I am beginning to see "side effects" as "warning"

Paco Dennis

Paco Dennis

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Location
Mid-Missouri
I have developed some kind of neurological problem that is going to take a while to diagnose. The Doctor wanted to put me on "X". I bought the stuff and began to research it's side effects. This stuff would probable react with the medication I am on, plus increase the risk of serious problems. I was thinking that years ago I bought OTC medications and didn't have serious side effects, and even prescription meds were far and few. I wonder is this a condition of post modern medicine/industry and/or is it when we age we can't metabolize as well.?
 

That's an interesting question. I usually leave it up to my doctor about what mixture of meds he gives me. Most of the listed side effects are presented as "possible but rare." Of course, "rare" doesn't mean you won't be that one rare person that has the negative side effects. I haven't heard that the FDA has become less stringent, except of course in the recent pandemic emergency, but I haven't heard that they intend to make that a normal practice. And even then, the drugs used did have to undergo a far more serious study than the everyday crap we buy at the grocery store and put into our bodies without any thought at all.

But there's always the chance that a pharmaceutical company will slide one by, I suppose. It's happened before. I trust my doctor. I don't give him a blank check, but I'm pretty sure he knows more than I do.
 
check with a pharmacist they are focused on drugs and possible interactions.......... and have saved many complications as doctors keep up with treatments but not necessarily the dig deep on drugs......
some OTC items used to be by prescription and FDA approved to move to no prescription needed....

The FDA has shown its true colors and approve on companies own word or fuzzy studies ........
half the time just look at all the drugs they approved and in short time pull ...... the ambulance chaser commercials really point out not only drugs but medical devices as well...
 

Jeni said:
check with a pharmacist they are focused on drugs and possible interactions.......... and have saved many complications as doctors keep up with treatments but not necessarily the dig deep on drugs......
some OTC items used to be by prescription and FDA approved to move to no prescription needed....

The FDA has shown its true colors and approve on companies own word or fuzzy studies ........
half the time just look at all the drugs they approved and in short time pull ...... the ambulance chaser commercials really point out not only drugs but medical devices as well...
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Yes, check with the pharmacist. We have had excellent talks with ours. This dilemma has got me wondering about "alternative" ways to help us in our waning years. I am new to this, and really do not want to go the pharmacy way. There are lots of alternatives out there...for almost any condition. There are so many choices and I don't have very much money to experiment. It is such a new world with way too many options it seems.
 
The drug industry has "profits" as one of it's highest priorities. As such, this industry often "rewards" doctors for the prescriptions they write. Fortunately, there are several web sites that list the side effects and potential harm that these drugs can do. They may cure problem A, but leave a person with problems B and C. Whenever a doctor suggests a drug, it is Very Wise for the patient to do their own research, and question any potential interactions that such a drug might pose.
 
I very much agree with your statement Don, but I would rewrite it as "The drug industry has "profits as It's highest priority", and the effect of huge sum's of corporate money in government has made that goal considerably easier for them, and worse for us as individuals and a country. Choosing the right doctor is paramount, I recently changed mine, and feel much better about the quality of my care. I have always believed the less prescription drugs you can take, the better off you will be. Not to say that drugs can't be necessary, or helpful for some people with certain conditions, but overall the less the better.
 
These "Ask Your Doctor" TV ads cost well over 6.5 Billion per year. Anyone taking a drug they see being advertised on TV should be happy to know that they are helping pay for these ads. The Only nations which allow this "propaganda" are the U.S. and New Zealand....most other nations have banned this nonsense.

If our leaders were really Serious about reducing health care costs, banning these ads would be a good place to start. However, given that the drug companies are among the most generous political Campaign Donors, we probably shouldn't expect any progress in this area.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/drug-commercials-like-prescription-costs-rise
 
Don M. said:
These "Ask Your Doctor" TV ads cost well over 6.5 Billion per year. Anyone taking a drug they see being advertised on TV should be happy to know that they are helping pay for these ads. The Only nations which allow this "propaganda" are the U.S. and New Zealand....most other nations have banned this nonsense.

If our leaders were really Serious about reducing health care costs, banning these ads would be a good place to start. However, given that the drug companies are among the most generous political Campaign Donors, we probably shouldn't expect any progress in this area.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/drug-commercials-like-prescription-costs-rise
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I agree ....
I had a doctor that was livid every time a customer came in asking for medications from TV
even though they would not be a good choice for their condition.... He just started each visit with before you ask.... i picked treatments based on proven records not ads and jingles so if you are shopping ... go find another doctor too.
 
