STICKING WITH YOUR MEDICATIONS

With many forms of arthritis, medications are extremely important because they often provide the only opportunity for you to slow or stop the disease process. However, many people fall into traps where they do not take their medications as prescribed. Learn where people stumble so that you can prevent the same scenarios from happening to you.

“My medications do not work”
When you are in a lot of pain, it can be frustrating when you seem to get a slow or no response in the first few weeks. You may feel tempted to give up on the medication. This is especially true if you are getting side effects or if the medication is expensive. However, you must be aware that it many take weeks or months to produce a noticeable difference. If the medication is giving you side effects, discuss with your doctors immediately.

“I skip some doses of my medications”
Arthritis medications only work when they are taken consistently over time. They may need to be taken for weeks or months to be effective. Skipping doses prevents the medications from getting to the “steady state” needed to make a difference in helping you. Take daily medications at the same time as part of your normal routine, until it becomes natural and automatic. When you skip your medication, do not ever double up the next day to make up for the missed dose.

“My medication gives me side effects”
It is difficult to keep taking a medication that gives you awful side effects. Before you give up, ask your doctor to decrease the dosage and/or move to a different medication.

“I don’t need the medication anymore”
For most forms of arthritis, you may be able to slow or stop disease activity, but there is no cure. As a result, maintenance medications are important in keeping your arthritis from causing a relapse or flare-up. Discuss options to reduce or stop your medications with your doctor rather changing dosing or stopping your medications on your own.

“My medication is too expensive”
This is an unfortunate problem for many people, especially in USA where medication prices can be exorbitant, especially for non-generics. Call your insurance provider to see what options you have. Some pharmaceutical companies may have special programs for qualified applicants to receive medications at discounted rates. Meanwhile, ask your doctors for suitable alternatives that may be cheaper or come in a generic version. Skipping doses to save money, or missing entire months altogether, will prevent the medications from working and may put you at risk.