WHY YOU MAY SKIP YOUR MEDICATIONS
Medications are the mainstay for many forms of chronic arthritis. Your medication regimen can decrease your pain, stiffness, and swelling so that you can be productive with minimal pain and limitations. Meanwhile, certain medications will later the course of the disease, potentially protecting your joints from permanent damage. Therefore, it is extremely imporatnat to take your medications consistently as directed by your physician. Unfortunately, many people stop their medications for various reasons. Skipping or stopping medications can have devastating consequences over the long term. Let’s explore some common reasons for why this happens.
- “I am feeling better”: If your medications successfully reduce the activity of your arthritis, or even put you in remission, you may feel like you are cured! However, chronic forms of arthritis can dramtically improve and even eliminate your symptoms, but there is no cure. Once you are feeling better, you may be able to work with your doctors to reduce the medications you are taking, but stopping them will likely lead to a gradual return of symptoms or a severe flare-up. Each time your symptoms return, you are potentially doing permanent damage to your joints.
- “My medications are not working”: It can be frustrating when you take medications but your symptoms remain constant and severe. Keep in mind that most medications wil take time to work. Also, for each person, some meds will work and some won’t. Rather than giving up, follow up with your doctor regularly to explore why your medications are not working. You can then collaborate to make adjustments until you find a regimen that works.
- “I am getting side effects”: Communicate with your doctor to get proper guidance on what you can do when you are getting bothersome side effects from your medications. Rather than quitting the medications, your doctor may reduce the dose to clear your side effects. Otherwise your doctor can change your medications.
- “I do not want to be dependent on medications”: It is true that certain medications should only be used as needed or on a very limited basis. But some of your medications may be keeping your joints and the rest of your body out of harm’s way. Discuss with your doctor to find out what medications are optional and what are absolutely needed to help you achieve your goals of treatment.
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