Jeni said:
I agree ....
I had a doctor that was livid every time a customer came in asking for medications from TV
even though they would not be a good choice for their condition.... He just started each visit with before you ask.... i picked treatments based on proven records not ads and jingles so if you are shopping ... go find another doctor too.
Click to expand...
Now THAT sounds like a good doctor!!!
 
Don M. said:
The drug industry has "profits" as one of it's highest priorities. As such, this industry often "rewards" doctors for the prescriptions they write. Fortunately, there are several web sites that list the side effects and potential harm that these drugs can do. They may cure problem A, but leave a person with problems B and C. Whenever a doctor suggests a drug, it is Very Wise for the patient to do their own research, and question any potential interactions that such a drug might pose.
Click to expand...

Has Your Doctor Received Drug or Device Company Money?​

https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/

Wasn't familiar with this, but updated info might be useful too: https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov
 
I've found that sometimes it's best to consult with a pharmacist who knows all the medications you're taking rather than a doctor. I've had doctors...ones I consider good doctors, prescribe things that were contraindicated due to other meds I was taking. This happened at least twice over the years. As we age, I guess it's possible that our systems can change so that drugs that were once tolerated no longer are. In fact, it could happen at any age. When I was in my 20s I became allergic to penicillin and being a sickly child, I had been getting it all through my life.
 
Paco Dennis said:
I have developed some kind of neurological problem that is going to take a while to diagnose. The Doctor wanted to put me on "X". I bought the stuff and began to research it's side effects. This stuff would probable react with the medication I am on, plus increase the risk of serious problems. I was thinking that years ago I bought OTC medications and didn't have serious side effects, and even prescription meds were far and few. I wonder is this a condition of post modern medicine/industry and/or is it when we age we can't metabolize as well.?
Click to expand...
Both. Search for things you used a long time ago, or your parents or grand parents used to help different ailments, and if natural and still available it will do "wonders" still for you, I expect ..... What worked a hundred years ago without side effects, usually still works today without side effects.
 
Paco Dennis said:
Yes, check with the pharmacist. We have had excellent talks with ours. This dilemma has got me wondering about "alternative" ways to help us in our waning years. I am new to this, and really do not want to go the pharmacy way. There are lots of alternatives out there...for almost any condition. There are so many choices and I don't have very much money to experiment. It is such a new world with way too many options it seems.
Click to expand...
Too many options , yes. A few natural and good and not harmful. Most drugs though leading to more drugs instead of more health.
When you have time, "experimenting" or trial and error with safe methods can be helpful and 'educational' at the same time.
When you have less time, or before you need something very serious,
look for those health givers or holistic providers and testers who use the same types of things used for over 500 years by Native Americans, or other countries, to remedy dozens of different ailments safely and without leading to worse conditions.
i.e. ask around, seek out those who know how to provide a healthy safe and inexpensive way. (much that was not too expensive just 5 years ago is now two to ten times as expensive , but it is still better to me, I think, than taking drugs, as long as the safe way works).
 
Paco Dennis said:
I have developed some kind of neurological problem that is going to take a while to diagnose. The Doctor wanted to put me on "X". I bought the stuff and began to research it's side effects. This stuff would probable react with the medication I am on, plus increase the risk of serious problems. I was thinking that years ago I bought OTC medications and didn't have serious side effects, and even prescription meds were far and few. I wonder is this a condition of post modern medicine/industry and/or is it when we age we can't metabolize as well.?
Click to expand...
That and I don't think the doctors are paying attention as well anymore. Mine gave me something for fluid build up that would increase my cholesterol and blood sugar that we're trying to get down. Makes no sense.
 
MarciKS said:
That and I don't think the doctors are paying attention as well anymore. Mine gave me something for fluid build up that would increase my cholesterol and blood sugar that we're trying to get down. Makes no sense.
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Billions of dollars, not sense. The system is set up for profit, not to make sense.

Start browsing casually, slowly, Looking for the things that help the way you want, without adding bad effects. It is not as difficult as most people think. Being healthy is something people need to learn themselves, without doctors.
 

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