Ever since my first stent in 1999, the doctors have been pushing drugs on me left and right. One that I've been taking since 2000 was Altace. My doctor at the time said a study had shown that taking 10mg of Altace daily helped prevent heart attacks. I followed his advice, started on 2.5mg daily, then up to 5mg but when I tried to jump to 10mg my body revolted. Went back to 5mg and stayed there for 5-6 years.
Last year I complained to my doctor, telling him I had a metalic taste in my mouth. He jumped on the computer and searched his 'doctor only internet' but could not find anything. He said it was probably an infection, gave me a rx for a 10 day supply of an antibiotic and said to have the dentist check me for an infection in my mouth. Dentist did not find anything so I plowed on.
Over the past two weeks the taste got really bad. Kind of like putting some coins in my mouth, then mixing some rock salt up in an ashtray then licking it (not that I know what this tastes like). By Thursday night I had it... I decided I was no longer going to take the Altace... beside I had a doctors appt in the am and if I really needed the meds I could take them after the appointment.
I was floored when the doctor said I did not need to take the medication, that the heart condition that the med was designed for was not the same as mine. Then went on to say, "Why didn't you say something". I calmly asked him to review his notes when he said "Oh, I never connected the two".
All I can say is "Thanks for the internet". And if you find yourself in this situation, challenge the doctor and keep challenging them. And listen to your body. I don't care how educated they are, believe me, you know more than they do.
By the way, most of these studies are funded by the drug manufacturers, staffed by their own doctors, so they can get their name in the NE Journal of Medicine. I wonder why they always find their most expensive and profitable drug is always needed by every person in the us. Can you spell "Conflict of Interest".
