What will happen if I skip taking my prescribed medicines for over a week?

I have severe Lupus Nephritis since 2003. I was prescribed by my doctors strong medications that (according to them) help control further spread of the disease in my system. The trouble is, in the next four years of treatment, my medications increased from a dozen to up to 43 different pills a day that were a combination of immuno-suppressants, anti-osteoporosis, anti-cholesterol, anti-diuretic and anti-hypertension. It's like 3/4 of them are there to counter the side effects of the prescribed suppressants. So what made me skip everything for a week now was because I began hating each one of them due to their bitterness. I'm at a loss so could anyone please tell me what to do? Your concern is highly appreciated.

Hi, I have Lupus, and autoimmune hepatitis, like you I take strong, meds, some with very unpleasent side effects, immunosuppresents, at times Ive been on IV chemo, I take liver meds, so many. For I think one month I just totally forgot my liver meds, I felt fine in that area. plus like you I was rather tired of popping so many pills in a day. It just gets tiring and the side effects can be horrendus. well my liver was going into failure, and at the same time I got cebritis of the brain. both together landed me on IV Chemo for almost 6 months.

If you or if you have already stopped taking your meds for the nephritis or any of the other things, your kidneys will totally shut down, and you will probablly need one of two things. Dyalisis, and or a transplant. also with Kidneys and Lupus, that really is what most lupus paitents die from if your not careful. Im going under the assumption that your on high doses of cellcept of the nephritis. Im on it right now for a flare, like you Im having some side effects, that I need to talk to my dr about. but the good news is you rebeled and only skipped 1 week. you can easily get everything back under control and start again.

I co-own an online support group for those with Lupus and similar diseases. we all hate what we deal with. but we all have to realize we didnt ask for this, we dont deserve it, but we have it, and this is our lives, we just have to cope with the cards given to us. I think what you did is rather naturaual. I think most of the people in my group have either done it, thought of it, or held back on taking a perscribed med at some point. Just because we get angry, sad, and miss what we were. But at some point we just accept what is. But with Lupus Nephritis, you have to be super careful. and though the pills and side effects stink. to live and get the nephritis under control, you have to take the medication for nopw at the perscribed dose. we have a memeber with nephritis, and she was put on a very high dose of cell cept, but it worked, and they are now lowering her dose slowly.

I hope this helps
Chris

That is a lot of pills, lol. Discuss your concerns with your main doctor that is overseeing you and ask him if all of them are necessary. I wouldn't stop them on your own because then you will be labeled as a "non-compliant" patient and doctors hate treating people that don't follow their instructions. I'm sure most doctors can sympathize with someone having to take that many pills and would try to reduce that amount if possible. Goodluck.

Goodness, you should most definitely call your doctor!!