Medicines Are Meant To Be Taken, Not Taken for Granted

Last week, after 28 days of taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin) to manage my cholesterol level, I thought, that would be the end of it.  No more forcing big tablets down my throat.  I almost choked twice on it because it was that huge (or my throat opening is so small hehehe).  So  naturally, I am pleased to know that I am down to the last tablet and I eagerly went to the doctor to inform him.  My heart sank when he said to take it for another month, this time at half dosage.  I was thinking, was my cholesterol level that high or was it just to ensure that the levels are quite under control?  I was also concerned that taking medication for cholesterol might have an adverse effect on my liver.  Apparently, the doctor saw no signs that my liver is in danger because of this medication.  Just the same, I was already prepping up for the blood chemistry but I suppose that has to wait for another month. Not that I'm excited to be poked with needles again, but I sure would like to be medicine free, at least this particular one that's giving me a hard time to swallow.  

 

 What do YOU eat for breakfast?, a photo by Lintilla on Flickr.

I am also off Losartan now for 4 days. Blood pressure is still within normal range and I am continuously monitoring it.  I hope I don't have to go back to taking Losartan because the doctor said if my blood pressure rises again above the normal and it stays consistently elevated, then I'll be having meds for maintenance already.  

Nooooo!!!  Hahaha!  I could be melodramatic about that. When it comes to taking medicines, I am the least eager about it.  I kind of prefer what Hippocrates said, to "Let thy food be thy medicine..."  Now that is more to my liking.  I'm afraid with my current condition, I have to accept that I need to be medicated for now to help my body regulate my cholesterol and blood pressure levels while they are not yet life-threatening.  I suppose I can not afford to be stubborn about medicines for now. 

So being the good patient that I am, even if I have to force myself, I take my medicines on a daily basis.  I have read in the little booklet from Pfizer (the manufacturer of Lipitor) that medicines are to be taken, not taken for granted.  I don't know if that is some sort of marketing stuff to sell their product hehehe.  Well, maybe partly but I do get the rationale behind that.  It does take discipline to take medicines.   So far, I have not missed yet with either Lipitor or Losartan.  I'm just looking forward to the day when my medicine would simply be broccoli, carrots, green beans, melon, bananas, avocado and other more appetizing "natural medicines."