Is Your Doctor Over Medicating You?

There are so many prescription medications used to treat the symptoms of illnesses such as Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and Fibromyalgia (FM). Of course, these prescriptions are designed to mask the symptoms so that we can function better, but are they really doing us more harm than good? I believe that our conditions will continue to spiral downwards due to a lot of these prescriptions, yet we deserve to have the right to live a life free of pain and sickness. We want to feel better but if these prescriptions are not getting to the cause of the problem, where does that leave us? It is just sad to think of the cost we are paying to feel better for a little while and to have some relief from the pain and suffering. Another Catch 22 for most of us with Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and Fibromyalgia (FM) is that our bodies are overly sensitive to prescription medications, so we have to be extra careful.

Here are some of the most common medications prescribed for Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia patients:

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs - NSAID - These are used to relieve pain in some patients, and some can be purchased as over-the-counter medicines: Naproxen (Aleve), Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), Celebrex, & Vioxx.

Side effects that can occur from using these drugs may include kidney damage, gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, but generally they are safe to use if you follow the usage directions.

I know for the pain that I have, the over-the-counter medications listed above have never relieved any pain for me.

Low-Dose Tricyclic Antidepressants - TCAs are prescription medications for Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia patients to improve sleep and to relieve mild pain. Some examples are amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil), trazodone (Desyrel). Dosages used to treat Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia patients are usually a lot lower than prescriptions prescribed to treat depression.

Some side effects may include dry mouth, drowsiness, weight gain, and an elevated heart rate.

Other Antidepressants - SSRIs such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Wellbutrin, and Effexor can be effective in correcting the different brain-chemical imbalances that are a problem for many Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients.

Anxiolytic Agents - These are used to treat symptoms of anxiety in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia patients. Some examples include Xanax, Ativan, and Klonopin. Use of these drugs, though, may be habit forming. Some reactions to these prescriptions may include sedation & amnesia.

Before taking any medications and/or prescriptions, please have your doctor review with you the pros and cons of each one. Also be aware that some physicians are being paid a kickback to promote some of the new prescription drugs available on the market. They will want to promote these drugs more than others, even if higher risks are involved, so do your own research on these before taking them. I myself have reduced my prescription medication intake to just a sleeping pill, pain pills, and one medication for my bladder (Elmiron). It is wise to do some research on more natural alternatives of medications that can relieve the same symptoms as some of the prescription medicines.