Thanks TT, for the “heads up”. Lydia, you are correct. Sometimes you don’t remember everything about medications when you’re overwhelmed. Pharmacists offer counseling also, and their wealth of information should be tapped.

Rob,

Re: consumer demands for antibotics. The comment about antibiotics actually came from a survey of physicians themselves. I wrote about it on my blog, after doing some research about antibiotic overuse and antibiotic resistance, which is actually a global health issue as more people die from antibiotic resistant infections. It’s other forms of prescription medicines that cause patients to balk, though, I’m sure you could find studies that say some people won’t take antibiotics when they’re really needed also.

http://grabsomehealthnews.blogspot.com/2008/06/childhood-asthma-linked-to-early.html

If you don’t want to read the whole entry, the findings were as follows: Twenty percent of doctors were more likely to prescribe antibiotics when they perceived that parents expected it – 24% of parents question doctors when antibiotics are not prescribed for childhood respiratory infections. Seventy five precent of prescriptions were written just because parents want their children to take them.

In practice, I see the same thing with adults – many people have pre-conceived notions of what medications they should take, and what they don’t want.

Re: “major” events. I spent years as a Cardiology nurse. I can’t tell you how many discussions I’ve had regarding why someone doesn’t want to take their cholesterol medication, or the expense of the VERY necessary drug, Plavix following placement of a heart stent in a coronary artery (it’s expensive). I’ve had patients with atrial fibrillation refuse to take the blood thinnner Coumadin, telling me it’s “rat poison”, only to watch them suffer from a stroke, which is what Coumadin therapy is designed to prevent, as examples of prescription non-compliance.

So, consumer expectations, and overall compliance with traditional medicine recommendations can indeed become a problem, especially when we try to pick and choose, without a broad knowledge base.

Just for the record, I too seek natural health products whenever I can. I welcome the relief of a cough from elderberry syrup and honey. I thing Neti pots rule for sinus and allergy – forget all those medicines that make you feel bad and can harm. (lol). It’s just that I see the need for balance and genuine information.

Did I just write another essay!!!!