What is the most interesting medication you've ever taken?

Sarai

Okay, so we've probably all taken pain killers, we've probably all taken stuff for upper respiratory tract infections/sinus infections, and more than likely something to either cure or alleviate a runny tummy.

So what have you taken that was particular interesting or had a really weird side-effect? Any entertaining pharmacological names?

A friend of mine gave me a tablet of orphenadrine today because my back was in spasm, and within about 20 minutes I was so happy I was bordering on acting crazy - which is apparently a known side effect. I've also taken Seroquel once which I found to be somewhat hallucinogenic and found walking down the passage to the bedroom an entertaining experience because the walls were "all wobbly and stuff".

You guys?

Kate Monster

Morphine: Hours pass like minutes, the walls pulse like waves, and while you feel the pain - it seems far away and inconsequential.
Antihistamines (Benadryl): I sleep through entire days (thanks to Loratadine - allergies are averted without a coma).
Muscle Relaxant: Could not move, function or stay awake even at low doses. (Mr. MacRoss needed to carry me around the house.)
One of my chemotherapy drugs (don't know which it was): turned my pee bright red (like red food coloring, not like blood).

Nuri

Yay Loratadine!

My most interesting was definitely Percocet. I had them when I had Mono. The doc's orders were one or two, and I usually took one. Once, the pain was really bad and I took two...I was scared I was going to die, because I felt like my consciousness was separating from my body. Total out-of-body experience, and I hated every moment. Couldn't make my body do anything.

Victor Frost

I hardly ever take any sort of medication, but when I do, here are the effects.

Antihistamines: They keep me up all night. I keep tossing and turning.
Oxycodine: I took it once, ONCE, and I dreamed purple elephants.

Sarai

Morphine: Hours pass like minutes, the walls pulse like waves, and while you feel the pain - it seems far away and inconsequential.
One of my chemotherapy drugs (don't know which it was): turned my pee bright red (like red food coloring, not like blood).

Morphine - I've heard only good things about it. Chemo drugs - would you be willing to share the diagnosis? I know it's a personal question but I'll venture it anyway and you're welcome to ignore it. All I can say is they must have made you sicker than pretty much anything else on earth.

Oxycodine: I took it once, ONCE, and I dreamed purple elephants.

Purple elephants! Were they jumping up and down on a trampoline? Sounds like fun actually.

gomidog

Chemo drugs - would you be willing to share the diagnosis?

I'll let Mrs. Macross give you the specifics, but don't worry. She is strong and healthy now.

Kate Monster

Chemo drugs - would you be willing to share the diagnosis?

I'll let Mrs. Macross give you the specifics, but don't worry. She is strong and healthy now.

Emily is right, I am in full remission right now. I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and secondary lymphoma when I was 18. I was treated with surgery and chemo and the cancer went into remission. Last year more cancerous tumors were found in my skin and some lymph nodes had cancerous cells, so minor surgery and a lesser chemo regime was prescribed and I am once again cancer free.
Chemo literally kills you and has a host of side effects (including massive fatigue, nausea, vomiting, other digestion issues, loss of appetite, hair loss, tooth loss, collapsed veins if taken intravenously, inability to heal even minor wounds, inability to fight any infections, headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, sleep disorders, sterility, etc.). It is also a difficult psychological state - you may have cancer but still feel fine so putting yourself through treatment that will slowly kills you in order to keep from dying feels like living a paradox. While the treatment is horrible, the weakened immune system that follows it is also pretty awful - getting sick often, violently, and for longer periods of time is really draining. It seems like you will always be sick until one day you wake up and you realize that you haven't been sick in two weeks and you feel like you could complete a full workout with out taking rest breaks. It restructures your relationship with your body and makes obsessing about cosmetic concerns seem ridiculous.
Despite this, I would always prefer the side effects of chemo to the side effects of radiation.

Apreche

NyQuil.

Sarai

Emily is right, I am in full remission right now. I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and secondary lymphoma when I was 18. I was treated with surgery and chemo and the cancer went into remission. Last year more cancerous tumors were found in my skin and some lymph nodes had cancerous cells, so minor surgery and a lesser chemo regime was prescribed and I am once again cancer free.

I'm glad to hear it - having any kind of cancer is a rough road to go down, and while I wouldn't wish it upon you, I'll bet it's toughened you up some. Can't imagine what that must have been like at 18 though.. I wouldn't have the mental fortitude to deal with it. Although I did once meet a little girl of 10 who had a nephroblastoma (congenital kidney tumor) and she was exceptionally tough - she actually told me to pull myself together!

Also my dad died of lymphoma, but it was HIV/AIDS related. He had to go through first round chemo when I was in high school - not pleasant. Then again, neither was he.

It restructures your relationship with your body and makes obsessing about cosmetic concerns seem ridiculous.
Despite this, I would always prefer the side effects of chemo to the side effects of radiation.

