I have been thinking a lot lately about the number of drugs that our doctors prescribe, throughout our lives, but particularly as we get older. Are they all necessary and do some cause us harm? I ask this as I come from a family who avoid medication if possible. My parents (90 and 97 years) only take blood pressure and water tabs, and over the years have rejected or come off others. Other family members take drugs for ailments such as asthma and blood disorders (absolutely necessary) but again try to avoid other drugs e.g. statins.
I wondered how many of the ladies on the forum are on regular meds, HRT and otherwise, and if they feel totally comfortable about it. Do some drugs cause as many problems as they alleviate and are the doc trying to 'cure' old age?
What do you all think?
I agree with Kathleen - the crux of the whole issue is "over". Of course plenty of the medication that women in the posts below are talking about is necessary - asthma medication, some anti-biotics, pain relief for chronic back problems etc.
Also agree with GeordieGirl that bio-identical HRT (that I have always used) cannot be considered medication - not in the usual sense of the term - nor vitamin/oil supplements in small doses.
As for the rest - I am not clued about about different medications because fortunately I've never had to take any, nor have my close family ( I think my mum aged 87 takes something to protect from osteoporosis since she broke her wrist in a mild fall a few years ago?). However if women on this forum are representative of how women are treated generally I would say yes - in that medications are given in preference to talking/mindful therapies or lifestyle recommendations. The ones that spring to mind are beta-blockers - I thought these were supposed to be for heart problems but seem to be given out to menopausal women a lot; the whole range of anti-depressants and prescribed non HRT listed on this site - this is just unbelievable -that menopausal women are offered and prescribed these most probably unnecessarily in many cases instead of being counselled in coping strategies etc, or offered HRT - far too expensive or the latter erroneously perceived as risky! Antibiotics too have been dished out willy nilly - but I gather this is slowing down now due to increased resistance in bugs.
I don't think it is women's fault that they are being over-medicated - I don't say we because I'm not and intend never to be. I will take appropriate medication for any condition I develop if there is no alternative and is essential for future health. I do think docs have a lot to answer for but with cash-strapped NHS seems like we are stuck with it - except for those with time and inclination to read up on stuff.
Not sure what you mean by are the docs trying to cure old age
There are things that go wrong which are painful, debilitating or make us die quicker than we would otherwise. Gradual ageing - whereby our physiological and cellular processes gradually become less efficient over the years but not in an obvious perceptible way that causes a condition, or illness - that lead to our gradual decline until we reach our expected life span - is to be expected, and certain medication can alleviate the pain and discomfort of some of these? Can't see any problem with that. However my friend's mother was kept alive after severe heart attack (in her 80's) that might have killed others, but she went onto to have a series of storkes and had an increasingly difficult life over the next 10 years with my friend spending every weekend going to London to help look after her. It was very stressful for my friend but also her mother did not enjoy those years of her life. Not medication perhaps - but an example of the wonders of modern medicine and its sometimes less ideal consequences.
Hurdity x
