Almost nothing but drug commercials

[MoseyWalker]

on CNN and MSNBC. I get so disgusted.

Some of you may know that I previously wrote about being prescribed Lipitor, and saying no thanks.

I may have mentioned that the blood pressure med I took for the last 15 years increased in price from 120mg per day for less than $10 per month to 180mg per day for $107 per month.

I may have mentioned that they added another blood pressure med also.

I work with someone who was desperate to get a refill of prozac because her regular doctor had a stroke (yes, her DOCTOR HAD A STROKE)and, of course, wasn't renewing prescriptions.

I used to work with someone who was absolutely convinced she needed a new drug because she must have restless leg syndrome.

I hate the pharmaceutical companies. We are being financially raped, rarely truly helped by their medications, have to deal with unbelieveable side effects, and yet are convinced by the nonstop commercials that we have diseases that might not even actually exist.

rant over.

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Drugs and food are the last minion of money grubbers!!

[MoseyWalker]

2. next is water! n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

5. War on Water! nt

[Quakerfriend]

3. Wooooooo! Well said, MoseyWalker!!

I did clinical research for many years and I am in TOTAL agreement with you.

I cannot believe the willingness of Americans to subject themselves to so much nonsense. And, the comericials just keep coming. They get more outrageous every day, too. Whenever, I hear "So, talk to you doctor today." I feel like I want to :puke: :puke: :puke: .

Did you know that an exact isomer of Lipitor, red yeast rice, has been found to be as effective in lowering cholesterol and triglycerides? That's why Merck has been to court to have it removed from the market- the red yeast rice that is, of course.


My sister is an executive for J& J and we argue about this all the time. Seems she wants to bifurcate her life's work from reality. A whole lot of people out there are doing just that to continue to support Big Pharm.

[MoseyWalker]

8. Look at the differences in these links

From the respected Mayo Clinic:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/red-yeast-rice/NS_patient-redyeast

From Drugs.Com:

http://www.drugs.com/MTM/red_yeast_rice.html

Disgusted.

Thanks for the tip on the red yeast rice. I'll look for somewhere online to purchase, as I am certain I'll not be able to find it within 200 miles of here.

:toast:

[PA Democrat]

4. ANd that is why Americans pay more for drugs than any other country

in the world. The US is one of only TWO industrialized countries that allow direct marketing ("so talk to your doctor today") of drugs to consumers. Our drugs would be a whole lot more affordable if big pharma stopped spending billions on marketing and let doctors use their training and experience to decide what's best for their patients.

[Quakerfriend]

6. You've got that right! They claim that their huge profits are

justifyable because they need the money for research (eh...saving lives, that is).

But, a huge amount is spent on marketing, of course.

[skids]

7. TV commercials: target audience

1) People who don't use the Internet for shopping/product research.
2) People who don't own TiVos/skip ads.

What do you expect?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

9. Why pay for overpriced dangerous drugs for hypertension when

perfectly safe and effective natural therapies exist.

Coenzyme Q10

Arginine

Hawthorne

Vitamin C

Omega threes

and others....