Are doctors likely to get mad if I ask to quit all my meds?

[i-hate-meds]

I'm a 63 year old caucasian male, obese (5'9', 250 lbs), hypertensive, type 2 diabetic, and I had a mild stroke 3 years ago. I'm on numerous meds for diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, and blood thinners -- and I don't like all the side effects. As a result, I often quit taking some or all of my meds, and I always get severely scolded by my primary care physician and my other health care providers. I feel much better when I stop taking my meds, but when I quit my meds, my blood glucose and blood pressure go up, and I recently had a bad episode of tachycardia, which I was told was caused by my stopping Toprol XL. Help! Is there some way to approach my doctor about trying lifestyle changes instead of all these medications? I'm afraid that she is going to tell me to find another doctor soon, if I don't do what she says -- but I often feel that she and other doctors don't listen to my complaints about medical side effects. What can I do? I am willing to try a very restrictive diet, if it would let me quit all the meds.

[mercyangel]

Please, please, please don't stop your meds yet.  You MUST lose weight.  If you lose weight some of your medical problems may disappear.  My husband had high blood pressure and when he lost 50 pounds, his pressure normalized and he didn't have to go on medication.  People have been able to stop blood pressure meds, oral diabetic meds, asthma meds all by losing significant weight.  I am a registered nurse and see people every day that are killing themselves by over feeding themselves.  And the death that they die is slow and painful.  Continue with your meds and adopt a healthy lifestyle.  Get down to the weight that you're supposed to be for your height and then see what meds you can stop.  So many chronic medical conditions can be avoided by maintaining a healthy weight.  You CAN do it!!!

[CollegeGirl143]

no one can MAKE you take meds, but try and understand it is in your best interest. The reason your doctors are becoming so alarmed is because that just stopping meds can have FATAL consiquences, SPECIALLY with blood thinners.(my father in law stopped taking blood thinners and the same day dropped dead in the middle of church, luckily he was revived) Please be careful, and DO NOT just stop taking your medications. Talk to your doctor about possible lifestyle changes, but it is a proccess of making those changes and weaning off the meds, not stopping cold turkey.

[momAU82207]

Yes of course they will get mad.  Its obvious your medication is whats keeping you alive.  I have a son who has a chronic medical condition and without it he would die, if he stopped taking his medication id be completely furious and the team of specialist who have have been treating him his entire life would be devastated.  Yes medication can be a real pain in the behind but in  life you have to do what you have to do ... be thank full you have a choice, think about the millions of people suffering and dying because they dont have a choice.  Now behave yourself and make sure you take your medicine as directed and on time. Tsk Tsk!!