Prescription drugs, the good, the bad, the ugly?

**Snicks** · 03-08-2021, 03:06 AM

I have familial high cholesterol. It's not diet related. My dad was thin, my sister is thin and I am normal weight and I don't eat fried foods or any of that crap. However, my sister is a Medical Lab Scientist and interestingly they have changed the cholesterol tests over the years are defining down what used to be an acceptable normal limit. When she first started a "normal" cholesterol used to push up to 300. By defining down the desired "normal" suddenly much of the planet has "high cholesterol" so I take some of this with a grain of salt. I mean you can eat oats until you bray and it's not going to significantly knock down your level without a statin or cholesterol drug.

**bjl584** · 03-08-2021, 04:34 AM

I'm fortunate that I take none at all.
I hit the gym regularly and watch what I eat.
Seems to be working so far

**HundredK** · 03-08-2021, 04:37 AM

I take Voltaren on occasion due to an injury that has caused painful arthritis in one of my knees. Weirdly, I discovered it on a trip to Australia where the tablets are sold over the counter at places like drugstores and corner markets. Incredible stuff, went from hobbling down the street one morning, looking for advil and desperate to find anything to help, saw the voltaren on the shelf and that it said it helps arthritis... and then 20 minutes after taking it I was basically skipping down the street in complete joy. Loved it so much that I bought a ton of them, and later discovered it is prescription only in the states... but my doc was happy to write me a scrip. Lately I've noticed the topical version being sold OTC in stores here - I wonder if the tablets will soon follow?

**disneysteve** · 03-08-2021, 05:04 AM

I'm on no meds.

Snicks, you are correct that the target levels have been lowered for cholesterol as research has found that what we used to consider "normal" is actually way too high and still leaves people at increased risk of heart disease. The same is true for blood sugar and blood pressure. Our concept of normal levels has evolved over the years as better data has become available.

Diet and exercise can help a great deal but in many cases, it simply isn't enough, especially for a long-standing condition where permanent changes have already occurred in the body, like insulin resistance. At that point, medication is often the only thing that is going to get a person to goal.

**jenn_jenn** · 03-08-2021, 06:04 AM

Imitrix/Sumatriptan has been a life changing drug for me to treat my chronic migraines.

I have to ration it - I’m only allowed 9 pills a month. Through my old insurance, I was able to get 9 pills and 9 nasal sprays for about $20/month. My new insurance is wiser and will only pay for one or the either. It costs me roughly $10/month. I can pay out of pocket $200 for the second one if I need it - which I will if I need to.

I tried to handle my migraines naturally through diet and vitamin supplements. I got my eyes checked. I’ve done acupuncture. I’ve done voodoo doctors (not actually but the supposed healer had me lay down and made all sorts of weird noises and hand gestures over me - it was the weirdest experience of my life). I’ve tried multiple preventative pills. I’ve done Botox shots. Sumatriptan is the only thing that has made a real difference.

**disneysteve** · 03-08-2021, 06:21 AM

Originally posted by jenn_jenn View Post

Imitrix/Sumatriptan has been a life changing drug for me to treat my chronic migraines.

I remember when Imitrex first launched. It was only available as an injection at first, but it was a game-changer. People who had suffered their whole lives finally had a drug that worked, and worked fast. Then when the pills came out, it was even better.

The 9-pill limit is tough but I guess the thinking is that if you're having more than 9 migraines/month you should be on a preventative med.

Have you ever experimented to see what dose works for you? Could you get 100mg tablets and break them in half, giving you 18 doses of 50mg? I've found that most patients don't need the 100mg dose to be effective.

**QuarterMillionMan** · 03-08-2021, 07:09 AM

The reason my cholesterol was so high before was that I would eat hot dogs (I loved Nathan's or Hebrew National), Hillshire sausages, bacon, Spam & eggs (I'm from Hawaii and you can walk into any McDonald's and order Spam, eggs, and rice for breakfast). I would eat Popeye's Tuesday special 2-pieces for $1.99 every Tuesday. I would use a 2 for 1 coupon at Burger King and get 2 Whoppers and eat 1 for lunch then the other for dinner. Pizzas. Pork chops, steaks, etc. I learned that I can no longer eat like that anymore. My health is more important.

**rennigade** · 03-08-2021, 07:25 AM

Am I the only one that thinks this is a very odd thread to start? Even stranger that people actually are telling others what medications they are on.

**kork13** · 03-08-2021, 08:53 AM

Nothing that's daily. I have mild seasonal allergies, so I'll occasionally take Allegra when needed to keep it under control. I also take ibuprofen horse pills for pain control with my neck/back (messed up in 3 places)... But in November I got the Chirp wheels, which have been incredible -- using those ~daily controls my back pain remarkably well, so I'm down from at least once daily ibuprofen to maybe once every week or two. Otherwise, it's mostly just stuff when required for sickness.

My wife has bad allergies, and is on multiple daily prescriptions for that. DS2 likewise takes Zyrtec daily.

Actually, one more... DW & I both use a prescription fluoride toothpaste daily.

**ua_guy** · 03-08-2021, 09:27 AM

Originally posted by rennigade View Post

Am I the only one that thinks this is a very odd thread to start? Even stranger that people actually are telling others what medications they are on.

No, you aren't alone. It would make more sense if people were talking about what they were spending out of pocket and what they do to reduce expense. But so far it doesn't seem to be that.

**HundredK** · 03-08-2021, 09:28 AM

Originally posted by rennigade View Post

Am I the only one that thinks this is a very odd thread to start? Even stranger that people actually are telling others what medications they are on.

No more strange than people divulging their financial lives online.

**HundredK** · 03-08-2021, 09:33 AM

Oh yes, my ancient 17 year old dog is now taking a people drug to help her cognitive disorder, it's called selegeline. So we have to pay out of pocket which is about $100 for a 30 day supply, but the vet told us about a site called GoodRX, and I was able to use it at CVS and get the meds for $44. I am unclear whether that's a discount we'll be able to use again or if it's a one-time thing... I need to look more into what GoodRX even is.

**disneysteve** · 03-08-2021, 09:46 AM

Originally posted by HundredK View Post

Oh yes, my ancient 17 year old dog is now taking a people drug to help her cognitive disorder, it's called selegeline. So we have to pay out of pocket which is about $100 for a 30 day supply, but the vet told us about a site called GoodRX, and I was able to use it at CVS and get the meds for $44. I am unclear whether that's a discount we'll be able to use again or if it's a one-time thing... I need to look more into what GoodRX even is.

GoodRx is not a one-time deal. You can use it over and over. Just be sure to do the search each month as the price at each location can change. My mom has been using GoodRx to get one of her meds for a year or two. She was going to Walmart but when she had to get her most recent refill, there was no longer a deal at Walmart so she had to switch to CVS, still using GoodRx.

**QuarterMillionMan** · 03-08-2021, 10:39 AM

I was using Rx Restasis eye drops twice a day for dry eyes but it became a chore so I stopped it and can live with dry eyes. My copay was $10 for it but don't need it. Restasis is supposed to help my eyes manufacture more tears but to me it didn't seem like it worked.

Prescription drugs, the good, the bad, the ugly?