Dr. Allan Horowitz, published newspaper article, Richmond Hill Liberal, Copyright August 15, 1990
Last week I answered a letter from a reader who was wondering whether he should continue taking the medication his doctor prescribed for his “bad back”.
The medication was not effective and gave him a great deal of stomach discomfort.
I got into a bit of philosophical teaching regarding the benefits versus risks of taking any type of medication, as well as the importance of finding and treating the root cause of illnesses rather than masking them with various drugs.
I did, however, emphasize the important contribution of many pharmaceuticals in our present system of health care and I personally would not want to be without several lifesaving drugs if I should ever require them.
KNOWS BEST?
Last week’s question was discussing a different point – what if the drug your doctor prescribed wasn’t working and was bothering you in some other way? Should you grin and accept the fact that your doctor must know best?
Absolutely not. Your doctor is only as good as the information and feedback you give him.
Perhaps there was a choice of two different types of medication for your problem and one was chosen for no particular reason. If you report your side-effects to your doctor, it is likely the other drug would then be prescribed.
Maybe there are other forms of therapy or treatment for your particular condition and medication doesn’t even have to be a part of your rehabilitation.
Just by discussing your concerns, side-effects and lack of response to the drugs your doctor initially prescribed for you he will have a better understanding regarding your future treatment.
I have never known a doctor who would say: “I prescribed those pills and I want you to take them. I don’t care about your stomach pains and I don’t care if the pills are not helping your back. You will take them because I told you to do so.”
Doctors don’t talk that way. Not anymore. Long gone are the days when the patient is expected to be the passive subject who doesn’t ask questions.
NOT INTERESTED
I regard a patient who doesn’t ask questions as one who isn’t all that interested in getting better. (Sometimes they are just shy initially, but when given an opportunity they should jump at the chance to take an active part in their recovery.)
Finally, I would like to present a true story about a 13-year-old girl who complained of severe “migraine” headaches. She would become nauseous and have neck pain along with each of these headaches. When I first saw her she was having these headaches every day.
Her mother made two appointments for her daughter, with me, and with the family doctor.
The doctor thought it serious enough to send the girl to a neurologist who specializes in these cases but told the mother that she should try the chiropractor treatment first, until the neurologist could see her.
This specialist told the girl to take six Tylenols at the first sign of a headache coming on.
Her mother then explained that she had been brining the girl to see me for the previous two weeks and her headaches were greatly relieved.
He apparently replied that he could see no reason why the headaches should be relieved by chiropractic care and she should do as he said.
A problem was found in her neck which I felt was the cause (or one of the causes) of her headaches.
I relieved the problem in the neck and her headaches are now substantially relieved.
As a tribute to her doctor I must say that he also recognized the foolishness of taking this kind of medication if something else, less “drastic” was already working, especially in a 13-year-old girl and he told the mother to continue to bring the girl to me whenever it was needed.
(We should be teaching our kids to stay away from drugs, and it is hard to tell them that when you are handing them six Tylenols with a glass of water.)
I bring up this story to illustrate the point I have been making the last two weeks. If a drug isn’t getting the results you or your doctor had hoped for, or if you don’t want to take medication at all, discuss these feelings with your doctor.
Your doctor will be pleased to discuss the facts with you and perhaps make alternate suggestions for you.
I am not suggesting you disregard your doctor’s advice, whether it be to take six Tylenols before a headache, or if it is to take pills for your back which aren’t working and are causing stomach aches.
I am suggesting you play a more active part in your therapy and help your doctor out a bit more by communicating with him or her. Your doctor will appreciate the help.