OC nostrums revisited

I'm in the camp of I'll try something short-term if I think it stands a chance. I read well-documented alternative health articles and well researched media.

That being said, for me I have had zero good effect from trying any brand of glucosamine or any brand of gingko biloba . I read with ginko, that you need to try it for 4-6 weeks and if it has no effect on your memory...then don't waste any more time with it.

IMHO, glucosamine and chondroitin are a waste of my time. I've tried them for a decade or more...briefly ... and they've done nothing for my aches pains and various minor joint issues and majorly annoying chronic bad back.

Furthermore I feel that anyone over the age of 70 is fighting decades of getting themselves to a point of age-related memory loss. Doing memory exercises and doing daily puzzles like that on the Lumosity is helpful...but only mildly. FWIW, learning a new language is supposed to help more than anything..if one is so inclined. New dendrites are said to form.

Besides memory loss, they are some of the major symptoms of advancing Alzheimer's and Dementia.

Maladjusted blood pressure medications can also cause similar symptoms.

Overdosing on aspirin can also be a factor.

It would help if you gave clues as to what over the counter medications you've been taking.

Thanks Rag, esp about glucosamine and ginko, two I've always used. However I'm wondering among all your OC's whether you might have had a reaction to any

Noted

Interesting to note: For decades I have taken a half-dozens PM's for hypertension and nearly 2 dozen OC's of varying kinds but it turned out to the the OC's causing the symptoms I describe as anxiety and depression

Thanks, duly noted. I note the symptoms got slightly worse when I undertook daily aspirin several years ago

Wilco

FWIW, I've had no negative reactions. An no clearly positive ones either.

However, I'm not sure how useful that info can be to you based on the fact that I've ALSO been on statins (lipid/cholesterol reduction) for more than a decade and on beta-blockers and Nexium for a decade or so. My having no reaction to OC remedies and various homeopathic remedies is inconclusive at best.

However, on a positive note for medical perscriptions, Nexium does prevent my GERD excellently. And, with my cardiac meds...helping me with cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia...well? I'm still alive ...though I've also my defib/pacemaker and good luck to thank for some of that.

Dale Hileman Rx, Vitamins and Minerals May 17, 2013
Rx

Simvastatin 20mg, 1Xday

Triamterene 37.5mg/HCTZ 25mg, 1Xday

Bystolic 5 mg, 2Xday Began taking 5mg October 2012, increased to 10mg January 2013.

Hydralazine 10mg tablet 2Xday Started taking 5mg 2X day in October, 2012, increased to 10mg 2X day December, 2012.

Doxazosin 2mg, 1½ tablet 2Xday . Began taking October 2012.





MOOD…I take two tablets of the following once or twice a week for mood

St. John’s Wort 375mg

American Ginseng 550mg

5-HTP 100mg

Kava Kava Extract 250mg




VIGOR…I take 2 tablets once a week for vigor

Ginkgo Biloba 24% 60mg

Catuaba Bark 465mg

American Ginseng 550mg

Horny Goat Weed Extract 500mg


MISC. supplements 2 per month (1X2 week) to 62 (2X day) as indicated, according to doctor’s recommendations.

Glucosamine HC1 1500mg with MSM 1500mg – 4

Mature Multi - ?

Calcium Citrate w/500mg of Calcium – 15

Vitamin C 500mg – 4

Saw Palmetto 540mg – 2

Fiber Capsules - 15

Garlic Complex – 31

Vitamin E – 15

Super B-Complex – 4

Omega-3 1000mg – 15

St. John’s Wort 375mg – 60

Selenium 200mcg – 2

Vitamin A 8,999 IU – 4

CoQ10 100mg

Green Tea 500mg -15

Aspirin 81mg - 31

Dale, when was the last time you took all your medications and vitamins to your doctor or pharmacist for review?

Glancing at the side-effects pages for many of these, some of the side-effects include memory loss, confusion, etc. It is possible that a lot of your memory problems could clear up with such a review of your meds.

Here's a list to the side effects pages for many of the drugs and supplements. You and your wife might want to review them together. Give a glance to the overview page for each also so you can see how similar many of them are. I'm especially concerned with all the various blood pressure related medications. Perhaps you are being overmedicated in some instances.



http://www.drugs.com/sfx/simvastatin-side-effects.html

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/triamterene-side-effects.html

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/bystolic-side-effects.html

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/hydralazine-side-effects.html

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/doxazosin-side-effects.html

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/st-john-s-wort-side-effects.html

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/ginseng-side-effects.html

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/5-htp-side-effects.html

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/kava-side-effects.html

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/ginkgo-biloba-side-effects.html

http://www.drugs.com/npc/horny-goat-weed.html

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/glucosamine-side-effects.html

Good lord, man. Do you fill a bowl and eat all that stuff with milk at breakfast.

