Big (snicker) Pharm

[arbilab]

Deluged by (sometimes vulgar/rude) commercials for the latest hit prescriptable from Big Pharm, found a cynical giggle here and there.  I mean, besides the usual ones like sudden death as a side effect of toenail-fungus ointment.  Feature I suppose, as compared to lingering death. 

 

Might could tell, I'm uber-skeptical of Big Pharm.  From their snakeoil roots to their dubious ethics and ubiquitous marketing which was illegal until 1985 and metastasized in 1997 with constraints lifted.  Ask your doctor if Fixyourightupacin is right for you?  I'd think thrice.

 

First installment, we were already talking about dextromethorphan (DXM) in cough syrups and pills and how inappropriate/undesirable that may be.  It pops up as the co-active in a pill for pseudobulbar affect, which tends toward association with amyotrophic lateral- and multiple- sclerosis.  What does that have to do with postnasal drip/coughing?  That's the punch line we'll get to in a second.

 

Nuedexta combines DXM with quinidine, used for arrhythmia and malaria, to help the pseudobulbar-affected stop giggling.  OK, if that's what FDA says, and they do.  Turns out, the DXM is the active and the quinidine just happens to enhance its bioavailability.  In Nuedexta, DXM is at twice the mg/dose as in cough syrup.  DXM is categorized as a 'dissociant', meaning it sorta disconnects your brain from the world and can be abused as such.  It also tinkers with serotonin, and do you really want that tinkered?

 

Speaking of serotonin, I have been a little grumpier since I switched away from DXM syrup.  But that could also be caused by an hour of CNN.

 

Back to DXM as a cough/allergy remedy.  At which it's tied with placebo for efficacy.  Worse, one of its side effects is histamine release.  Wait, that's what we were trying to stop!  And sure enough, one of the side effects of Nuedexta is------ coughing.   And the discount price for these extended-action cough pills equivalent to a double dose of $3 kiddy cough syrup?  $20 each, $40/day.

 

Sorry about the syllabic proliferation but it's the language of Pharm.  To an extent I suppose it needs to be, but I'm sure they embrace the side effect of stopping people from attempting to read the grimy details of what's in these gawldang-fangled dagflabbed PILLS.

[this post was last edited: 9/20/2018-23:28]

 

[sfh074]

Lololol

That is hilarious! Love the thought it took to write this. Yeah, sudden death as a side effect! Why the hell would I even go any further after hearing that in the prime time commercial? You have to be kidding me, right? They mention sudden death and we're to continue to take you seriously. I don't think so. I can name at least 4 different drugs being advertised that mention that while watching the comedy channel. Thanks, but I'll take my chances without.

Btw, now they are saying statin drugs for cholesterol have been found to be worst than having high cholesterol. My dad took statins for years and his nefrologist told him his stage 4 kidney disease was caused by the stains and blood pressure meds he took for 35 years blew out his kidneys. Be very careful and do your research before taking that script to get it filled. Just like the commercials, doctors are to happy to write scripts for drugs that have really bad side effects that may be worst than what is being treated. Just sayin.

 

[ea56]

Re: Statins

“Btw, now they are saying statin drugs for cholesterol have been found to be worst than having high cholesterol.”

I took a statin medication for about two years at my doctors recommnedation and then I began to have muscular pain that I’d never had before. I did some research online and found that this is a side effect of statins. I discussed this with my doctor and told him that I didn’t want to take it anymore. He agreed with me, and I stopped taking it, the pain went away. My cholesterol at last testing was a total of 180, and my LDL is way below the recommended limit, and so are my triglycerides and my HDL is higher than normal, also good. I drink whole milk and use butter, all in moderation.

Its better to go with natural fats as much as possible, but limit the intake. I say hell to the no on statins. When I listen to those commericals for prescription drugs on TV, I can’t imagine why anyone would want to risk taking them. They make it sound like if you weren’t sick before, you sure as hell will be if you take that crap!

Better to get regular exercise, and eat healthy, REAL foods in moderation, and take as little medication as possible.

Eddie

 

[arbilab]

Brother in law is an MD.  In research, not practice.  His health advice is, "if you want to live long, stay away from doctors". 

 

Not condemning the entire profession.  There are some very good doctors and some very good 'cures'.  But on balance, medical treatment for anything other than the most straightforward issues is a crapshoot.

 

Easy for me to say, seldom having 'needed' medical treatment and with no desire/motivation to 'live forever'.  Wouldn't necessarily 'prescribe' my perspective for anyone.  Just throwing out some anomalies for consideration.  Like $6/month cough medicine that sells for 'something else' at 200 times the price and can cause coughing in people who otherwise didn't.

 

For help with the daunting language of Pharm, I find wiki fairly authoritative and correlative with other sources.  More/less skip the words that don't define out cleanly on first reading.  Like reading National Weather Service forecast discussions (aimed at weather... umm, persons).  As you go along, more things will fall into place.  I think it's worth the effort.