Know about the "drugs" you are taking

How many of us actually bother to find out what the doc actually prescribe to us? I bet no one would right..hahah that is normal,cos we do trust our doctors to give us what is best for our illness.

Ok, not that i do not trust my doc but i am curious about a certain antibiotics my doc gave me recently, so i decided to google it and see what i can find... What happen was - i was sick recently, ya it the pesky flu bug, went to see the doc and got some med.... But i realise that the antibiotics that i was taking is a little too strong for me.. cos after eating,i can feel my heart beat faster than normal and i keep waking up at night. At first i thought that is normal, when u are sick, u tend to eat lesser and thus feel weaker so the effect of the med will magnify... but after i google it , it realise all that i am feeling is actually the side effects of the med... Here's what the site says about the med: (http://www.merck.com/mmpe/lexicomp/amoxicillin%20and%20clavulanate%20potassium.html)

Warnings/Precautions

Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis (some fatal), have been reported. Prolonged use may result in superinfection, including Pseudomembranous colitis. In patients with renal impairment, doses and/or frequency of administration should be modified in response to the degree of renal impairment. High percentage of patients with infectious mononucleosis have developed rash during therapy. Incidence of diarrhea is higher than with amoxicillin alone. Use caution in patients with hepatic dysfunction. Hepatic dysfunction, although rare, is more common in elderly and/or males, and occurs more frequently with prolonged treatment, and may occur after therapy is complete. Due to differing content of clavulanic acid, not all formulations are interchangeable. Low incidence of cross-allergy with cephalosporins exists. Some products contain phenylalanine.

Additional adverse reactions seen with ampicillin-class antibiotics: Agitation, agranulocytosis, alkaline phosphatase increased, anaphylaxis, anemia, angioedema, anxiety, behavioral changes, bilirubin increased, black “hairy” tongue, confusion, convulsions, crystalluria, dizziness, enterocolitis, eosinophilia, erythema multiforme, exanthematous pustulosis, exfoliative dermatitis, gastritis, glossitis, hematuria, hemolytic anemia, hemorrhagic colitis, indigestion, insomnia, hyperactivity, interstitial nephritis, leukopenia, mucocutaneous candidiasis, pruritus, pseudomembranous colitis, serum sickness-like reaction, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, stomatitis, transaminases increased, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura, tooth discoloration, toxic epidermal necrolysis

Hahah.. ok i am not being oversensitive, i know the right dose of med wont kill me but still hahah reading all this just make my hair stand... its just so contradicting isn't it? The med are suppose to cure us of a certain illness but yet there is a possibility of it leading to another illness... it's a vicious cycle ...

So the lesson for today is .. Please stay health, eat properly, keep fit and try not to rely too much on medication... our body are actually pretty incredible you know.. it has the ability to recover on its own, it may take a little longer at times and sometimes you are not even aware of it.