Most people think of palliative care as something that happens at the very end of life.
I used to think that too… until I saw what it really looks like.
For seven years, I worked as a consultant pharmacist in nursing homes in Florida. I reviewed charts, adjusted medications, and sat in on care discussions for people who were truly at the end of life. That’s where I first understood what palliative care is meant to do… not cure, but comfort.
But here’s what I want you to know:
You don’t have to be dying to deserve that same level of care.
I’ve spent over 30 years as a pharmacist. I’ve worked in retail, answered thousands of questions across the counter, and walked alongside people who were struggling in ways no lab test could fully explain. I’ve also had loved ones who were sick for years. And what I see again and again is this…
People are told:
“Your labs look fine.”
“There’s nothing more we can do.”
“Just live with it.”
But living with it… shouldn’t mean suffering through it.
What Palliative Care Really Means
At its core, palliative care is about one thing: improving your quality of life.
- Not curing the disease.
- Not chasing perfect labs.
- Not pushing stronger and stronger treatments.
- Just asking how can we help you feel better today?
That might mean: Less pain, better sleep, calmer nerves, fewer side effects, more good hours in your day, more energy, and even wanting to be social again. And honestly, that mindset belongs much earlier in the journey than most people realize. 
When You’re Not Getting Better… But You Still Want to Feel Better
This is the space so many people live in: Not in crisis, but not well either.
Maybe it’s chronic pain that flares for no clear reason, exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix, anxiety that feels physical, not just emotional, or a body that just doesn’t bounce back the way it used to. Sometimes it’s an inability to do things you once took for granted — going for a walk, getting into the bathtub, bending, or even standing too long.
This is where a palliative approach can quietly change everything.
Instead of asking, “What’s the diagnosis?” We start asking, “What’s bothering you the most… and how can we ease that?”
If you’re unfamiliar with palliative care, the nonprofit GetPalliativeCare.org offers a clear, compassionate explanation of what it is and who it helps.
Medications That Support Comfort (Not Just Cure)
As a pharmacist, I’ve seen how the right medication — used thoughtfully — can improve someone’s day in a very real way. Not aggressively. Not excessively. Just strategically.
I remember one woman who came to the counter week after week. She wasn’t there for anything dramatic. She just looked worn down. She told me her doctor had ruled out everything, but she still had burning pain in her legs at night. It kept her from sleeping, which made her exhausted, which made everything else harder. She wasn’t asking for a cure. She just wanted a good night’s sleep.
Her physician eventually prescribed a very low dose of gabapentin. Nothing high, nothing aggressive. When I saw her again a couple weeks later, she smiled before she even reached the counter. She said, “I slept. Not perfectly… but I slept.” That one change didn’t cure her condition, but it gave her back evenings, mornings, and a little bit of her personality. That’s what comfort-focused care can look like.
Sometimes it’s medications like gabapentin or pregabalin calming irritated nerves. Other times, it’s a tiny dose of amitriptyline or nortriptyline — not for depression, but to help with sleep, headaches, or pain modulation. I also think about people who feel restless in their own bodies, the kind of discomfort that makes you want to move constantly. That can sometimes be medication-induced akathisia, something I’ve written about before in my article (Akathisias Make You Want to Jump Out of Your Skin.) In those cases, recognizing the cause and adjusting medications — or adding calming nutrients like magnesium, L-theanine, or even low-dose beta blockers when appropriate — can make an enormous difference.
I’ve also seen people who feel “wired but tired” — physically anxious, but not emotionally worried. Their heart races, muscles tighten, and sleep becomes fragmented. In those cases, options like buspirone or hydroxyzine can take the edge off without heavy sedation or dependence. Gentle herbs like lemon balm, passionflower, magnesium glycinate, or blends designed for calming the nervous system may also help.
If this sounds familiar, I’ve shared some surprising triggers in another article, “7 Common but Strange Reasons for Insomnia,” because sometimes sleep disruption has roots we don’t immediately recognize.
And sometimes the smartest approach isn’t another pill at all. Topical therapies like lidocaine patches or diclofenac gel can provide localized relief — a shoulder, a knee, a low back — without affecting the entire body. I often combine this with non-drug strategies like curcumin, boswellia, omega-3s, or gentle movement. I wrote more about these options in my other article: 7 Natural Alternatives to Drugs to Relieve Joint Pain Fast,” because joint discomfort is one of the most common reasons people quietly suffer when they don’t have to.
These aren’t cures. But they can make daily life more manageable. And when someone finally says, “I feel a little more like myself,” that’s often the moment when comfort becomes just as important as cure.
Don’t Forget the “Drug Mugger” Effect
Here’s something I’ve taught for years…
Many medications quietly deplete nutrients your body needs to feel well.
Some lower magnesium, affecting muscle relaxation and sleep. Others impact B vitamins, which are critical for nerve health and energy. When I take a palliative approach, I often look at restoring what the body may be losing — sometimes with simple things like magnesium, mitochondrial nutrients, or gentle greens to support overall resilience.
So part of comfort-based care is asking:
What might this medication be taking from me… and how do I replenish that gently? Basically, how do I put back what drug muggers stole?
Small Shifts That Make a Big Difference
You don’t always need a major overhaul. Sometimes it’s adjusting the timing of a medication, lowering a dose instead of increasing it, adding a simple nutrient back in, or addressing sleep as a priority instead of an afterthought. I’ve seen people go from barely getting through the day… to saying, “I feel more like myself again.”
And that matters. 
A More Compassionate Way Forward
If you take one thing from this, let it be this:
You are allowed to feel better… even if your condition isn’t “fixable.”
Comfort is not a last resort.
It’s not giving up.
It’s not settling.
It’s good medicine. And sometimes, it’s the kind of care that helps you get your life back… one small improvement at a time. If this resonates with you, you’re not alone. I’ve seen this pattern for decades… and there is almost always something we can do to improve how you feel.
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Suzy Cohen, RPh, has been a licensed pharmacist for over 30 years, blending conventional medicine with natural approaches to help people feel better and live healthier. She is the founder of Script Essentials, a supplement company known for targeted, custom-formulated products, some with patented innovations.
With a special focus on thyroid health, functional medicine, and drug-induced nutrient depletion (what she calls “drug muggers”), Suzy is the author of several books including Thyroid Healthy, Drug Muggers, and Diabetes Without Drugs. She also writes a nationally syndicated health column and shares practical, easy-to-understand guidance with readers around the world.
