How safe is long-term medication?

Q

I am a 35 years old female, weighing 70 kg. I’m suffering from Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis. I am taking treatment for the last six months. My pain has reduced by 5 per cent, but I am anxious about the side effects of the drugs prescribed. I want to know till how much time will my treatment continue and whether I can decrease the quantity of my medicines.

A

If you are already under the treatment with a rheumatologist, it would be highly advisable to directly talk to him/her about the issues raised. In general, for diseases that are chronic, for example diabetes, high blood pressure etc., medicines are given for a life-time to keep the disease under proper control. By doing so, the person does not get any side-effects of the disease. Moreover, those medicines that control diseases are highly safe and the treating doctor would know exactly how to ensure that there are no adverse effects, even in the long run. Same is the case with rheumatoid arthritis. But it is of utmost importance that you keep your appointments with the treating rheumatologist to ensure that all is well.

— Dr H.R. Madhuri, Consultant Rhumatologist

Q

I am an asthma patient for the last five years. Recently, my doctor asked me to get my lung number checked? What is that? Is it important to get it checked?

A

If a person is suffering from asthma and is continuously complaining of breathlessness, there is a lung capacity check. In colloquial terms, it is called ‘know your lung number’. The number is obtained from simple and inexpensive spirometry test or pulmonary test. Asthma is a long-term disease and has to be managed properly. There are many patients who stop taking inhalers once they feel better. This can be dangerous and will have side-effects. Spirometry measures airflow, by measuring how much air you exhale, and how quickly you exhale. It can evaluate a broad range of lung diseases. These measurements are called lung numbers.

— Dr Param Jyoti, Senior Consultant Pulmonologist