Interesting that you say that - does it irriate you that other people fuss over trivial cosmetic concerns? It would irritate the hell out of me! Hell - it already irritates the hell out of me!

Still, back to weird medicines, I've remembered two more:

Flagyl - yeeshck! Had a glass of wine on Flagyl and got sick as a dog - only to find out that it is given to alcoholics as Antabuse
All sort of benzodiazepines: diazepam (Valium) intravenously - loved the feeling, it was like being swept away by a calm sea wave; bromazepam, clonazepam, oxazepam... all nowhere near the IV diazepam!

Kate Monster

@ Sarai: As for being tough enough to get through it- what other choice does anyone have? Even at 18, I think you would be surprised how much you could have handled if you had to.
As for other people fretting about cosmetic concerns, it doesn't annoy me as much as make me laugh. The only thing that really bothers me is when people put their health at risk for the sake of cosmetic concerns (tanning, unhealthy dieting, cosmetic surgeries and the like).

Mmmm... Valium. I only took it once (in pill form, not intravenously), but it was very pleasant.

YoshoKatana

Vicodin on an empty stomach was probably the second worst feeling I've ever had. Collapsing in a heap + vomiting violently is not fun. On the other hand, for the next week I was on a cloud.

Also, Robotussen (DXM / cough only) doesn't seem to work for me. I've taken it at doses from normal to 240 mg, and it has never helped my cough. It feels very strange, though, at higher doses. Happiness + wakefulness + "motion induced euphoria" + dance party = a fun night. I was mentally unaffected (besides the happiness), so I could carry on a conversation and such. It was mostly a feeling of contentment and happiness when I moved. Elevators were awesome.

ninjarabbi

Vicodin on an empty stomach was probably the second worst feeling I've ever had. Collapsing in a heap + vomiting violently is not fun. On the other hand, for the next week I was on a cloud.

When I had my wisdom teeth out I had to take a Vicodin-ibuprofen combination pill and had strange side effects. I had a pretty bad experience with the pain, since it took to long for it to go away, and my mouth kept bleeding. In the middle of the night when I was rinsing the blood out of my mouth, and all of a sudden it was like the ground was shaking. I stumbled back to bed and it got worse. The world and sounds seemed to be pulsing with my heart-beat. I was starring at the door and it seemed to be opening and closing in pulsing slow motion even though it was shut. Everything just seemed weird. I think it was a combination of the blood loss, the Vicodin, and the remnants of the gas they used to knock me out with.

chaosof99

I've never really had any medication which had me psychotic but once as a kid I was sick enough that I was semi-delirious. I was lying on the couch under a blanket and it felt like I was being crush by a monster truck tire.

However, also as a kid I was once under the flu. We had medication as liquid to put drops into a glass of water and drink all of it together. My grandma was giving me the medication and overdosed which ended up paralyzing my tongue. It was pretty embarrassing sitting in the waiting room of the doctors office with my tongue sticking out of my mouth unable to control it. The doctor injected another medication into the tongue which lifted the paralysis.

Vhdblood

When I had shoulder surgery, I had Lortab-10's. Oh my god. I tripped out on those things, but it seemed to be completely at random. Sometimes I took one and nothing happened except for mild pain relief, and sometimes I got way out there and could barely think correctly. All of my friends remember it because I refereed a flag football game and I had to take on in the middle for shoulder pain. I would move the first down and line of scrimmage every down, no matter the progress, I would call incorrect fouls, etc. It felt really good though.

Also, Ambien. Jesus, I can't think or walk when I take one. I had never had one before and took a whole one, then sat down at the computer. I got up 30 minutes later and hit the floor. I had to balance myself as I got up and stumbled around, eventually making it to the bathroom to pee. I take halves now if I really need one.

Erwin

I went to Macchu Picchu back when I was 14, I guess I have 6 more places to go.

Funfetus

I suppose I should be grateful that I don't have any interesting stories to tell regarding prescription medications, pain-killers, etc.

Closest I've got is that a few year ago, I had a period where I was having a LOT of trouble sleeping. I mentioned it to an ex-girlfriend of mine. She had been hit by a car while crossing the street and spent three weeks in ICU and nearly died. She had some percocet left over after her recovery, and gave me one. She told me to take half. I did, and I slept for 11 hours and was still tired when I woke up.

Also, when I was 14 or so, I took two benadryls for something or other, and basically fell asleep during dinner. I dropped my fork twice trying to get green beans into my mouth before my mom sent me to bed.

Victor Frost

Oxycodine: I took it once, ONCE, and I dreamed purple elephants.

Purple elephants! Were they jumping up and down on a trampoline? Sounds like fun actually.

No, trampolines were not involved. The dream was very slow and very "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."

Dkong

On the other hand, for the next week I was on a cloud.

Is it fair to assume you took pills on those days that week? Otherwise, one pill ain't gonna give you effects for a week...

