Prescription Tidbit

One of my many doctors said something interesting to me today that I thought I would share with all of you. I'll leave it to your discretion to think of it what you will.

LOL. With a lead-up like that, I can hear about half of you groaning. "Great, what did some quack say this time?"

I was at the Allergist, for once, not for me but for my daughter and when we were discussing medication, she held up her hand and said "Don't ask me about XXXXX" I've X'd out the name to keep the lawyers at bay.

When I assured her that it hadn't been on my list of questions (Yes, I have to make a list or I forget the things I want to talk to the doctor about.) I asked her why she had such animosity towards the drug.

Her answer was this: "As an allergy medication which the pharm companies tout in the commercial that it can be, it does nothing because it is an asthma medication. It's not even a good asthma medication either and it isn't worth the paper to prescribe it on."

So what is with all of the commercials? You'd think with all the advertising for this drug, it would work well. She smiled (You know the kind of smile...like she wanted to pat me on the head for being cute.) and said "Medications that do what they are supposed to and are the best in their field, don't need to waste the advertising dollars...doctors prescribe drugs that work. Now if their are two that are similar and are put out by opposite companies, you might see them battle it out on television."

Huh. Now she had my attention. I felt a little foolish for thinking that pharm commercials = good medication. From my stand point I thought the most advertised medications meant they were worth the money it would take to make a commercial. No wonder I'm not in business!

She's an allergy doctor, not a fibro specialist, but I heard myself asking anyway. "I hear a lot about XXXX helping with Fibromyalgia but when I tried it, it did nothing for me yet it is all over the television. Still, a lot of doctor's seem to prescribe it."

Her answer?

"When Doctors don't know how to treat or cure something, they go with what is available and hope for the best."

I thanked her for her time, but the thought stuck with me for a while. Normally, I would take what she said and store away what made sense and think on the rest. However, I remembered my R.A. saying something that gave me just as much food for thought a long time ago. She wanted to prescribe me anti-depressant meds and I informed her that I have a horrible reaction to them. Had even had thoughts of suicide while on them.

I said, "I can't trust them not to mess with my head. If you tell me it will work for sure, I'll give them a shot."

Her answer: "These medicines make Fibro patients feel better by tweaking their brain communicators. Are they in less pain? Some, or maybe they just don't think the same way they used to."

I know she didn't mean to make it sound like that but I pretty much got out of that pep-talk as... Anti-depressants can make people think they feel better.

Many people swear by their anti-depressants and I'm all for whatever feels good, whether it is feeling good in truth or in our heads. Who cares as long as it works.

Still...thinking about what I've been told, I'm even more reluctant to try new drugs, especially ones I see on TV!

Yikes!

LOL
Tell me what you think, My Friends
All my best wishes for 98% days!
Gin