Lao Zhuang is 49 years old this year, is a taxi driver, woke up this morning and suddenly found that half of his body did not obey the call, fortunately his wife was next door, and was diagnosed with cerebral infarction after being sent to the hospital. Due to the timely delivery to the hospital, his life was not in danger, but his legs and feet fell to the root of the disease.
In the process of diagnosis and treatment, the doctor and Lao Zhuang talked for a long timeonly to understand that all this is caused by "stopping the drug". Lao Zhuang was diagnosed with high blood pressure 5 years ago, and he has been taking medicine during the period, and then he thought that his blood pressure was stable, and that the medicine would be poisonous, but he didn't expect it to cause bitter fruit.
First, the drug is three parts poisonous, can the drug be stopped if there are no symptoms?
It is said that "medicine is three parts poison", which leads to many people hurriedly stopping medicine after taking medicine for a period of time, for fear that the body will take medicine and eat "bad". But in fact, not all drugs can be discontinued at will. Short-term symptomatic drugs, if the symptoms are relieved, can be stopped, but for some long-term drugs, sudden discontinuation may cause a withdrawal reaction, causing adverse effects on the body.
Withdrawal reaction, also known as rebound reaction, refers to the phenomenon that patients suddenly stop taking a drug for a long time, resulting in the aggravation of the original condition. For drugs that require long-term use, consideration for discontinuation usually includes the following:
1. If there is serious toxicity or potential risk of irreversible toxicity during the use of the drug, the doctor may consider stopping the drug to avoid further damage to the patient's health.
2. In the process of disease, it may be necessary to change the drug variety or adjust the dosage, which may be due to the change of the condition or the adjustment of the existing ** program.
3. When the symptoms are effectively controlled or the expected goal is reached, the doctor will consider whether the use of the drug can be gradually reduced or stopped.
All in allThe withdrawal process should be individualized and should be tailored to the specific situation by a medical professionalAnd it is carried out gradually under monitoring to minimize the occurrence of discontinuation reactions.
2. Repeated reminders: These 5 types of drugs cannot be stopped as soon as you want to
It is important to note that in long-term chronic diseases**,The use of specific drugs needs to be handled with cautionEven if the symptoms disappear, the drug should not be stopped lightly.
1.Antihypertensive medications
Commonly used antihypertensive drugs such as metoprolol, valsartan, etcIt requires patients to take the drug for a long time, and abrupt discontinuation of the drug may lead to symptoms such as increased blood pressure and arrhythmias. Therefore, when stopping the drug, you should follow your doctor's advice and gradually reduce the dose starting from the previous 7-10 days to avoid abrupt stopping.
2.Hypoglycemic drugs
Commonly used hypoglycemic drugs include insulin, acarbose, etc. Diabetes** requires close monitoring and medication adjustments over a long period of time, and abrupt discontinuation of insulin can lead to a rebound in blood glucose, a significant increase, and even life-threatening. When adjusting the medication,A doctor should be consulted and the dose of the drug should be gradually reduced.
3.Glucocorticoids
Commonly used glucocorticoids such as prednisone acetate, dexamethasone, etcLong-term use can affect adrenal function, and sudden arrest may lead to adrenal insufficiency, manifested by symptoms such as fatigue and low blood pressure. Therefore, when using glucocorticoids,The principle of sufficient amount, slow reduction, and long-term maintenance should be followed.
4.Anticoagulants
Commonly used anticoagulants include warfarin sodium, aspirin, clopidogrel, etc. Anticoagulation** involves conditions such as cardiac surgery, blood clots, etc., which require lifelong medication, and changing the dosage at will may lead to blood clotting problems. Patients should strictly follow the doctor's instructions, regularly monitor the INR (international normalized ratio) and prothrombin time, and avoid self-discontinuation or arbitrary change of drug dose.
5.Asthma medications
Commonly used asthma medications include salmeterol, ticasone aerosol, budesonide formoterol powder inhaler, etc.
Asthma is a chronic condition that requires long-term** and patients should adhere to inhaled control medications. According toGlobal Asthma Management and Prevention Strategies 2021 (2021GINA) guidelinesAsthma patients should consult their doctor before discontinuing the drug, and the pharmaceutical intervention of a pharmacist can help improve the patient's medication compliance, improve the ** effect and the level of asthma control.
In summary, in any chronic disease**, patients should always follow their doctor's advice and exercise caution when adjusting their medications to ensure effective control of the disease and prevent adverse consequences.
3. I hope you don't make these 4 medication misunderstandings
To cure a disease, we must first use the right medicine and use good medicineDuring taking the drug, you should pay attention to avoid the following four common medication misunderstandings in order to better maintain your health.
1."3 times a day" and "3 meals" are confused
On the instructions of the drug or on the doctor's prescription,"3 times a day".It's not just about eating 3 times a day, it's about itTake every 8 hoursEnsure the concentration of drugs in the blood in the body to ensure efficacy. "Three meals" is taken on an empty stomach 1 hour before meals.
2.Dry swallow tablets
Many medications require water to be takenSwallowing the pills directly can lead to a variety of hidden dangers. These include drugs that work slowly, cause nausea and vomiting, and can cause damage to the esophagus. The right way is:Drink water while taking medicine,It helps the drug reach the gastrointestinal tract faster and improves the rate of absorption.
3.Take with a drink
Beverages such as milk, juice, tea, etc., may interact with medicationsIt can affect the efficacy and even lead to danger. Plain water at a moderate temperature should be chosen to deliver the medicine to avoid adverse reactions with the drink.
4.Overdose on cold medicine
In order to catch a cold quickly, some people may take multiple cold medicines at the same time, which is unwise. Acetaminophen, the main ingredient in cold medicine, has a maximum safe daily dosageTaking multiple at the same time may cause an overdose and cause liver damage. Be sure to read the instructions carefully to avoid overdose of drugs with the same ingredient.
Finally, it is emphasized again that in the process of medication, the correct medication method is the key to ensure the efficacy, and patients should be cautious about the details of medication to ensure the effectiveness and safety of the medication.
References: 1] "Medicine doesn't stop if you want to!".Stopping the drug abruptly is harmful!》.Internet Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. 2022-09-15
2] "Health Science丨Attention!".These drugs cannot be stopped arbitrarily".Outpatient service at Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University. 2022-10-08
3] "Be cautious when self-medicating!".How many common medication misconceptions have you fallen?》.Healthy Hangzhou. 2022-12-20
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