Uh...anyways, as for me, uh, Tylenol?...Thus far in my 18 years of life I've never been prescribed (or purchased illegally) any prescription meds that would lead to anything "interesting".

Geo

In the early days when I was trying to find a medicine to help me with my ADD, It was Ritalin or some other medicine I don't remember. The interesting thing about this medicine was it's side-effects. At random points in time after I took the medicine (it was a liquid by the way), I would suddenly lose all conciousness and turn as pale as a ghost. When I awoke, I was in a freezing cold sweat and everything was all black, until my equilibrium returned to my mind and I got better. I lasted on that medicine for about three weeks.

Luke Burrage

In my first year at university I suffered from insomnia. My father sent me some special pills. I took two and slept like a log. Unfortunately the fire alarms went off in the halls of residence and I slept right through. The security guards found me when checking the building and also had trouble waking me. They were a bit pissed off with me.

Kilarney

Antihistamines (Benadryl): I sleep through entire days (thanks to Loratadine - allergies are averted without a coma).

Loratadine is a tricyclic antihistamine. For those of us who have an intolerance to antihistamines, it's no better than Benadryl. Singulair is the saving grace.

Kate Monster

Antihistamines (Benadryl): I sleep through entire days (thanks to Loratadine - allergies are averted without a coma).

Loratadine is a tricyclic antihistamine. For those of us who have an intolerance to antihistamines, it's no better than Benadryl. Singulair is the saving grace.

It doesn't put me to sleep like diphenhydramine (the antihistamine medication in Benadryl).

Erwin

I went to Macchu Picchu back when I was 14, I guess I have 6 more places to go.

Edit: Sorry after my biotechnology test my brain was fried so instead of medication I read vacation :S

Sarai

I went to Macchu Picchu back when I was 14, I guess I have 6 more places to go.

Edit: Sorry after my biotechnology test my brain was fried so instead of medication I read vacation :S

Ha ha ha! It's all good, but it was confusing, so thanks for coming back to clarify! You're the second person I know who has been there though.

At random points in time after I took the medicine (it was a liquid by the way), I would suddenly lose all conciousness and turn as pale as a ghost. When I awoke, I was in a freezing cold sweat and everything was all black, until my equilibrium returned to my mind and I got better

That's so weird... that would have freaked me the hell out! Did you pass out as in fall on the floor or did you just go into a trance-like state? Sounds suspiciously like the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous systems were involved there, but I'm too lazy to go back to the textbooks :X Erwin?

In my first year at university I suffered from insomnia. My father sent me some special pills. I took two and slept like a log. Unfortunately the fire alarms went off in the halls of residence and I slept right through. The security guards found me when checking the building and also had trouble waking me. They were a bit pissed off with me.

LOL - better, though, than being in a para-awake state and wandering out in your underwear or something, I guess.

Geo

At random points in time after I took the medicine (it was a liquid by the way), I would suddenly lose all conciousness and turn as pale as a ghost. When I awoke, I was in a freezing cold sweat and everything was all black, until my equilibrium returned to my mind and I got better

That's so weird... that would have freaked me the hell out! Did you pass out as in fall on the floor or did you just go into a trance-like state? Sounds suspiciously like the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous systems were involved there, but I'm too lazy to go back to the textbooks :X Erwin? The medicine is called Ristadol or something like that, but I'm not entirely sure. That was what my mother told me when I asked.

Luke Burrage

In my first year at university I suffered from insomnia. My father sent me some special pills. I took two and slept like a log. Unfortunately the fire alarms went off in the halls of residence and I slept right through. The security guards found me when checking the building and also had trouble waking me. They were a bit pissed off with me.

LOL - better, though, than being in a para-awake state and wandering out in your underwear or something, I guess.

Oh no, I've done plenty of that too.

HungryJoe

Does Absinthe count? How about Laudanum? Laudanum will fuck you up.

I had a doc give me John the Conqueroo and a black cat bone, but it didn't affect me in the least.

Alan

Prednisone
Vicodin ES
fluticasone/salmeterol
Desonide

Wyatt

I'd have to say getting a rabies vaccine was the most interesting. I was working for the DEC in Wildlife Pathology doing animal necropsy.

Geo

I'd have to say getting a rabies vaccine was the most interesting. I was working for the DEC in Wildlife Pathology doing animal necropsy.

Did you actually have rabies or were you using it in your studies?

Sarai

I'd have to say getting a rabies vaccine was the most interesting. I was working for the DEC in Wildlife Pathology doing animal necropsy.

Animal Necropsy... wow - must admit I have never come into contact with anyone who does anything remotely similar. Did they jab you in the tummy?

Does Absinthe count? How about Laudanum? Laudanum will fuck you up.

I will be having my first Absinthe experience shortly and will report back on that one... it all depends on the positive associated health benefits, of which I'm fairly certain could be found, with enough research!

And yes, Laudanum counts!