I think it's more that in the UK, you are brought up with the NHS approach to medication which is either "you need it, so here's the prescription for it, go and take it, no questions asked" or you don't need it, so no prescription. If you have it on script, you take it, end of story. There's no in-between.
I know here, I have 3 script for the same drug but in different doses. It's a blood pressure medication. I'm usually on the 160mg tablet. Have been since Easter. Prior to that it was the 40mg tablet. Since December though I've been having dizzy spells, so it's now back down at 80mg. In the UK, all of that, at each time it changed would have needed a separate doctor's appointment and the old script cancelled and a new one issued. I'd be expected to take which ever dose I'm prescribed without questioning it. Here, if I'm having dizzy fits, and take my BP at home and find it low or lower than my body can cope with, I can just decide which tablet I need to take, if I even take one that day, and change to the dosage that suits me better right now. I can swap and change on a daily basis if needed. My doctor just asks that next time I see them, I let them know what dose is currently working. Right now, that's the 80mg tablet instead of the 160mg.
That level of patient control isn't permitted in the UK (unless you have a really good rural doctor who is understanding and knows that you know what you're doing.) In the UK, the mentality is that you're the patient and you don't know what your doing.
So it's hard to understand that you have "medication you might not need to take".
Umm no not quite. I agree with some of that but some of it is a little out of date.
It is true that if you need a prescription (unless it's a sporadic problem) then you need it and should take it.
It is true, medication compliance is valued.
This is mostly due to patients deciding a drug doesn't work and just stopping taking it for no good reason and then us having to watch for example diabetes rob them of their vision/kidney function/limbs etc etc.
As for patients not knowing what they are doing and not being allowed control that's really not the full story.
The old school "do as you're told" medical staff mostly retired and the new wave are not the same. It is far more a collaborative approach which very much depends on the patient in front of you as to whether you think they will alter their dose in a sensible manner.
If a patient does alter their doses long term without consultation there can be consequences, unless you are an expert in that field or it is a simple adjustment it is always sensible to consult medical staff.
For example a common one is people feeling better on half a dose of BP medication but they often also ignore the fact their blood pressure is too high, they don't comprehend the consequences of stroke or heart attack until it's happened, by which time it is too late.
It really is best for the majority to have some guidance on this.
Patients also have a habit of believing anything Dr Google tells them that supports what they want to hear.
They also like to experiment on themselves with other treatments because holistic therapies are somehow rated in a way good hard cold science isn't. As a lot of medication comes from natural sources they can easily overdose themselves or interfere with the efficacy of a medication.
I've had to assess literally 1000's of people over the years I can assure you the crazy medical theories and odd reasoning for increasing/decreasing or stopping meds far far outweighs the occasional sensible person who walks through the door.
So you have to cut a little slack for a medical profession who see's reams of non-compliant people damaging themselves on a daily basis for being sceptical when someone who does actually fully understand their own medication needs walks through the door.
Plus I regularly had patients come in who control their own doses of meds for BP, diabetes, warfarin and all manner of other important things. It really depends on the individual.
Mr SSOAP was warfarin for a while, they knew he was sensible and let him adjust his dose, it wasn't a fight to do that, it was suggested.
I suppose my take away message would be unless you are an expert in your own ailments (and many long term chronic disease sufferers are) and you understand how to interpret medical research from legitimate peer reviewed resources then just make an appointment to see someone who has dedicated time and energy gaining the knowledge to help.
In the UK it's free, and people can always ignore the advice they are given, it's beyond doubt always best to seek that advice first.
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