Saturday, June 7, 2008
Drug Side Effects: Combivent Dangerous - You Bet It Is
Drugs have side effects. Period. So does Combivent, a drug that I use. Is Combivent dangerous? I think it is. First, I need to give a little history here, and then we can talk shop.
In 2000, I moved home with my mom to begin assisting her with her care because she had developed cancer. Her ordeal was terrible, and primarily it was because in addition to the effects of the cancer itself, the drugs therapies she was on were horrendously brutal on her health and constitution. One of the drugs she used to combat her lung cancer was something called Combivent.
I had been using Albuteral since the early 90's to help manage some of the symptoms that come with having Cystic Fibrosis. My doctor prescribed it as a quick fix for times when allergies made my chest tight, or when I felt particularly congested...
Well, when I moved in with my mom I eventually became curious about her inhaler. I asked my doctor if I might try the use of Combivent every so often, and when I tried it I liked it. It had a two-pronged benefit of both opening my lungs and reducing inflammation. For some reason, it helped me clear more congestion more easily. So, I began to use it as a replacement for Albuterol. It should be noted that Combivent (a play on the word "combine" perhaps?) is a combination of Albuterol and a steroid known as Ipratropium.
My problem with all drugs, and Combivent in particular, is that all drugs have side effects. Doctors play them down, but I am here to tell you that you CANNOT and MUST NOT minimize the importance of these side effects.
Read up on Combivent. You will see what I am talking about. Do your own research. Combivent can be fatal if you overdose on it! At the very least it can cause adverse reactions that you need to be aware of.
In fact, I believe that I have systematically been OD'ing on it since 2000. The way in which an overdose takes place is simple, especially when you consider the symptoms that Combivent can create.
If you do you research you will see that Combivent can cause increased congestion and shortness of breath as a side effect. So, with that as a side effect, and given the nature of CF itself, a vicious cycle can begin whereby a person can accidentally OD on Combivent.
Let's say you take two hits on the drug. Initially you get relief of your symptoms. It really helps open your airways, right? You feel better, right? But in a few minutes you notice you are coughing more. You think to yourself, "OK, I have CF, coughing is what I do. Maybe the Combivent just loosened up something."
Well, maybe. And maybe not. It could also be that you may be having a reaction to the drug.
In another hour, your chest feels tighter. So, you take another hit. You don't get the relief you got earlier, so you take one more just to be on the safe side. It helps some, but in 30 minutes you are coughing more, you fell poorly and your lungs begin to hurt. So, you take one more hit. Next thing you know, you have full blown symptoms that look like pneumonia for Pete's Sake! And if you are lucky, that's all that will happen, but it can get MUCH worse.
I have OD'ed on Combivent several times in my life without realizing what was happening. The most recent time was 3 days ago, Monday this past.
Since I had just gotten over what my doctor thought was pneumonia (and he could have been right, but who knows for sure, because I may have been having a reaction to too much Combivent), I assumed that the pneumonia was coming back, even though the Ciprofloxacin he had given me had taken care of it. My lungs were hurting as they had been before. I took another hit on my Combivent and the symptoms worsened and it was then that I began to think I was hurting myself with the drug. I had used it several times that morning, to deal with symptoms that got increasingly worse as time passed. So, even though I was unable to breath, I stopped the Combivent.
Within an hour, my lungs had returned to normal and I was feeling fine, but after an ordeal that lasted nearly 3 hours, I had had an epiphany of sorts. Combivent is not necessarily a good thing. It can even create the very symptoms it is formulated to alleviate.
Since then, I have made sure that at least 4-5 hours pass between doses, and I feel good. I am less congested and for the time being I am breathing better.
My who point is that drugs do not always help us. Few drugs, if any, come without a price in the form of side effects. Do your research on your drugs. Always consider the risks of using a drug vs. the risks of not using it. Pay close attention to your doses. Monitor how you feel. And discontinue the use of a drug if it makes you feel worse. Even something as seemingly harmless as an inhaler can be dangerous.
