Wrongly Prescribed medication

baza52

Alice_Walker wrote: »

NSAIDs do not cause asthma, they can trigger an already underlying condition. If you were not aware of the condition then presumably nor was the practitioner.

NSAIDs are commonly prescribed alongside SSRIs, the benefit usually outweighs the risk.

Do you use the same chemist for all your prescriptions? This helps the pharmacist check for any interactions.

Did you not read the patient information leaflet? This tells you to inform the clinician if you are taking an SSRI, and also not to take naproxen if you are experiencing any breathing difficulties.

I think there is fault on both sides here - the pharmacist should have checked whether you were on any drugs, but you should have read the (very important) leaflet that came with the naproxen.

I don't have Asthma nor COPD.
That was the 2nd GP's diagnosis when I presented with breathing difficulties.

baza52

agrinnall wrote: »

But the Naproxen was prescribed first, so there would have been nothing for the Nurse Practitioner to see. It's the GP who is at fault.

No, I have been on Paroxetine for at least 15 years

Alice_Walker

baza52 wrote: »

I don't have Asthma nor COPD.
That was the 2nd GP's diagnosis when I presented with breathing difficulties.

You do have asthma, but it had not been diagnosed before. You may never have an episode again, but it's something you should always be aware of in future when taking medications, both prescribed and over the counter.

Are we to take it you did not read the patient information leaflet? For your own benefit can you take five minutes to sit down and read them for all the meds you are on?

baza52

Alice_Walker wrote: »

You do have asthma, but it had not been diagnosed before. You may never have an episode again, but it's something you should always be aware of in future when taking medications, both prescribed and over the counter.

Are we to take it you did not read the patient information leaflet? For your own benefit can you take five minutes to sit down and read them for all the meds you are on?

To be honest I did not read the PIL (fully) straight away.
Only when my breathing become bad after 2 weeks did I research the possibility.

I had just assumed that the qualified doctors would know what medications would not be suitable for me or that they would recognise bad interactions.

keithdc

baza52 wrote: »

Vent

Had problems with my shoulder being stiff and painful so made an apt with the GP.
GP Surgery is quite large with a few doctors that work there.
Appointment was with a Nurse who could prescribe medication and she gave me Naproxen (an NSAID) to be taken twice a day.

Couple of weeks later I am suffering from a cough, shortness of breath and wheezing, After a week of no improvement make another apt at the doctors.

This time I see a Doctor and she tells me I have either Asthma or COPD and I'm given steroids, an inhaler and a peak flow meter as I'm only able to blow 250 (should be 600) and need to keep track of results.

The following day I'm googling the steroids to see what they will do etc and then also google Naproxen.
At this point I start to read the side effects if prescribed at the same time as an SSRI that I have been taking for many years.
It says the two types of tablets should not be taken together unless under strict monitoring from GP and first signs of shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing should be immediately reported to GP.

Hmmm,

Go back to the doctors again the following day and see yet another doctor who agrees it was the Naproxen that caused it.
Just said don't take them and also don't take the steroids and that he will put a note on my records I'm not to be prescribed NSAID's.


No apology, nothing.
I hate to think what could have happened to my health if I had not found out.
Thankfully no children or small animals were harmed and I'm almost back to my old self albeit with a painful frozen shoulder and no pain relief.

Rant over

Few things don't make sense:
- The interaction between SSRIs and naproxen relates to increased risk of GI bleeding, not respiratory symptoms
- Asthma is a caution for naproxen-as NSAIDs may worsen asthma symptoms.
-It makes no sense that you take naproxen and then suddenly get a diagnosis of asthma/ COPD (both are chronic conditions)
- There is an expectation that patients read the information leaflet (it is supplied for a reason)!

keithdc

keithdc wrote: »

Few things don't make sense:
- The interaction between SSRIs and naproxen relates to increased risk of GI bleeding, not respiratory symptoms
- Asthma is a caution for naproxen-as NSAIDs may worsen asthma symptoms.
-It makes no sense that you take naproxen and then suddenly get a diagnosis of asthma/ COPD (both are chronic conditions)
- There is an expectation that patients read the information leaflet (it is supplied for a reason)!

Oh... and no one is at fault- neither steroids nor SSRIs are an absolute contraindication to naproxen.

baza52

keithdc wrote: »

Few things don't make sense:
- The interaction between SSRIs and naproxen relates to increased risk of GI bleeding, not respiratory symptoms
- Asthma is a caution for naproxen-as NSAIDs may worsen asthma symptoms.
-It makes no sense that you take naproxen and then suddenly get a diagnosis of asthma/ COPD (both are chronic conditions)
- There is an expectation that patients read the information leaflet (it is supplied for a reason)!

At no point in my life have I been told or thought I may have asthma or copd.
I was diagnosed with asthma/copd as a reason for my trouble breathing/ cough and wheeziness.
The 3rd visit to the GP agreed that Naproxen was causing the breathing troubles mixed with Paroxetine and advised me not to take any of the medication prescribed when I was told I had asthma.
He also said to stop taking Naproxen

Alice_Walker

baza52 wrote: »

To be honest I did not read the PIL (fully) straight away.
Only when my breathing become bad after 2 weeks did I research the possibility.

I had just assumed that the qualified doctors would know what medications would not be suitable for me or that they would recognise bad interactions.

.*May* have bad interactions, thousands of people take SSRIs + NSAIDs with no problems at all, even those already diagnosed with asthma.

All this information is on the first sheet on the PIL, it seems you didn't read it at all.

There is another possibility here. Some people with asthma are sensitive to NSAIDs irrespective of other medication, this may be nothing to do with the SSRI.

It would be impossible for any clinician to be aware of all drug interactions, even looking at the wider groups there would be thousands of different permutations.

There is still nothing to suggest that you were wrongly prescribed the naproxen, but rather that both the prescribing party and yourself should take more care to be aware of potential side effects.

nearlyrich

baza52 wrote: »

Edited the post before you replied.

Ok so a pharmacist specialises in drugs but they don't ask you what else your taking or have access to your records so how would it be picked up?

I always use the same pharmacy and he has access to my list of medicines as he orders my monthly repeat prescription. I think this is a good service as someone said a pharmacist is a specialist in drugs and their interaction.

baza52

nearlyrich wrote: »

I always use the same pharmacy and he has access to my list of medicines as he orders my monthly repeat prescription. I think this is a good service as someone said a pharmacist is a specialist in drugs and their interaction.

When I collected the Naproxen it was from my usual chemist located opposite the surgery.
I was not questioned at all only to confirm my address when the tablets were handed over.

My repeat prescription every 3 months is ordered via the surgery's website and collected 2 days later then taken over the road for the chemist to fulfil.