Pills - The Medicinal Kind

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Inspired by this article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,942477,00.html

How often do you take pills? What do you take them for? (i.e. headache, muscle pain, sleeplessness, etc.) Do you take over the counter medications or do you have prescriptions?

Evidence suggests that we are taking far more pills than we used to. Why? And is this a good thing (are we healthier now because of it?) or is it a bad thing (are we having our pain thresholds controlled by evil pharmeceutical companies?)

― kate, Tuesday, 29 April 2003 07:39 (twenty-two years ago)

i am now on a muscle relaxant with codeine for my back.

― anthony easton (anthony), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 07:43 (twenty-two years ago)

The article worried me because a former bandmate of mine (not a Lollie, a long time ago) became desperately addicted to non-prescription and then prescription painkillers for "period pains". I don't know anyone who has period pains all month long. Basically I accused her "You think you should be prescribed morphine for taking away the pain of being female" and she agreed.

I have a close friend who takes codeine tablets almost daily in order to combat insomnia. It's interesting to see that people can and do become highly addicted to it.

I almost never take painkillers, it's just not in my psychological makeup. I'll take them only as a last resort if all the usual things like drinking water and the like have failed. I've had the same packet of ibuprofen and packet of paracetemol that I rescued from my ex-boyfriend's suicide stash about 2 years ago, and I've not even got halfway through them.

― kate, Tuesday, 29 April 2003 07:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Does anyone actually take painkillers to *avoid* getting a headache?

― kate, Tuesday, 29 April 2003 07:55 (twenty-two years ago)

i worry too, b/c codeine here is over the counter, and the stuff i was given is more potent then that, but it helps.

― anthony easton (anthony), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 08:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I rarely take painkillers, but will take Ibuprufin on those (thankfully) rare occasions where the migrane eyes start happening, and it works.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 08:23 (twenty-two years ago)

No one else on this board has ever had a headache? Who the heck is consuming all this ibuprofen, then? Are we just not old enough to be the backache generation yet? What did we ever do before the invention of ibuprofen?

― kate, Tuesday, 29 April 2003 08:57 (twenty-two years ago)

i use aspirin if i have a bad headache, but generally i'm fairly averse to pills in general

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 08:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I am told that I take ibruprofen/paracetamol way too much, though compared to the Guardian article it's barely a drop in the ocean. I don't drink much now at all but when I did, I would often take a precautionary couple of ibru's before I went to bed - 'just in case'.

― darren (darren), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 13:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Does anyone actually take painkillers to *avoid* getting a headache?

*raises hand* I've done it once or twice as a precautionary measure -- and that's proven handy in terms of avoiding hangovers.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 14:02 (twenty-two years ago)

My headaches are almost always due to sinus problems that have been triggered by allergic reactions -- to me, over-the-counter Claritin is a godsend.

Pharmaceutical companies that invent syndromes and diseases in order to expand their markets are diabolical. However, the flip side of people taking so many meds nowadays is that in the past people suffered or even died from conditions that can be better treated now.

― j.lu (j.lu), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 14:02 (twenty-two years ago)

i take tramil paracetemol often for headaches. that's about it...

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 14:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I try not to take too many pills but I have been guilty of taking ibuprofen after a night drinking as a precautionary measure (it doesn't often seem to work though). If I have a 'normal' headache I would rather sleep but if I get a migraine paramol works for me (I think that's what it's called).
My sensible head buys cheap iboprofen but I still hanker after nurofen, I think cos it was cool and new and comes in a silver packet with a yummy sugar coating!

― liz (lizg), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 14:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never had a headache. I took some Vicodin when I got my wisdom teeth pulled about 10 years ago; that's probably the last time I took a pill for any medical reason. I take vitamins and stuff every day though.

― Kris (aqueduct), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I feel like an old lady sometimes. I hardly ever take otc meds just the occasional allergy pill or pain med (for injury or something, never headache).

Script wise I currently take Lamictal, Wellbutrin, Ativan, and Trazadone among other things. .My monthly med bills are one of my highest costs. :(

― That Girl (thatgirl), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

One antidepressant every day. Rarely anything else.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

It has to be a distracting I can't do anything else untill this goes away type of pain before I take any pills.

― brg30 (brg30), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 21:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I take Excedrin (Acetaminophen + Aspirin + Caffeine) probably once every two weeks or so because of headaches. Sometimes I'll take a couple after getting back home from some bender or other in a Raggetesque pre-emption strategy.

I've had Vicodin and the like before, but only cause I wanted to get loopy. I took anthony's combo of muscle relaxers and codeine for a couple of weeks to deal with some inflamed muscles in my back and neck, it was super-painful and I'm glad I had it around but it made me USELESS so I stopped as soon as I could.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 21:37 (twenty-two years ago)

if nobody's gonna come right out and say "huzzah for painkillers, they work against pain and are nifty with vodka" well then allow ME

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Trayce to thread

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Ibuprofren is godlike. I think Nuprin should market a low-dose chewing gum to regain their market share.

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 08:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I love pills

― dave q, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 09:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I never take them. Like the article says, I do see pain as an important signal/symptom and something that should be listened to rather than suppressed (not that it's particularly fun listening to the pain in your head telling you you've dehydrated your brain with bouze).

Also I don't have a very stressful job/life, relatively, so I guess I don't have that 'ooh must push on, can't stop for a headache' need for pills. Long may it continue.

