Medication

The most important things to remember when thinking about any sort of medication are the following points.

Never take anyone elses medication even if they tell you it’s helped them. Also don’t lend your medication to other people.
Always speak to your GP or Health Professional before starting, stopping or changing any medication.
Don’t believe everything you see on social media about ‘cures’
Everyones bodies are different. What works for one person may not work for someone else.
Self medicating including non-prescription cannabis, can be dangerous and interact with other medication you may be on.
If you are on any sort of medication, ‘think before you drink’ (alcohol)

Medication can help young people manage a wide range of health conditions, including physical illnesses, mental health conditions, allergies, infections, and long-term medical conditions. Doctors may prescribe medication to reduce symptoms, prevent complications, or improve a young person’s quality of life. For example, someone with asthma may use an inhaler to help them breathe more easily, while a young person with diabetes may need insulin to control their blood sugar levels.

Some young people may also take medication to support their mental health, such as treatment for anxiety, depression, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Medication is usually prescribed after careful assessment by a healthcare professional and is often used alongside other forms of support, such as counselling, therapy, healthy lifestyle changes, or educational support. It is important that young people understand why they are taking medication and feel comfortable asking questions about how it works and any possible side effects.

How can your pharmacist help?

Your pharmacist is there to help you get the most out of your medication and answer any questions you might have. They can explain what your medication is for, how to take it safely, and what side effects to look out for. If something doesn’t feel right or you’re worried about taking your medication, your pharmacist is a great person to talk to. There’s no such thing as a silly question, and they’ll always try to explain things in a way that makes sense to you.

Pharmacists can also help if you forget to take your medication, find it difficult to remember doses, or want advice about taking medicines alongside vitamins or other treatments. You don’t always need an appointment to speak to a pharmacist, and many can be found in local pharmacies on the high street. They are part of your healthcare team and can help you feel more confident and in control of managing your health.

Lucy says…

Some people may find that pain medication is helpful at times. Some may be on it regularly, others may use it if/when it is required, some may use it to help manage flares and some may use it very minimally. Some people may pick and choose when they use it depending on the activities they’re doing and how they are feeling. This is a personal choice.

There are many different types of pain medication, some of which can be brought over the counter and others can be collected from a pharmacy via a prescription. Sometimes if side effects are particularly bad or you feel you are taking lots of medication some people may find it useful to look at alternative ways to manage the pain, some of which will be detailed in the ‘non-medical pain relief’ section below. Others may try these things first before taking the medication. Again, this is a personal choice.

Some people may find that they struggle to find any relief from pain medication and the strength keeps going up to the point they do not feel like themselves at all and/or are still in lots of pain, many people with EDS/HSD often require other management skills alongside the medication. Some of which are detailed in this page and the self-management page of the website. Pain clinics/management programmes may be helpful. Having a greater understanding of pain may also be helpful which can be found under the ‘what is EDS/HSD’ ‘pain’ section of this website.

Top tips

It is best to seek advice from a Health Care professional/Doctor and/or your pharmacist before taking any medication and if experiencing side effects.
It can be helpful for some to start with a small dose.
It can be helpful to notice whether the pain reduction while taking the medication outweighs any side effects you/your young person may be experiencing.
Some feel that medication coupled with other skills/management techniques is helpful.
It is often advised that people with EDS/HSD attend a pain clinic/pain management programme especially if their pain is drastically affecting their quality of life. There are ones which are funded by the NHS. Find more information about this in the section titled ‘pain management programmes’ earlier on this page.