Missed Medication! Why I ran out of patience, persistence and acceptance.

[Carolina]

Dearest Sjogren's Angels,

Yesterday I found out that I had forgotten to refill one of my key prescriptions ( Cymbalta) and had NOT been taking it for the past three months!  I called the pharmacy and was able to get Cymbalta to take last night.

I fill my medications boxes for 6 weeks at a time, so I failed to notice that it was missing twice, but that covers a long period of time. (12 weeks!)  I don't know where the bottle went...I use an empty bottle to remind me to refill...but somehow that system didn't work this time.

And of course when one stops Cymbalta, one uses a taper method...so I really just plunged into withdrawal, as well as no longer having the advantages of Cymbalta.

Cymbalta is on label as an antidepressant and for many kinds of pain.

So I was in much more pain from my arthritis and more depressed about the pain!

And much more irritable about everything.

I am really amazed at how much better I feel with just one night of Cymbalta.  The arthritis is still there of course, but I slept without pain last night for the first time in weeks and weeks.

I guess I need to make a check list of medications to put in my medications boxes.  I have just relied on the presence of the medications in my big storage boxes.  I take a lot of supplements as well, but missing those isn't at critical to my well being in as many ways as Cymbalta.

Live and learn.  But what a price this lesson cost me.  Three months of misery.

Hugs, Elaine

[Nymph]

O, Elaine! I can totally relate! I stopped one of my supplements a few years ago thinking that it wasn't doing anything for me and had an extreme relapse of POTS symptoms. I didn't catch the cause for a year! I'm so glad that you caught it. Maybe your pharmacy can remind you when it's time to get your refills. Mine does. You should ask.

hugs,

Nicole

[Carolina]

Dearest Nymph, yes!  I'm changing to a mail order pharmacy, which will remind me.  My current pharmacy (which my husband loves, but I do not) doesn't offer that service.

So I hope this will be a thing of the past (lesson well learned) BUT I'm making the list, too.

Thanks!

Hugs,  Elaine

[irish]

What a terrible thing to have happen. It is really a job keeping up with our meds and making sure that they get renewed. I am so sorry you had to go through this. I would bet in one week you will feel like a different person, or at least almost a different person. Take care. Irish

[Sharon]

That's at least easy enough to remedy Elaine, thank goodness!
Yes, it's a pain keeping up with all the med routine, managing it ourselves no matter
what condition we may be in.
Best of luck getting back to yourself!

[jazzlover]

I am shocked and amazed that you did not end up in the hospital with withdrawal. You are very lucky.

Yes, we do live and learn.

Carry on!

[Joe S.]

I am so sorry for you that you missed it for so long (((hugs))). I am glad that you are back on it and soon to feel better. The list sounds like a good idea for me as I often go without when my wife does not place the order. (She does not want me placing orders as she likes to control most of the money and I do not like to argue). I get most of my supplements most of the time and all of my meds all of the time unless the prescription company screws up. They typically are a problem 6 times per year.

Sorry I started to ramble. I am glad you found the source of your problems with meds.

[Kathy57]

Elaine,

I can see how easily that can be done!  I really have to pay attention when I get my meds ready.  I do them two weeks at a time but I really have to be careful that I get them all straight.

I take way too many meds and supplements (I'm sure that we all do!), but the meds sure make a difference in our lives!  If it wasn't for my meds, I couldn't function very well.

Hope you feel better soon, and I'm so glad you caught the error!

Kathy

[gurs]

Best way to find out if something is really working I guess!!!

[A Mom on Spin]

Elaine,

One of my worst fears and so easy to do!  When I fill my weeky pill box, I always take a moment and ask myself, "what's missing?"  Good advice for the rest of our lives as well!

Liz

[quietdynamics]

With Cymbalta alone as an antidepressant; then Cymbalta plus gabapentin to manage neuropathy that was a double edged sword.
Hopefully you will be back up to maintenance level soon.

[susanep]

Oh Elaine, I too am so sorry to hear what you had to go through. I am glad it is straightened out now, so soon you will be too. It is easy to do. Me and my dear husband both will say we just finished taking our morning meds or night meds.

Hugs,
susanep

[Deb 27]

Elaine, it can happen to the best of us-:)))   I am glad that you were able to figure out and get back on the cymbalta to feel better.  It's amazing how much better an antidepressant can make us feel.... I have stopped them before  b/c of side effects but had to go back on. I don't think I'll ever be able to cope without them, but that's ok.