As a matter of fact But, whenever there's a change I take a copy to both my GP and my neph at each visit. Next GP on Tue

Yes indeed, particularly as I had indicated in the OP, the OC's

But thank you most kindly for those links

No Rog, chewing pills don't usually taste very good and so I take 'em w/ water

Of course as you will see from the OP But, apparently the problem is with one or more of the OC's

Perusing those links, so far the only suspect is Ginseng:

Here's an interesting article on the taking of too many vitamins and/or supplements:

http://screen.yahoo.com/vitamins-without-040000922.html

Thank you Rag for that link

But another example (forgive): When I complained to my BH that my BP and chol meds had the side effect of sluggishness she suggested COQ10 and B12

I have a most complete listing that I update regularly and take on every visit

But But, but thanks for the listing of links

That's interesting, Ragman.
I've been on the alert re my memory for decades, though I try not to be a worrywart about it. My mother's family was full of this sorrowful problem, many of them going to "mental" wards when they got older, Alzheimer's not being a tossed about name back then; my mother died of it, so I watch..

So far so good, though I lapse on the names of people I used to know. I tend to chase that, not anxiously, just aware of trying to remember the name, and it'll pop up (thank the lord and pass the ammunition). On the other hand, I remember forgetting stuff in my thirties, chasing the answers the same laconic way. I am more anxious about it than in my thirties, but try not to push my fear button. When did my mother get Alzheimer's? My father tried to talk with me about it, very slightly, probably in 1967, when she would have been 66. After he died in '68, talk about sorrow, I took her back to Boston, her old home town, and that's when I knew, sad trip.
I'm now 74, so I have beaten the family clock by a smidge.

I studied a new language (italian, natch) for seven university extension quarters over a few years, starting in 1990. I loved every minute of that. Got to be pals with the teacher, who redmarked my tests cheerfully but I persisted; used to read - but translate would be more correct in terms of effort - italian magazines. So, in 1990 I was turning 50. It's well known (I think) that it's best to learn languages as a child, but... hey, to me it was a pleasure.

The teacher was great - she asked the class to lunch at a restaurant she liked; she taught us how to make fresh pasta while one student cooked fresh lobster in butter and the rest of us brought other stuff and we all ate out on that student's picnic table on their patio. This was our reward after taking the "final" test.

I could go on, but I'll shut up now. BUT, you're making me consider reviewing my old italy class notes... for a different reason than I studied in 1990.



Dale - I'm confused on what you are talking about. From my looking at your first link, it was about what you can find in aisles with on counter meds that will help with anxiety, etc. The second link didn't show.
You seem to be worried that somehow on counter meds can cause anxiety, and that wasn't what the links I read were saying.

EDIT - I see I didn't read far enough and didn't pay attention to dates.

I have advocated vitamins and herbs for years, but only on as needed basis. I rarely have taken high dosage vitamins for over a single bottle, before reevaluating my needs. A big problem is that many over the counter products are either too weak to work or don't even have any or much of the ingredient you think you are buying. Right now I am taking B complex, glucosamine chondroiten, saw palmetto, milk thistle and magnesium. Been eating a lot of oranges for vitamin C. In a month or two that list will likely be altered.

My knees need glucosamine chondroiten. That, along with soaking in MMS, keeps them working and pain free.

I have no experience with lots of the products mentioned on this thread.

I religiously have been eating Budwig's flax oil/2%cottage cheese mix for a time now. Over twenty years ago, I first did this and kept it up for about six or seven years. Listening to my body, I need it as an anti cancer/ aid against infarction.
https://www.cancertutor.com/make_budwig/

I eat pretty well, according to me. What I may need is vitamin D since I'm not running around outside as much as I used to; on the other hand I drink a fair amount of various milks that have added vitamin D - I'll take a D pill once in a while if I've gone on a milk furlough.

mmm, time to make some New England Clam chowder, since I have the milk at hand.

Rog about once a month I place 'em in 28 cups labeled by week day, taken yes just before 'fast

Aha! as my knees presently giving 'way too. So thanks, I'll try that: Will immediately copy link and email to my BH

Thanks for Buddwig link


Edited to remark thanks to everyone else for the valuable tips. My next job is to copy this entire add. to Word for future ref