This page was last modified on Sunday, December 06, 2009 10:14 AM
My Medicines
From various sites, I have seen that people are interested in, or perhaps confused by, the various medicines and different treatments. Thus, for information, I set out below my own current medicines:-
I do not feel quite this bad!
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NEW FROM END NOVEMBER 09 - changed due chemo:-
DEXAMETHASONE - 4 mg per day but 8 mg per day for 3 days around chemo
FOLLIC ACID - 1 daily
OMEPRAZOLE - as before
ALENDRONIC ACID - as before
SEREVENT INHALER - as before
O2 - as and when but rare
PREFERRED ANTI-BIOTIC - CO - AMOXYCLAV
CO DYDRAMOL - for pain relief
all of this may change as the Chemo gets going.
OLD - STOPPED MID NOVEMBER DUE THE CANCER THING:-
PREDNISOLNE
A steroid. A synthetic glucocorticoid steroid, similar to hydrocortisone, used as an anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and antiallergic drug. It prevents one's own defence mechanism from attacking what it sees as diseased lungs in simple terms.
I started on 40mg per day but this has now reduced to 7.5mg per day - a 5 and 2.5mg tablet
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AZATHIOPRINE
A medication that suppresses the immune system. This is a replacement for Prednisolone and is not a steroid. Thus, it is hoped it will reduce the side effects of prednisolone.
I cannot remember what I started on but am now on 150mg per day - 3 tablets.
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ACETYLCYSTEINE
A drug usually used to reduce the thickness of mucus and ease its removal. It is also used to reverse the toxicity of high doses of acetaminophen. Also called N-acetylcysteine.
I take 3 fizzy tablets a day in water at each mmain meal.
This page was last modified on Sunday, December 06, 2009 10:14 AM
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OMEPRAZOLE
is a proton pump inhibitor used in the treatment of dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is taken to counter the effects of all those damned tablets on one's stomach.
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ALENDRONIC ACID
or alendronate sodium is a bisphosphonate drug used for osteoporosis and several other bone diseases. In IPF cases, taken to counter any effects on bones by steroids but is a regular medicine for old folk I am told.
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OXYGEN
I also have O2 available but use it only occasionally and when I go to bed for a few minutes. Not absolutely necessary, I think, but it has become a bit of a habit. In the future, though, I will need it...
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ANTI-BIOTICS
I take these from time to time, specifically when a cold or chest infection threatens or occurs. Currently they are either Clarithromycin or Doxycycline
I almost forgot:-
SEREVENT INHALER
(serree-vent) is a medicine which is used in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Serevent contains salmeterol xinafoate. Used once morning and night.
VENTOLIN INHALER
accuhaler, used as and when I need it during day but I do not find it too successful.
WHAT A LIST EH!?
ALL IN ALL, A ROLLER COASTER!
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And this from a fellow sufferer, with added complications,
which may also help, or inform, others.
Hi Richard
Having a wander round the website this afternoon and saw you had put your medication on there. Here's mine.
Daily
Prednisolone 5mg x 8 (40mg)
Omeprazole 20mg
CalcichewD3
Bendroflumethiazide 2.5mg
Quinine Sulphate 200mg
Weekly
Alendronic Acid 70mg
Because I've got the silly liver disease as well, I can't take Azothiaprene (sorry if I've spelt it wrong), so still have to take a high steroid dose. All the other meds are because of the effects that the Prednisolone has, eg Omeprazole and Calcichew to stop the steroids making a "terrible mess of your insides" as my GP put it.
The Alendronic Acid is for the bones, but this takes the calcium out of my system which made my feet and legs swell, so had to start the Bendroflumethiazide 2.5mg. This reduced the swelling, but intensified the cramp I had had in my feet at night up my legs and into my hands and arms, ergo Quinine Sulphate.
Thought you might like another person's shopping list for comparison. If you think it would help anyone you are free to put my list on the web, or whatever. I'm off to hospital tomorrow and hopefully the lung people and liver people will have got together and come up with some solution to the high dose of steroids.
Take care
Chris
And this from another fellow sufferer, with added complications,
which may also help, or inform, others.
From: Melissa Hippard
Message:
Hi there. Thought I would just add my medicines. It would be interesting to see how may people need Omeprazole for gastric reflux,as I do. At the moment I am just on 5mgs Pred until my next lot of LFTs and Alendronate. Then they will decide if they put me on the triple.
I am also on the much maligned Prozac which has been a life changer for me. I now understand that I have had a brain (not mental) illness for most of my life. I have not had enough of a 'feel good' chemical bathing my brain, causing anxiety and 'lows'.Since being on it I have ventured into things I would never had dared to do before.
I would really recommend to people having problems, to not be put off by the stigma of mental illness. IT IS NOT, it is a brain illness just as IPF is a lung illness. If you need help with anxiety or depression,don't just put up with it!
Hope this is not too serious for the site but I am happy for you to add one of your excellent illustrations!! Melissa