Question about medication?

[jkj1995]

About 7 or 8 years ago I got really sick and went to numerous specialist trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I had a white blood cell count of 1.8 (normal is 4.0-10 I think) and had terrible joint pains. They tested me for everything imaginable and did 3 bone marrow biopsies over 2 years only to come up with chronic idiopathic neutropenia and a + scleroderma antibody. I had all the symptoms of RA but it didn't show up in the blood test. I have ALWAYS told all my doctors about my childhood epilepsy and that I took Dilantin, and I "outgrew" the epilepsy. What I'm trying to get at is they prescribed me Vioxx for the joint pain and I took it about 3 years. I still have the bottle with some pills in it. (I'm real bad about throwing things). I was reading that some of the major side effects of Vioxx were Seizures. Could this medicine have effected me and brought my seizures on. I have just put the 2 together. Do doctors not think about things like that? Some meds say "Do not take if you have or ever have had a seizure disorder". Just wondering. Thanks for any insight anyone might have.

[Bernard]

Good question. One which I'm sure has not been studied closely.

[brain]

Well the recent news is Vioxx / Mereck had
won the Lawsuit .. and the beat goes on,
like a Roller Coaster.

However, I am wondering - have you ever
consulted with your Doctor before you take
any medication(s) or even your Pharmacist?

I always consult with my Doctor or Pharmacist
before I grab any medication. It's better to be
safe than sorry!

[RobinN]

JKJ - I would be putting the two together as a possiblity.
I would ask your doctor, but just because s/he has never heard of it doesn't mean it can't be so. Only way to know for sure is to work with them to eliminate the possiblity.

Have you considered going casein and gluten free for some of your symptoms?

[jkj1995]

Brain, It was the Doctor I told about my childhood epilepsy to who prescribed it to me, and when I seen in the papers they give you at the pharmacy that it shouldn't be given to people with seizure disorders I also let him know about my history and they said it would be fine. Its not like I just grabbed someone elses bottle of pills and took them. I too like to be safe than sorry. I cannot stand having these seizures. Especially after almost 15 years without them. I just wanted to know why doctor prescribe things when it says not to give when to people who have known seizure problems? I'm not the doctor...I trust them and if they say it's suppose to help, I trust they know what they're talking about.

Robin, I've tried so many things, I cannot even keep count. I'll look those things up and try them.

[brain]

I understand completely!

I sent you a PM with information of
where you can get assistance in your
area after finding out about your post!
In addition; we're all tired of these seizures
especially when they're partially controlled
or semi-controlled or worse - poorly
controlled.

I hope that PM as well as the post on the
other thread in reference to your need of
help (!) would get the ball rolling for you
ASAP.

I resided in Georgia temporarily and the
Epilepsy Foundation in Georgia were
absolutely WONDERFUL FOLKS! Even when
I was only there for such a short time;
they did a lot, cramming down as much
as they could. At that time, I wished I
could stay a little longer up there as I
was beginning to learn much. So they
really DO CARE!

[Birdbomb]

jkj1995

I took Vioxx until it was pulled off the shelves, it was the most effective RA medication out there IMHO. But oh, well. Almost any medication can have seizure related side effects. I was on prozac when I was hit with my grand mal, and yes seizures are a side effect of prozac.

You can have RA and the tests not show it! RA diagnosis is subjective. They add up all the symptoms and eleminate everything else first.

All the medications I am taking now for my RA are seizure inducing. But the chemo med (methotrexate) had to be cleared with my neurologist BEFORE my rheumy would let me take the stuff. Wicked stuff, I take it one day a week and am sick for the next 3 days. (lots of fluids seems to ease that)

If you were still taking Vioxx, I could see it affecting you. Are you still having the RA symptoms? If so what are you taking now?

[Shelley]

A freind of mine and I were discussing doctors and whether they honestly care, or if they just prescribe pills to do a quick fix.
She was prescribed Lipitor and told the doctor no. She lowered her cholesterol herself btw.

[jkj1995]

BirdBomb,
Yes, I still do have all the symptoms of the RA but all I take for it now is Tylenol and all of those over the counter rubs like Ben Gay and Flex-All. I use those hot/cold microwaveable things with the seeds in them, but nothing helps. I got tired of going to dr. after dr. telling me their is nothing wrong with me because it didn't show up in the blood test, so now I just deal with it. I'm 31 but my body feels worse than my grandma's probably does and she's 78!

[jkj1995]

Thank you a million times Brain!!!