Prescription of medications is boilerplate and stupid.

1. 46

   Ericdierkerposted 10 years ago

   Let us just say that a Dr. prescribes Ibuprofen. Let us just say it is a prescription type dosage.
   
   Let us just say that my wife has a back injury. Let us just say that I have a back injury. Let us say we go to the same GP. Let us say the Dr. knows us both. And let us just say that he prescribes the same dose for my wife as he does for me. And that is routine.
   
   My wife does not exercise. I do. My wife is 40 and I am 56. I am an ex professional athlete. She has never played a sport much less a contact sport. If I eat the same as my wife I gain weight. Our doctor knows all of that. I am 6 ft and 220 lbs. My wife is 4'10" and weighs 90 lbs soaking wet.
   
   Well guess what the doctor prescribes the same dosage for both of us.
   
   And this is a good doc.  An MD next to their name might just indicate stupidity. At least lack of thought.
   
   What say you.
   
   (somewhat true scenario -- I remain in pain and my wife gets loopy on the amount)

   replyreport
   1. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Each person responds to medication differently based upon genetic and physical composition.  For example, I and my mother have the same backache.  She can be relieved taking tylenol while I need a prescription of a high level of ibupofren.  There are also some people who refuse to take any type of artificial medicine, preferring alternative medicine and therapies.  Erik, are you more of the natural kind in terms of using alternative medicines and therapies regarding your ailments and pain?  Again, each person is composed differently and responds to medication differently.

      replyreport
      1. 46

         Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Right on the money gm. I hope this forum brings people to lay off criticizing the doctor (I will take the heat on that because we all do it) and start taking an active role in our own treatment. How can a label printed in China know what is right for us.

         replyreport
   2. 0

      Rad Manposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      When the kids were small medication was measure by body weight. Perhaps, it would have been prudent to mention to the doctor that ibuprofen doesn't affect you much.

      replyreport
2. 83

   psycheskinnerposted 10 years ago

   Maybe the same could be said of treatment issues--to see if the doctor had a reason for whatever your real issue is?  If not, time to find another doctor.

   replyreport
   1. 46

      Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      thanks pyscheskinner, you are right. The "one size fits all" concept seems to be born of insurance and regimen rather than individual assessment. Perhaps not just time to find another doctor but to be proactive in being our own.

      replyreport
3. 61

   TLHeraldZposted 10 years ago

   Pharmacies only make money if DOCTORS prescribe synthetic drugs, doctors will stop making money if people don't go to them for SYNTHETIC drugs. So therefore it doesn't matter to ANY regular MD if you are 220lbs and your wife is 90lbs. IF he prescribes the same amount of synthetic meds and you two go fill yours script and PAY your money (or your insurance pays your money) then THEY all win and you all get the SIDE EFFECTS!

   replyreport
   1. 83

      psycheskinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      And if they can;t prescribe drugs... well, that ain't exactly great for people like me who might well be dead without them.

      replyreport
   2. 95

      wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      IS the insinuation that doctors OWN the drug companies and THEREFORE want them to succeed?  I would not BELIEVE that without substantial proof.
      
      Plus, of course, the alternative is to EAT plants that packagers claim to have RESTORATIVE abilities but that have never been tested for either that ability OR TO see if they actually cause harm.  IF people don't buy them, those packagers will GO OUT of business.

      replyreport
      1. 61

         TLHeraldZposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Docotors don't own the drug companies, the drug companies own our doctors.

         replyreport
         1. 95

            wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            And there I thought slavery was illegal. 
            
            Or did you just mean financially?  I suppose the mortgage on the clinic is Big Pharm?  And all the equipment as well?  The doctor owes Big Pharm for school bills?  The mortgage on his house, or the loan on the Mercedes?
            
            I don't think so.  So just how does the drug company own the doctor?

            replyreport
      2. 0

         HowardBThinameposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         There's a happy medium somewhere. Unfortunately, we've become a nation of pansies - soaking up the medication commercials on TV and begging our doctors to prescribe the latest drug for incontinence, pain, impotence, whatever.
         
         While I agree with Wilderness that people should not eat plants they're not familiar with as some sort of self-diagnosis, I'd hazard a guess that fewer people in the US die annually from "bad plants" than die from prescription drug-related deaths.  The 2009 Study, "Death by Medicine" concludes that deaths from conventional medicine exceed deaths from heart disease.
         
         http://www.webdc.com/pdfs/deathbymedicine.pdf
         
         The biggest threat, in my opinion, however, is the over-prescribing of antibiotics, which has brought us to the precipice of our most valuable drugs being rendered worthless.
         
         Follow the money trail. Does anyone really think Big Pharma is on our side? Well, maybe to an extent. I think scientists really do want to make medical discoveries that help people. But we can't keep ignoring the fact that way too many people are dying at the hands of prescription drugs.
         
         Yes, it's boilerplate prescribing - and it ought to be illegal. But, then again, a lot of things ought to be illegal.
         
         I have to add that I'm not a fan of drugs and chemicals, in general, although I admit that some medical drugs have really helped society. Since I haven't been ill in decades, I stay in shape and (oh no) I take a changing array of supplements now and then, I'll probably take my chances with those darned plants. Statistically, they seem a bit safer than prescription drugs.

         replyreport