drug treatment help please

Aisling
Aisling Member Posts: 11
edited 15. Jan 2011, 10:10 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi

I am new to the site and seeking help with drug treatment - I have been px'd Celectol (Cordiax) which is a beta blocker. My GP says this is better than Diclofenac as an anti-inflammatory. Can't find any information online that explains why I would have a beta blocker as an anti inflammatory. Is anyone else taking this? I know it sounds childish but don't want to question the GP until I know a bit more about it.

Comments

  • whalewatcher
    whalewatcher Member Posts: 90
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Aisling
    Welcome to the forum. We're a friendly bunch & like to help & support each other.
    This isn't childish at all but very sensible to want to know about a drug you've been prescribed. I don't know the answer but your local pharmacist probably does. If he can't tell you straight away he'll have text books with very detailed info on drugs & their actions that he can refer to. Hope he is helpful.

    Val
  • tjt6768
    tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    welcome from me too, never heard of that before. I've been on a fair few anti inflammtories in the past who knows how many years, certainly never heard of a beta blocker being used that way.. I think whale watcher had the right idea, ask the local pharmacist about it if you don't want to ask the gp.
    Let us know what they say, it's definitely an interesting one..

    Be well.. :grin:
    e050.gifMe-Tony
    n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
    k040.gif
    Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP
  • jillyb1
    jillyb1 Member Posts: 1,725
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi , Aisling , welcome to our merry little band . I can't better the advice from Val ; I always find the pharmacist to be better for information on drugs than the doctor that prescribes them ! I was once prescribed a new drug , only to be told at the chemists that it clashed badly with one I was already taking and would have made me ill . I now always check with my trusted pharmacist . Jillyb
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,848
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Aisling

    Good to meet you and the first thing l always do is to check what my meds are for and what they do.

    Whalewatcher is right - pharmacists are your best bet and if they are unsure I would go back to the docs and take someone with me when l did too.

    Having said that my 15 yr old daughter is on propanolol which is a beta blocker to prevent her migraine! It is working quite well too :???:

    Love

    Toni xx
  • tjt6768
    tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I think the way beta blockers work is something to do with opening the arteries, or something similar which is why they probably use them for migraine.. Really don't understand why they would use them as an anti inflammatory.. I could be totally wrong though, it has been known from time to time, lol
    :grin:
    e050.gifMe-Tony
    n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
    k040.gif
    Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Aisling,

    A welcome from me as well tis a god place.

    Its never wrong to question the drugs we take..... I don't anymore but I do still have a vague idea as to what each does :wink:

    Someone here is on these but I can't remember who... hopefully they will see your post and come in on it.

    Sometimes its a good idea to get a double appointment with the gp and just get all the questions out..... they are not so good at dealing with more than one thing but they don't mind questions so that might be an idea. The helplines here might also be able to help?

    I hope the tablets will work though and nice to meet you. Cris x
  • jassie
    jassie Member Posts: 17
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Aisling. I would endorse the advice to find out everythngn you can about your drug. There is loads of info online.

    Could it be perhaps that your doctor cannot advise anti-inflammatories in your case because of e.g. a history of stomach problems. I had this problem and my GPs have over the years insisted that pain relievers are the only answer for me. After beating my head against a wall for a bit and doing a fair bit of research online, I have to accept that they are right and this is the front line treatment for such as me, however difficult it is for me to take. My GP prescribes an opiate rather than a beta blocker but it could be for the same reason. I haven't heard of beta blockers having an anti-inflammatory effect but it may be that they block the pain. I was given them for anxiety and angina at one time.

    Do some research online, ask your pharmacist and also ask your GP when you see them would be my advice. Perhaps also the Helpline here might be able to help.

    Best wishes. Jassie.
  • Aisling
    Aisling Member Posts: 11
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks everyone for all your help and advice. GP has stopped some of the other meds I was on and I don't feel so poorly now. Jassie, you were right -stomach problems!

    Franki X
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,848
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh I am pleased you feel better Frankie :grin:

    Love

    Toni xx
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Frankie and welcome to the forum from me too. :grin:

    I know nothing about the beta blockers but would do as the others have said and ask the pharmacist. :wink:

    hope they work for you and you get some relief from the pain.

    Iris xx