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 10:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Taking painkillers for pain never works anyway, just a heavy sleeping pill or elephant tranquiliser is what you need for that. Painkillers are good when you're not actually IN any pain. Also serious medical advice needed, does overconsumption of anti-depressants have any connection with teeth falling out and decaying? (No real interest, just curious rite)

― dave q, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 10:12 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm allergic to nurofen

i get headaches a lot and take anadin extra mainly

currently i have an inflamed shoulder and am taking paracetemol at night

― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 10:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Dunno about anti-depressants, but antibiotics can definitely contribute to tooth decay.

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 11:06 (twenty-two years ago)

God, you all make me feel like a freak now :( As Jim obviously knows, I take paracetamol/codiene tablets every day. They were for pain when I started (bad neck problem), and often still are, but now Im addicted to the codiene, so its become a nasty circle (if I stop, I feel sick, so I start again, I look for excuses like hangovers, period pain etc to take them, or its just so I can cope with stress.)

All I can say is DONT GO THERE, I wish I hadnt :-/

― Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 1 May 2003 02:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw The Pills once, I liked them enough.

Right now Im hopped up on T3s and penicillin.
Good times.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 2 May 2003 00:25 (twenty-two years ago)

In nz there is this scare at the moment about dietary supplements from an Australian company being contaminated. I have taken vit C a few times this week and have just realised this could be connected to feeling dumbed down and generally unwell. Does anyone know what the symptoms of this are supposed to be?

― isadora (isadora), Friday, 2 May 2003 00:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I feel like an outsider. I probably take less than 5 pills a year. Maybe 2 for a headache and maybe 3 Benadryl or something when I get allergic to something. That's it.

― Carey (Carey), Friday, 2 May 2003 00:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I think this recall is a bit of an overblown crock. The supplier in question has proved to have issues with quality control but only one actual product (Travacalm) has been shown to cause dodgy symptoms. Yet they're pulling everything Pan touched with a 10 foot pole off the shelves, meaning a whole slew of unfortunate companies look bad now. I wouldn't worry too much about vit C making you feel off, but if you are unsure, see a doc maybe?

― Trayce (trayce), Friday, 2 May 2003 00:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I took two aspirin this morning and I can't tell that they helped at all.

― Millar (Millar), Friday, 2 May 2003 00:47 (twenty-two years ago)

An enormous billboard just went up for Paxil right near where I work--right downtown near tons of other offices. Marketing to a target audience...

― Sean (Sean), Friday, 2 May 2003 02:45 (twenty-two years ago)

PILLS ROX, U R ALL GAY!

Umm, but yes, I actually do consume huge quantities of otc and perscription stuff each day. And feel grand.

― mouse, Friday, 2 May 2003 02:52 (twenty-two years ago)

codeine is good. i just picked up my script for some more. in nz it is available on prescripton only. now i feel all warm and cozy and my back is not hurting anymore. mmmnnnn

― hellbaby (hellbaby), Friday, 2 May 2003 04:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't take any pills regularly, never have. If I get a lingering headache, I'll pop an Advil/Tylenol/etc. even tho doing so has never ever gotten rid of one.

― buttch (Oops), Friday, 2 May 2003 04:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I have prescription NSAIDs for arthritis pain/headaches.

I try to avoid taking them every day though, but sometimes it just can't be helped if I want to be able to function at all.

They don't even help much. Strong painkillers are really the only drugs I could see myself getting addicted to, because I'm in pain so often.

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Friday, 2 May 2003 07:05 (twenty-two years ago)

The mood stabilizer I take to keep bipolar cycling in check is also a treatment for migraines, and I don't get headaches any more now that I'm on it. I also take an anti-anxiety medication once a day.

I don't take any over the counter stuff, and I'm rarely sick enough to need pills. I know some otc drugs don't play nice with the meds I regularly take anyway.

― martin m. (mushrush), Friday, 2 May 2003 18:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I used to take vicodin for constant headaches, but it never did a thing for me.

― luna (luna.c), Friday, 2 May 2003 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

two years pass...

I have been given Ativan. Doesn't seem to do much.

― Barnet's greatest ever pimp (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 15 February 2006 20:41 (twenty years ago)

what is it for? did you remember to take it with alcohol?

― sunny successor (katharine), Wednesday, 15 February 2006 20:48 (twenty years ago)

I took an Aleve tablet for the first time (bad computer posture yesterday did something awful to my neck/shoulder). The warnings on the package! Bleeding stomach! Eroded esophagus! Anaphalactic shock!

It had better work.

― Jaq (Jaq), Wednesday, 15 February 2006 20:49 (twenty years ago)

what is it for? did you remember to take it with alcohol?

anxiety. no.

― Barnet's greatest ever pimp (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 15 February 2006 20:55 (twenty years ago)

Maybe you need more? I used to have that but found it really only worked well short-term (as it's meant to). I now have Klonipin which works much better at stemming general anxiety instead of panic attacks and such.

― Miss Misery xox (MissMiseryTX), Wednesday, 15 February 2006 21:01 (twenty years ago)

I liked Ativan, it quelled my severe anxiety of the time without being a heavy sedative.

― Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 16 February 2006 00:01 (twenty years ago)

three years pass...

I'm going off my medications and even the gentle, correct way it is a physical rollercoaster.

― existential eggs (Abbott), Monday, 21 September 2009 19:17 (sixteen years ago)

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