You can buy Combivent here
.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
-
▼
2008
(104)
-
▼
June
(76)
- Enhance Your Sexual Pleasure With the Help of Food
- Gout - Medicines That Are Very Helpful
- Gout - Medicines That Are Very Helpful
- Well, Here's a List of the Common Allergy and Bron...
- Vytorin Side Effects - Are They Really Rare?
- What To Expect From Your Anti-Depressant Medication
- What Medications Are Available for Treating Sinusi...
- Rising Demand For Herbal and Ayurveda Products
- Anticonvulsant Uses - "Off-Label" More Than "On-La...
- Five Expensive Drugs And Why You Don’t Need To Tak...
- Water Pills For High Blood Pressure
- Is this High Blood Pressure Medication the Right C...
- 10 Ways to Avoid a Heart Attack
- How To Avoid Problems In Treating Arthritis With A...
- Cymbalta Medication - Uses & Side Effects
- Can You Beat Hypertension With Drugs?
- Efficient Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis
- Well, Here's a List of the Common Allergy and Bron...
- Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawyer and SJS Lawsuit Li...
- Zetia Can Cause Hair loss
- Anticonvulsant Uses - "Off-Label" More Than "On-La...
- Look After Your Elderly Skin the Organic Way
- Nizoral Shampoo And Hair Loss
- What Kind of Eczema Treatment Can You Expect?
- Gout - Medicines That Are Very Helpful
- Treating Acid Reflux in Babies
- What is Human Growth Hormone (HGH)?
- HRT, Breast Cancer, And Bioidentical Hormones
- Risperdal Side Effects: Neuroleptic Malignant Synd...
- Male Enhancement Drugs
- Creams For Stretch Marks
- Acomplia Diet Pills - How They Work!
- Heart Burn and Indigestion
- 5 Natural Pain Relief Methods - Relieve Pain Natur...
- Common Crohn's Disease Medications
- Ultram Story: Keeping Pain Control Under Control
- Grapefruit Juice: The Hidden Dangers Of Drug Inter...
- Diflucan for Vaginal Yeast Infections - The Side E...
- Imitrex LASIK
- Getting Rid of Vaginal Odor So You Can Enjoy Intim...
- Two Types Of Dermatitis
- ACE Inhibitor High Blood Pressure Medication
- How Male Enhancement Oils Boost Your Sexual Perfor...
- MaxoDerm Cream - For Unmatched, Ultimate Male Enha...
- Abstinence Assisting Medications - Are they Effect...
- Treximet - A New Migraine Medication
- Side Effects of Some Drugs that Are Lowering Blood...
- Caffeine Caused Anxiety Attacks
- Nizoral Shampoo And Hair Loss
- Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawyer and SJS Lawsuit Li...
- Are Medications for the Treatment of Enlarged Pros...
- Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawyer and SJS Lawsuit Li...
- Vytorin Side Effects - Are They Really Rare?
- Female Sexual Arousal Disorder - Causes of Low Lib...
- Bodybuilder's Drugs!
- Lose Weight Using Hoodia Gordonii Pills
- Using Antibiotics Rarely and Wisely
- Ultram Story: Keeping Pain Control Under Control
- Natural Mood Booster - How To Improve Your Mental ...
- Sweet Treatment From Ayurveda For Diabetes
- Revitol Hair Removal Cream
- Atrial Septal Defect - Definition, Causes, Symptom...
- Getting Rid of Vaginal Odor So You Can Enjoy Intim...
- Risperdal Side Effects & Risperdal Lawsuits
- Triphala And Benefits Of Triphala Herb
- Are Medications for the Treatment of Enlarged Pros...
- The FAQs of High Blood Pressure Medication
- Female Sexual Arousal Disorder - Causes of Low Lib...
- Side Effects of Some Drugs that Are Lowering Blood...
- Claritin Antihistamine
- Triphala And Benefits Of Triphala Herb
- Naproxen Lawyer: Aleve Recall Consideration
- A Look at the Different Depression and Anxiety Med...
- Weight Loss - Ways You Can Lose Weight Naturally a...
- Drug Side Effects: Combivent Dangerous - You Bet I...
- Lamictal Rash Lawyer
-
▼
June
(76)
No comments:
Post a Comment