Judith's Story
"Medication safety isn’t just about avoiding mistakes,” Judith shared. “It’s about finding what works for your individual health and making sure the medications you take are truly helping you."
Judith was a vibrant woman who loved being busy with her family, traveling, teaching music, art, and playing in five swing and jazz bands. In July 2008, all of that changed.
Life as she knew it came to a halt when she began experiencing undiagnosed adverse reactions to medications.
For seven long years, Judith struggled through these debilitating reactions, searching for answers. Her condition left her exhausted and unable to enjoy the passion-filled life she once led. Determined to find out what was happening to her, Judith began researching with the guidance of a pharmacist. Together, they explored the possibility that she could be sensitive to her prescription medications. Their suspicions were confirmed after she consulted with her cardiologist. The atrial fibrillation attacks that were disrupting her life appeared to be caused by her body’s intolerance to certain medications.
With this revelation, Judith set out on a path of discovery. Through more research and collaboration with her healthcare team, she uncovered another critical piece of the puzzle— the negative effects of being on multiple medications at once. Judith realized that skipping regular medication reviews had compounded the issue, allowing harmful side effects and interactions to go undetected.
Over time, she worked with her healthcare team to make thoughtful changes. Her medications were gradually reduced to the bare minimum needed for her health. With each adjustment, Judith started to feel more like herself again. Her energy returned, and she reclaimed the lifestyle she loved.
Judith was a passionate advocate for safe medication use. Her experience taught her how important it is to stay informed, ask questions, and work closely with health care providers to regularly review medications. She believed in empowering others to take an active role in their care.
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