSAIDs osteoarthritis ulcers
smoking cigarettes stomach lining H2 antagonists H2 antagonist prescription
drugs}
$Volume{}
$Log{
Osteoarthritis*0001702.scf}

Copyright (c) 1993  Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Arthritis and a Patient's Medication Preferences


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QUESTION:  I suffer with the kind of arthritis that comes with age, and my old
doctor had been prescribing one of the newer drugs for me to help deal with
the pain.  When we moved down here, I saw a nice young doctor for the first
time, but he sort of turned up his nose at the medication I was using (an
NSAID) and switched me to another.  Then he blamed it all on my smoking.  I
was happy with the old medicine.  Is it all right if I continue to take it
without telling my new doctor?  It never hurt me before, so why should it do
so now?

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ANSWER:  You are really cheating when you don't follow your doctor's advice.
Cheating yourself, not your doctor.  If you felt that the change in medication
was unnecessary why didn't you speak up when the new prescription was being
written?  That's your right, you know, and you might have learned a thing or
two.  NSAIDs are fine medications, they are very helpful in controlling pain
in osteoarthritis, and many people can take them without any problems at all.
But they do have some nasty side effects in some individuals, and can cause
severe irritation to the lining of your stomach, to the point of creating
active ulcers.  And what patients are most susceptible to these side effects?
Why smokers, of course.
     You have several courses of action open to you, but taking the NSAIDs
without informing your doctor is not one of them.  You might stop smoking,
thus removing a risk factor that prompted your doctor to change your
medication.  That would have enormous health benefits for you, in the long
run.  You could continue to take the NSAIDs in addition to other medications
that can protect your stomach lining.  They are called H2 antagonists and help
reduce the amount of acid secreted by the special cells found in the stomach,
thus lessening the possibility of irritation and bleeding.  Or you might just
go along with the new prescription that your new doctor has prescribed,
confident that a proper choice was made.  Whatever you choose to do, let me
advise that you do avail yourself of your patient's rights and discuss the
matter with your doctor on your very next visit.  It's the right thing to do.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.