Non-prescription drugs?

If this is too personal, I apologize. But sometimes I feel like a walking medicine chest. Do you take a lot of non-prescription drugs? Like vitamins, aspirin, etc.

On a daily basis, I take:
1200 mg of calcium with Vit D (1 600 mg tablet, twice a day)
2000 IU of Vit D (to help with calcium absorption because I'm osteopaenic)
a Centrum Silver vitamin
a baby aspirin
1000 mg of fish oil (1 500 mg capsule, twice a day)

That's in addition to my blood pressure med (which is the lowest amount I can take because I try to walk enough to keep it on an even keel....for the most part, diet and exercise help), and a compound drug for hormone replacement. I've gotten to the point where I wonder if all this stuff is even doing any good, although my doctor tells me I'm doing the right thing.

I know there are people who take lots and lots of prescription drugs for various ailments and illnesses. One of my GFs had open-heart surgery a few years and she takes over 30 different meds a day! But what about non-prescription drugs? Do you use them?

I take 3 different perscriptions, but no non perscriptions on a REGULAR basis, however, when I feel a cold coming on I'll take vitamin C and echinacea though.

Originally Posted by Winchester

If this is too personal, I apologize. But sometimes I feel like a walking medicine chest. Do you take a lot of non-prescription drugs? Like vitamins, aspirin, etc.

On a daily basis, I take:
1200 mg of calcium with Vit D (1 600 mg tablet, twice a day)
2000 IU of Vit D (to help with calcium absorption because I'm osteopaenic)
a Centrum Silver vitamin
a baby aspirin
1000 mg of fish oil (1 500 mg capsule, twice a day)

That's in addition to my blood pressure med (which is the lowest amount I can take because I try to walk enough to keep it on an even keel....for the most part, diet and exercise help), and a compound drug for hormone replacement. I've gotten to the point where I wonder if all this stuff is even doing any good, although my doctor tells me I'm doing the right thing.

I know there are people who take lots and lots of prescription drugs for various ailments and illnesses. One of my GFs had open-heart surgery a few years and she takes over 30 different meds a day! But what about non-prescription drugs? Do you use them?

Click to expand...

I wonder about that too sometimes, especially in February when my depression and lethargy and fibromyalgia is always at it's worst.

I take OTC: glucosamine (etc) supplement, multivitamin, Vitamin B complex supplement, and Calcium with D.

I also take a few prescription medications, for hypothyroid (goiter), depression and pain. I really hate taking the pain meds, but I am afraid to try to do without them, even with them I ahve so much pain all the time.

Honey,
I feel your pain. I take 2 meds for seizures, 1 for IBS, and birth control. On TOP of that, I take, Calcuim, cranberry supplement, L-Lysine, Zinc, Vit B, a mulit vitamin, and probiotics. If I miss one of those, I feel pretty yucky. I've tried to cut down this number, but I find this combination works well for me. Haven't been sick, sick in a long time! It's been wonderful!

It sounds like you're on a pretty good basic regime. Even if you don't think they're helping, they are.


OTC - I take acetaminophen and naproxen pretty frequently. Not everyday, but often enough.


I should be taking fiber and cholestyramine (prescription) and also need to get in to get checked for more nutritional deficiencies. I know I have more since my surgery due to chronic diarrhea... ironically the cholestyramine could help prevent that but also blocks absorption of vitamins and minerals.

The only non prescription drug I take daily is vitamin b12.

B 12 here... I take about 15 NSAIDS a month( have a rx pain killer that I take about 3 times a month)... Glandular formula ..voots. and some homeopathics as needed...

Non-prescription, I'm taking:

Prenatal vitamin with fish oil
325mg iron twice a day
B6 and half a Unisom (helps with pregnancy-related nausea)
Baby aspirin

And prescription I take a beta blocker. So I take 7 tablets a day, which is enough for me! After my open heart surgery I had an amazing array of drugs, but now I only take the aspirin and beta blocker, and they're both "just in case it helps" and not necessary. Your friend obviously had different surgery to what I had though.

Everyday I take folic acid. I give fish oil to pets.

Yeah I've got a home pharmacy too.. 3 daily Rx pills plus a few others as needed.

Non-Rx:
Multivitamin
Iron
B-Complex
B12
Calcium
Probiotic if I remember it (rarely do, it's in the fridge. out of sight, out of mind!)
Zantac 75 most mornings

I feel like I'll rattle after taking all those pills!

I only take my birth control pill thats it, i eat a lot of fruit and veg so dont feell the need to top any thing else up

Originally Posted by Winchester

But what about non-prescription drugs? Do you use them?

Click to expand...

yes - i'm not only a walking pharmacy, i take tons of vitamin/mineral supplements because of my malabsorption issues.
but my purse has several different painkillers, both non-prescription & prescription. i suffer from chronic migraines.

I did a similar thread a while back:

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=205146

I don't want to count what I take. But I've added to my regime now. This is my allotment per day:

6 Prednisone (last dose will be Sunday)
1.5 Celexa
1 Synthoid (Thyroid)
1 Hydrochlorithiazide (blood pressure)
.5 Irbasartan (blood pressure)
1.5 Zopiclone (sometimes for sleeping)
2 puffs of Ventolin 4 times per day
2 puffs of Atrovent 4 times per day
2 puffs Flovent 2 times per day
6 Alleve (pain)
2 Tylenol 3 (pain)
2 Royal Jelly
1 low dose ASA
3 Vitamin D per day..... one day a week I take 1 high dose one
2 Vitamin C
2 Vitamin B12
2 Cold FX
2 Echinacea
1 Multi Vitamin
1 Zinc
4 Odourless Garlic
6 Primrose Oil

Multivitamin
D3
Omega 369
Folic Acid

My answer from the existing thread:

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...36&postcount=3

Painkillers I am currently off of, (meaning not regular any more) but I can take up to 5mg x 6 day if needed. Thankfully since the withdrawal, I have only given in 3 times, and am able to take a lesser dose right now. The mind is a powerful thing, and I refuse to let my life be dictated by pain pills.

But I still take other prescriptions, currently 4 others on a daily basis, plus all listed in the above thread.

I don't currently take any non prescription medications/supplements, but I plan to start taking either Vitex/Chaste Tree extract or PABA to help regulate my monthly cycle and help me try to get pregnant. I am another that eats a lot of fruits and vegetables, so I don't think I need any multivitamins. I recently had a blood panel done and everything looked good. Maybe I can start taking some Vit D to help absorb calcium as it was borderline and that can be a not often checked for reason to keep you from getting pregnant.

I do take three prescription meds each day. I take 30mg of Cortef/Hydrocortisone, plus between 10 and 30mg extra each day if I am sick. I also take .1mg of Florinef. The Cortef and Florinef are for my Addison's Disease. I then take a 10mg Ambien Sunday through Thursday nights. I don't take the Ambien on Friday and Saturday nights, just on work nights so I get good sleep.