Hot Topic (7/11): Are Doctors and Pharmaceutical Companies at fault?
Prescription Drug Alert!
What you need to know now about drug interactions.
- (Chicago Tribune Link)
By Peter Bernard |HealthKey writer
Michael Jackson's death puts the world of prescription drug abuse into the spotlight, again.
Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Heath Ledger and Anna Nicole Smith are just a few who have died due to mixing prescription drugs. And now it seems Michael Jackson may be added to that sad list.
Underscoring the danger of potentially lethal and toxic prescription drug interactions, Gil Kerlikowske, the government's drug czar, said recently that more Americans are dying from drug overdoses than gunshot wounds.
Most doctors and pharmacists are keenly aware of the dangers of mixing drugs like anti-depressants, painkillers and anti-anxiety medication. The strength of these drugs is amplified when they are mixed, causing cardiac arrest and other life-threatening conditions. Experts also assert that there is much that isn't known about the way many drugs interact, mainly because the impact of these combinations have never been tested in a laboratory.
And while it's true that many Americans are turning to prescription drugs more frequently than ever to treat a variety of conditions, avoiding potentially toxic interactions could be as easy as speaking to your doctor or pharmacist about the medications you are taking. Sharing the medications you take, along with dosage information, with all of your health care providers is a wise move to avoid trouble.
Do Doctors and Pharmaceutical companies, over prescribe or hide the addiction facts?
Why are Americans addicted to Prescription drugs?
What are your thoughts?
Yes, maybe many doctors are guilty of this, but in MJ's case he had people getting scripts in their names for him, taking 30-40 pills a night, etc. There were needle marks found on his neck.
Doctors & pharmaceutical companies cannot be blamed in this case & cases like this.
"She who has a thousand friends has not 1 friend to spare."
You should be able to trust that your doctor would only give you meds that are safe together but you can't. It is up to you to ask your doctor or your pharmacist if they are safe to take with you other meds. I have done this alot over the last 6 yrs because I found out the hard way. I know own a PDR and I also ask my pharmacist when I get something new. I am on 17 meds a day from anti-depressants to lasix and there are alot of meds that would have severe interactions with what I am on. I always tell people I know check with someone before taking something new if your already on something else.You also need to know the side effects of what you are taking and I will tell you this is not always published I have been taking 1 med that caused me heart problems, excessive weight gain, hypothyroid, and a heart attack the only info on this med that was released when I started taking it was weight gain and diabetes. 6 months after my heart attack the rest of my problems were released as side effects and they knew of them all a long they just never released them till they were sued.
The blame shouldn't just fall on the doctors and pharmaceutical companies. Blame goes on the person and the enablers.
I think some dr's are so star stuck that they don't want to say no. Then there are dr's that do have a back bone and a conscience and say no to the person. the enablers should be saying no too but then again it all falls on "if I get this for them then they will be happy with me and if I don't they will be mad at me or fire me or get it from someone else."
I believe that these stars are so hooked on these meds that they will go to a great lengths in getting what they want. If they can't get it from someone they will find someone who will give it to them. Know what I mean?
Yes docs over-prescribe! I am convinced that my MIL died from taking too many meds. Sure she had health problems but anyone taking 17 or more meds a day is just not healthy. My DH had shoulder surgery and they gave him 5-6 meds, mostly to counter act and counter act. They even gave him asthma meds ??? He doesn't have asthma. I threw all of it away except for the pain meds.
Every single commercial for meds has a slew of side effects these days. I would rather deal with the original symptom than have more issues along with it.
As for Americans being addicted to scrips, I say a big hell yeah. There is a pill for everything and everyone has a health issue whether its physical or mental. I am sure that if I went to a doc, they would diagnose me with something that I would need meds for cuz I was feeling a little off one day.
You know I think the Pharmaceutical Companies push certain pills. They release pills for the market way to early. And they have these high powered salesman pressuring Doctors into prescribing their drugs first, by offering kick backs, free samples etc etc. I think this part of the Medical Industry is highly flawed. The pill pushing companies are all for profit and it has gotten out of hand.
As with Doctors? Same issues! If you have enough money believe me they will do what you ask, if you can find one that wants the money. Now as for us little people. (You and Me) I think Doctors are quick to get you in and out "here's a pill try that cuz I got 50 other patients to see in 2 hrs. bye!" You know what I mean? Yes I think they are at fault.
I think the Pharmaceutical Companies and Doctors can be blamed for alot of things.......but not necessarily this.
