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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: cardiologist writing too many perscriptions?
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Re: cardiologist writing too many perscriptions?
by CCF Cardio MD - MTR, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on October 17, 1998 at 23:16:37:
In Reply to: cardiologist writing too many perscriptions? posted by Sharon on October 14, 1998 at 21:22:38:
My mother is 74 and has been seeing a cardiologist this past year. She describes her appointments as while she sits and tells him how she feels, he sits and writes perscriptions. he has changed all the medications her family Medical Doctor had perscribed and having symptoms that are making her afraid to leave the house or to take her medications (she's self diagnosing) She was taking Atenolol; Hyzaar; Thyroxine Levoxl; and zocor... a few months ago she was playing cards with her friends when she became extremely dizzy and had to lay down and remain very still. He said she had arthritis in her neck and put her on Relafen... She is experiencing shortness of breath, wheezing... says her head sometimes feels heavy with pressure and sometimes feels light, as if it isn't there... she also said she gets real hot and perspires. They did several tests (MRI, catscan and x-rays) and didn't found anything wrong. Her cholesterol is 245 and blood pressure 130/80. She is afraid to venture too far from home and says everytime she mentions something to her cardiologist, he just writes out another perscription... she is slowly eliminating each drug trying to figure out which one she is reacting to and she still isn't feeling well. Any suggestions you have for her would be extremely appreciated, as she is feeling confused and just wants to feel well again.
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Dear Sharon, thank you for your question. Your mother is experiencing what many elderly patients experience: too many medications and too many physicians. You don't mention why she's seeing a cardiologist, but it seems to me that she needs one thorough physician to consolidate her medical care and make decisions on which medications are absolutely necessary. It's not a good idea for your mother to stop taking medications on her own since discontinuation of certain medications can be hazardous. I suggest that your mother see a good general internist and that a family member accompany her to the appointment to voice the family's concerns. When she sees an internist, it is important that she bring copies of all of her medical records so that tests don't need to be needlessly duplicated. If you can write back to let me know where your mother lives, then I might be able to provide a few names of doctors she could see. Otherwise, a large, tertiary medical center would be a good place to start - try the department of general internal medicine. Good luck!
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
In Reply to: cardiologist writing too many perscriptions? posted by Sharon on October 14, 1998 at 21:22:38:
My mother is 74 and has been seeing a cardiologist this past year. She describes her appointments as while she sits and tells him how she feels, he sits and writes perscriptions. he has changed all the medications her family Medical Doctor had perscribed and having symptoms that are making her afraid to leave the house or to take her medications (she's self diagnosing) She was taking Atenolol; Hyzaar; Thyroxine Levoxl; and zocor... a few months ago she was playing cards with her friends when she became extremely dizzy and had to lay down and remain very still. He said she had arthritis in her neck and put her on Relafen... She is experiencing shortness of breath, wheezing... says her head sometimes feels heavy with pressure and sometimes feels light, as if it isn't there... she also said she gets real hot and perspires. They did several tests (MRI, catscan and x-rays) and didn't found anything wrong. Her cholesterol is 245 and blood pressure 130/80. She is afraid to venture too far from home and says everytime she mentions something to her cardiologist, he just writes out another perscription... she is slowly eliminating each drug trying to figure out which one she is reacting to and she still isn't feeling well. Any suggestions you have for her would be extremely appreciated, as she is feeling confused and just wants to feel well again.
_
Dear Sharon, thank you for your question. Your mother is experiencing what many elderly patients experience: too many medications and too many physicians. You don't mention why she's seeing a cardiologist, but it seems to me that she needs one thorough physician to consolidate her medical care and make decisions on which medications are absolutely necessary. It's not a good idea for your mother to stop taking medications on her own since discontinuation of certain medications can be hazardous. I suggest that your mother see a good general internist and that a family member accompany her to the appointment to voice the family's concerns. When she sees an internist, it is important that she bring copies of all of her medical records so that tests don't need to be needlessly duplicated. If you can write back to let me know where your mother lives, then I might be able to provide a few names of doctors she could see. Otherwise, a large, tertiary medical center would be a good place to start - try the department of general internal medicine. Good luck!
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
