Responsibility and Regain

I think you're right about good doctors appreciating that in patients.  It would make a little more work for them up front - my docs need to explain why they want to prescribe a certain med, how it's supposed to work, what the possible side effects are, etc.  But after explaining all that, I think most patients would be more likely to take the med and take it correctly, whether that means avoiding certain foods with it or whatever.  Which can avoid problems that would make a lot of work for the doc down the road.

My Drs are good about letting me know the what's and whys of meds they suggest or give me! Most the time if given something he'll print out information about the medication to give to me. There have been times he's caught something about an interaction of what he's got me taking and something an urgent care Dr. gave me which could've killed me! My OB noted that something I was taking for Bipolar was depleting folate levels which can be bad because I have a blood clotting abnormality in which folate is used to manage it. I'm OCD about researching what I'm given because psych meds are no joke and there's a lot of things that interact with them and a lot of possible side effects! I think you're right in patients being more likely to take medications correctly. I wonder how many actually read the info given to them when med is filled?
Unfortunately not all Drs will explain the details about meds and then the patients experience a side effect they knew nothing about or an interaction happens which can scare someone who has no idea it could be normal! 

Whenever an MD prescribes a medication, I always want to know why that drug was the choice.  I had some problems with back pain for a while and the MD said "I'd like to put you on something stronger for pain."  Well, not really.  They wanted to give me steroids.  That is not a stronger pain medication at all.  Yes, it may reduce inflammation, but come on, it's not for "pain." 

With all of the medications out there, am I being prescribed a medication because the sales rep was in earlier in the day, or is the mechanism of action different from the other choices?  If there is more than one option, tell me why you chose the one you did. 

 I am a Nuclear Cardiology tech and I see patients everyday that truly do not take responsibility for their health.  Some examples are patients who have no idea why their doctors ordered an expensive test or no clue what medications they take or why.  If you are the patient answering questions with, "because my doctor said so". You probably have room to be more informed and take more responsibility for your own health and healthcare.  Just my $.02 worth.  

Oh Kelly, I am really starting to get a sense of your wisdom .  I work for a biopharma in patient services and used to be in the therapy support role. One of the biggest things we discussed was patients with an internal vs external locus of control.  We ask questions to patients to figure out if they felt things happened to them, or if they were involved in their health.  It makes a big difference in how they view their medication.  Some patients are fine taking everything that the MD says as gospel and never question them.  Over the years, I have certainly come to realize that MDs don't know everything.  Sometimes it is kinda scary what MDs say/do so it important for patients to be as informed as possible, and take an ACTIVE role in their health.

I am a firm believer that I will be more successful if I am taking an active role in my life.  I was peppering the MD with questions before, during and after surgery. It is also a big part of why I come to this board.  

I take full responsiblity for choices that brought me to being obese, so I have to take responsibility for losing the weight as well.  Having support on this board helps keep me honest with myself, so that I am not living with rose colored glasses on.  It is not always what I want to hear, but it is what I need to hear.

Great post by the way!  I hope it gets everyone thinking.