Pharma-Blast

[tyellas]

I am not enjoying my twice-daily doses of the steroid dexamethasone, nor of the anaerobic antibiotic Tiberal. No, sir, I'm not. The Tiberal, as promised, is delivering near-constant nausea and the death of my prizewinning intestinal flora. The dexamethasone induces insomnia to a startling degree. Normally, I reliably snooze like I've been hit on the head with a croquet mallet. Not last night.

Granted, this pharma-blast does seem to be axing my jaw infection, so that I don't have to go to an oral surgeon. Still, to those of you on medications long-term: how do you STAND it?

Comments

[richdrich.livejournal.com]

I'm on an ACE inhibitor, which I fully tolerate (I guess it's the other side from hypertension being mostly symptomless). Also, when I took daily Doxcycline due to being in malarial areas, I had few side-effects (and the positive of protection against some bacteria).

Perhaps expecting negative side-effects can reinforce those effects?

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

Glad that you're low on side effects for what you need!

Somehow I was expecting that, as usual, despite my reading the tin and asking what to expect, side effects would be something that happened to other people. At 2 AM last night, I had to admit that this time, it wasn't so.

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

Yikes; I hope you feel better soon.

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

Actually having something in my stomach seems to help. I got up at 2 AM last night and ate a handful of almonds, for example.

[nienna-weeper.livejournal.com]

Lots of yogurt and lots of water...

Feel better soon, honey!

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

Took your water advice. Also, I padded my tummy with pasta before taking tonight's Black Dose. This is helping a lot.

[spes-unica.livejournal.com]

*pats and hugs*

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

*whimpers in limp appreciation*

[maureenlycaon.livejournal.com]

*offers plenty of sympathy*

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

At least I do not have to have a far more expensive and painful root canal. So, despite my ughness, I'm very grateful to my dentist.

[theletterelle.livejournal.com]

Uuuuuugh. I hate side effects.

I've gotten so used to nausea that it's a snap to throw up-- and I've gotten so used to throwing up that it's just a few minutes of unpleasantness, then it's over and I feel better. Not that that helps you, unless you can make yourself throw up. (I do recommend having something to eat first. I often throw up many hours after my last meal, and it's so much easier when there's actual food inside me.)

How long are you on the pills?

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

Until Monday morning. Which just goes to show what a wuss I am.

I am agog at your nausea anectdote there. It makes me want to share the heavyweight whole-wheat French toast I had this morning with you. It's not particularly high-calorie or indulgent, but it's not going anywhere in a hurry, either.

[jdemorae.livejournal.com]

I'll echo the yogurt advice--just make sure you're not eating the probiotic variety! Yougurt and anti-biotics go hand-in-hand, I always pick up a half-dozen cartons when I get an anti-biotic scrip.

My meds play merry havoc with my body if I don't keep to a strict schedule--take them the same time every day, and follw the instructions regarding with food or empty stomach.

I've only had once instance where the medication was too much for my system to adapt to, and that was in reaction to an older anti-depressant--I simply could not handle the adrenaline spikes, and the doctor mercifully moved me to something time-released, which I handled much better.

Usually, by the time I need medication for something, I feel so lousy, the side-effects are just part of the price I have to pay for it going away--or the condsequences of ot taking the medication is too steep--like not taking my thyroid meds or my stomach meds = physcial collapse + possible bleeding ulcer.

As for insomina, have you tried a mix of chammomile, mint, and raspberry leaf tea? Brew it very strong and drink it while still hot. The mint is good for unhappy tummies, too. (Actually, steeping a spoonful of catnip in the tea helps, too, but that can be a problem with a kitty in the house! My girl then tears open the garbage bag to get at the leaves!)

Feel better soon, dear. The body adapts to things with surprising speed, especially when it must. Side-effects tend to subside after a bit.

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

Excellent advice, thank you! I learned the hard way about the scheduling - made myself get up this morning to line my stomach with breakfast, then take the pills.

I slept tolerably well last night, and I've just got a few more days. Someone else advised ginger tea. Maybe ginger-chamomile tea...

[ellapoodle.livejournal.com]

I agree that the yogurt is a good idea. Also, for nausea, try ginger tea. Grate about 1/2 an inch of fresh ginger root, and infuse in boiling water. Very nice and should ease the nausea.

I just got prescribed some steroidal eyedrops for an inflammation. Tis the season, I guess.

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

I was really loving some beef stew I made in a light ginger/anise broth, so I think you're right about getting some ginger up me. I mean, in me.

[teaforme.livejournal.com]

You have my sympathy for sure. Jaw infection? That sounds hideous--glad you won't need surgery. Hang in there!

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

Like I say, I'm grateful to my dentist for helping to catch it early. I thought I was going in with a bad, old filling, and it turned out to be something completely different.

[ithilwen.livejournal.com]

Steriods are renowned for having a wide variety of unpleasant side effects, as are antibiotics. The combination is ... not pretty. Most of us who are on chronic medications aren't putting up with anywhere near the level of crap you're currently enduring!

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

"Not pretty" sums it up so well! I had my last Black Dose yesterday though, and I can feel the effects fading away. Whew.