pharmaceutical companies

[Moabite]

Kind of like if they found a cure for cancer, they wouldn't let it out because they would be out of a job.

I don't trust them either. Just got to weigh the risks. I am very fond of placebos however!

 

[welsummerchicks]

You're serious? If a food REALLY cured cancer, the pharmaceutical companies would be overjoyed. They'd love it. They'd be having ticker tape parades in the street. It would be so much cheaper for them and they would make out like nobody's business. They could avoid all the testing and regulations. They'd be hysterical with joy. They'd be selling a SUPPLEMENT, which is absolutely unregulated. They'd be buying up farmland all over the third world and buying shipping companies to truck it in to the US. They'd sell it at a far lower rate than medication so they could sell it to absolutely EVERYONE, to heck with prescriptions and doctors, get rid of the middle man and speed up the supply chain. They'd be the happiest company in the world.

But tell me a food that can reprogram a lung or a bladder cell's DNA after it's been digested into carbohydrates, sugar, fat and protein molecules, and we'll have that magic food.

It appears that conspiracy theories are popular. I think they have a rather thin basis, and rely on oversimplification and well - a number of unvarnished lies and distortions. And are designed to frighten people into....joining various isolating groups or purchasing various products....or spending a lot of time on certain websites and donating to various causes, or the like. Instead of getting them involved in bettering the problem.

Why anyone trusts 'them' (conspiracy theorists) more than 'them' (established big pharm etc) is beyond me. The people pushing the conspiracies have just as much if not far, far more motivation of greed and power.

Few people seem to realize that most boards of directors of medical organizations - hospitals, pharmaceutical companies - are required to have a 'citizen member' or two who is not a part of the industries involved. This includes drug testing companies and pharmaceutical companies. If you so dislike what they do get on their boards or committees and say your piece and change something. Most companies people complain endlessly about have ample provisions for citizen participation as required by law, charter or treaty - yet very few people do anything. They prefer to complain, and listen to conspiracy theories. Much, much easier than participating in a solution.

The most commonly prescribed two drugs in the US are pain medications, and antihyperlipidemic drugs. This includes both doctor visits and hospital outpatient visits. The commonest emergency visit prescriptions are pain killers and antihistamines.

In children, the commonest drugs prescribed are antibiotics and allergy medications and bronchodilators. In adults 20-58, painkillers, cholesterol lowering drugs, and antidepressants. In older adults, high blood pressure medication, heart disease medications, and cholesterol lowering drugs.

The only place where i can see a lot of room for improvement is in prescriptions for teens (wide use of ADHD and antidepressants need rethinking, but use of bronchodilators? probably not as much). Adults might try to find other ways to deal with situational depression, but not the longer term more chronic forms that don't respond to home remedies and cheerful thoughts. Adults might find other ways to manage pain....MAYBE. Insurance companies tend to want to avoid surgeries that might permanently improve painful conditions - to save money. They put pressure on adults to manage pain with medication instead of getting surgery that might alleviate pressure on a nerve.

Wanna be healthy?

Almost all the leading causes of death in the US, are largely a result of lifestyle issues.

So, for health, low fat diet, forget the ciggies and the alcohol, exercise, and stay thin. Avoid exposure to lead, asbestos, and crossing outside the crosswalk. Eat a lot of vegetables and fruit. Use stress reduction and find ways to deal with life's stresses. Fix stairs, railings and the brakes on your car. Don't drink and drive, or flip tractors or fall into wood chippers. Get an annual checkup. When a health problem occurs, see if it's possible to use physical therapy or a lifestyle change to treat it. When these things don't work and a problem occurs that is best treated with medication, take the drugs you need, according to the directions, and communicate with your doctor about any issues or other supplements you take.

 

[MandyH]

I have never taken medication before in my life until last year. I am currently on two, for bipolor disorder. The side effects of these drugs is often harsh, but a divorce would be even worse LOL. On a lighter note, Viagra was "accidently" discovered while trying to make a new heart pill. An erection was a side effect.

 

[Moabite]

For the record, I don't buy the conspiracy theories. But there is a reason they call it "practicing medicine".

 

[bakerjw]

I am of the opinion that a lot of medicines are marketed based on the side effects. Rogain was a medicine that caused hair to grow on people taking it. They finally figured out that it could grow hair in specific areas if applied topically. Viagra has already been mentioned. Of course those are popular because people don't like being bald and of course we now why for Viagra. Now there is a medicine for dry eyes. I'd be willing to bet that it was being developed for the treatment of some other malady when they discovered that it increased tear production. Of course what market is there for tear reduction? Those with dry eyes. Turn loose the marketing department and you now have an ad campaign to sell a drug that was probably ineffective for treating the original malady.

 

[booker81]

One of my favorite things is the the combination of medications I use, as prescribed, under close surpervision of my doctors - the neat reaction/interaction between SSRIs and the serotonin release of taking both Zoloft and Ultram. Combined, they are extremely effective for pain relief, much better than either one alone. They allow me to take less pain medication, and I'm much happier and capable of doing most tasks.

However, they carry the risk of seizures and other health concerns. I know this. My doctors know this.

I'd rather be functional most of the time and run that risk, than non functional, all the time and never be able to do much of anything.

My disorder is genetic, degenerative, and permanent, but I'm ok with that, as long as I'm allow the tools to combat it. As much as possible, I follow what WC said, right on down to the regular 3 month appointments with my doctor to make sure all systems are ticking along as well as possible. Keeping good weight, exercise as tolerated, and good diet are important to make sure I don't speed up the downhill trend

 

[redhen]

**redhen passes out the tinfoil hats to everyone involved in this thread...**

 

[mom'sfolly]

Hey, redhen, I just said it was a cool new conspiracy theory. I don't need no stinkin' tinfoil!!!!!!

 

[redhen]

mom'sfolly :

Hey, redhen, I just said it was a cool new conspiracy theory. I don't need no stinkin' tinfoil!!!!!!

LOL.. well..just take one anyways..i spent all day making them!

 

[sourland]

No, it's not a conspiracy. Foreign substances introduced into the body can cause different reactions depending upon the individuals metabolism. Just got done taking Clindamycin for an abscessed tooth. The list of "possible" side effects scared the crap out of me, but I was in big time pain. The antibiotic worked, I had no adverse reactions to it, and today I had my root canal. Prior to the antibiotic, the pain was off the charts. It's all a matter of weighing potential good against possible risk.