The people named above would of gotten the prescriptions one way or another. Pill mixing is not just a "rich thing" anymore. I know several people who get all kinds of pain pills off the internet and buy them on the street. I know people who sell there own pain/antidepressents. If you want them bad enough..........you can get them.
Let's not confuse addiction with dependance.
I think alot of adults need to grow up and act like what they are.......ADULTS.....take responsibility for everything that goes in you, everything you buy, the choices you make, etc etc etc. If someone is on more than one drug...shouldn't they ask the pharmacist if there will be any negative interactions? Pharmacists are schooled on this, doctors are not.
Big Pharma is most definitely guilty of pushing certain drugs. And for working really hard, spending millions upon millions of dollars convincing people that they need "Drug X" for whatever may ail them.. And of course "Drugs Y & Z" to take care of the side affects of "Drug X".
Doctors are most definitely guilty of playing along with Big Pharma and pushing certain drugs. They get a kick back from Big Pharma for pushing so many of these "designer" drugs that are out there.
However.
Ultimately. The choice whether or not to take certain drugs. Or to even begin taken certain drugs. Lays solely on the individual themselves. A doctor can suggest a drug. You don't have to take it... One does not have to take several different drugs if they don't want to.. One does not have to blindly take whatever is suggested or prescribed, people have the full capability of researching the drugs themselves and make a decision. People need to start taking some responsibility for their own choices.
Here's my opinion on people's addictions to prescription drugs..
People have been told for decades now the ills and evils of illegal drugs.. BUT..... At the same time, their has been an acceptablity to taking upteen prescribed drugs.. Even when you are taking them for the same reasons as someone takes illegal drugs.. Getting high is getting high.. Using drugs to escape or deal with life is the same whether it's street drugs or prescription drugs. People need to start accepting that.. And accepting that someone sitting in an ally shooting up to get high, is no different than some rich dude that has the priviledge of doing the same thing in his own home with a Dr's script/supervision.... One is just more accepted in our society than the other.. There is also a huge rise in script abuse among teens.. This is caused by years of "Just say NO".. Drugs are bad.. But all those drugs in your parents medicine cabinet were prescribed by a doctor, so they are okay. They are different. They can't be looked at as bad like street drugs are.. So, these kids take these drugs instead and still end up just as fucked up. Same with adults, how many people would never dare smoke a joint, but have no problem popping a few Xanax a day, or some other drug just to help them maintain, function and handle pressures of daily life.. Those are usually the same reasons that anti-drug people toss out that they believe people smoke pot, and in this context (pot smoking) it's consider "wrong", "escapism", and so forth.
Our country has a very bizarre relationship and view in regards to drug abuse and the use of drugs.
There is a growing problem in America with prescribed drugs. I do believe that doctors sometimes are too quick to give a drug for this or that. And make no mistake about the pharmasutical companies, they make tons of money every time we all swallow a pill! But, we must be aware ourselves. We all need to be informed and make disicions on our own. They can prescribe anything to us, but we are the ones taking it. Blame goes both ways, in my opinon. Drugs are so easily advertised, it is so easy to pop a pill rather than educate ourselves on what is ailing us. All the celebrities whom died from overdose have used these pain killers as a way out of feeling whatever personal pain they had, let alone medical pain! These drugs are not for that use at all. It's terrible how many people become addicted to these drugs. Seems like profit is all that matters and it's very sad.
Yes - absolutely. In a perfect world rely on your Dr. I agree that it is also your job to research these meds and ask lots of questions. Even if they are OTC's or herbal remedies - these too can have bad interactions as do some foods and sunlight. I know some pharmacies have records of your meds to 'catch' any interactions. A pharmacist once told me to take all your medications, including otc's, herbal, vitamins, to the pharmacy that you plan to use (equally important to find one you like and stick with) and have them document all your meds.
Quoting cowgirlsr2:
You should be able to trust that your doctor would only give you meds that are safe together but you can't. It is up to you to ask your doctor or your pharmacist if they are safe to take with you other meds. I have done this alot over the last 6 yrs because I found out the hard way. I know own a PDR and I also ask my pharmacist when I get something new. I am on 17 meds a day from anti-depressants to lasix and there are alot of meds that would have severe interactions with what I am on. I always tell people I know check with someone before taking something new if your already on something else.You also need to know the side effects of what you are taking and I will tell you this is not always published I have been taking 1 med that caused me heart problems, excessive weight gain, hypothyroid, and a heart attack the only info on this med that was released when I started taking it was weight gain and diabetes. 6 months after my heart attack the rest of my problems were released as side effects and they knew of them all a long they just never released them till they were sued.
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