General Medicine

» Anthony Lee - How concerned are you about side effects?

No medication is perfectly safe. Every drug has at least one side effect associated with it, but often a drug is taken by many because the benefits outweigh the risks. Still, some individuals may shy away from certain medications or medications in general because of the fear of side effects.

Do you feel that medications are dangerous and should be avoided unless there is no other option? Do you believe that pharmaceutical companies are too quick to get their drugs approved and marketed? What do you think?

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» Alicia Mae Prater - How concerned are you about side effects?

In response to How concerned are you about side effects? posted by anthonylee06:

I absolutely believe that the marketing happens way too quickly on most medications...and even vaccines.

Medications are important - for people who actually need them. There are so many healthy people taking them now that the side effects are becoming more prominent and more dangerous. When a sick person takes a medication the side effects don't amount to the devastation of the disease and can be overlooked, but if you're healthy then why become sick? There are so many diseases created by marketing firms working for the drug companies that a re-evaluation is needed of what constitutes illness.

It is extremely important, I think, for a person to know the risks of the illness, the benefits of the treatment, and the risks of the treatment before making a decision about taking a medication. And that hasn't been happening. So yes, I am afraid of medication side effects, because who knows if what the label says is true.

I have family and friends who call me about prescriptions their doctors give them so I can look up the information and tell them what they know the labels and doctors didn't.

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» Anthony Lee - How concerned are you about side effects?

In response to How concerned are you about side effects? posted by aliciaprater:

I wouldn't say that every disease is made up just for the sake of marketing. There are real conditions out there. Of course, some are questionable in my opinion, like restless legs syndrome.

I post this topic because I can't help but see how people depend on medications in substitute of living a healthy lifestyle. They're not a substitute. They're an assistive aid if nonmedical measures fail. I think some people forget that. :-)

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» Alicia Mae Prater - How concerned are you about side effects?

In response to How concerned are you about side effects? posted by anthonylee06:

I never said there weren't real conditions out there But many that are heavily marketed are either renamed, misrepresented or just plain made up. I've written articles on it.

Most health organizations, like the American Heart Association, push lifestyle changes before prescription intervention, but that's rarely discussed as guidelines keep expanding and inclusion in the definition of a disease becomes the norm for people.

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» Anthony Lee - How concerned are you about side effects?

In response to How concerned are you about side effects? posted by aliciaprater:

That's exactly what people need more of: prevention. Medications are never a substitute because they don't necessary eliminate the problem. They just prevent the problem from getting worse. That's the way I tend to see it.

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