Drug firms 'inventing diseases'

[EllieGreen]

"Disease-mongering promotes non-existent diseases and exaggerates mild problems to boost profits, the Public Library of Science Medicine reported.

Researchers at Newcastle University in Australia said firms were putting healthy people at risk by medicalising conditions such as menopause.

But the pharmaceutical industry denied it invented diseases.

Report authors David Henry and Ray Moynihan criticised attempts to convince the public in the US that 43% of women live with sexual dysfunction."

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4898488.stm

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. wasn't there a mission impossible movie on this issue?

[cdsilv]

2. how about 'restless leg syndrome'....

...I believe it was Bill Maher who mentioned the new 'drug' for this 'syndrome'.

I agree with him that the 'syndrome' is your body telling you to get up off of the couch and get some exercise!

Whenever I notice myself 'fidgeting' I go out and walk awhile, burning off the nervous energy. YMMV!

[EllieGreen]

4. Good point.

Also, and what really gets my goat, is the need to "treat" menopause.

Menopause is a natural state of life for women, but take a pill and fill your body with toxins so that you can feel better! Grrr.....

[Atman]

10. Bad point

See post #9

[mzteris]

16. just you wait,

hon -

I used to think "cramps" and "migraines" were made-up, too - until I HAD them. I used to think just how bad could menopause be?

Sweat rolling off of you for no apparent reason.

Waking up - wide awake - in the middle of the night for several hours. (Sometimes covered in the aforementioned sweat.)

Bloating and swelling like you've not had before.

SEVERE PMS that lasts from the week you're *supposed* to start - until you actually DO start - which may be weeks to months later.

(BTW - I use herbal and vitamin therapy for the most part - but if I could - or thought a prescription pill would help - I would.)

[nonconformist]

22. I get migraines too.

They stopped for a long time after I had my first child, which I've read can be a "cure" for a lot of women. My youngest child is now 8, and I've started having them again a couple of years ago. They're simply HORRIBLE.

[mzteris]

15. if you'd ever experienced it

you'd know it's not just a "fidget" feeling...

It's impossible to accurately describe - it's entirely maddening. And no, more exercise - or less exercise - doesn't help.

[Atman]

19. I could not be much more active

As I posted in the other thread, I play league volleyball all summer and snowboard all winter. Like, literally, every weekend and a couple times during the week. I'm in shape, not overweight at all, to the point my doc laughs at me because he doesn't make any money off me. It has nothing to do with stretching, walking it off, any of that crap. It is just as you say...maddening. Like a bee landing on your leg, you can't help but jerk, kick you leg, as if to try to shake off the critter.

If they'd have given it a more serious sounding name, people might not be so quick to judge.

[mzteris]

24. that was the point I was trying to make

that "exercising more" as the poster suggested won't help. Neither will "exercising less"...

Have you tried Valerian? It helped me, but hubby hated the side effects after he stopped taking it.

[DarbyUSMC]

23. Lots of things are valid but discounted if never experienced. Restless

legs are a robber of sleep, peace, enjoyment of a simple ride in a car ---- it's risky to go anywhere to watch anything or even to go to dinner with friends because there is no way to enjoy yourself. Picture your legs having hiccups. You can't control them and they won't allow you to rest or even to just sit and watch a simple TV show. It takes a lot of hit and miss tries to find a drug that will help. Each person is different. They are advertising Requip now I notice. I am against any prescription drug ads because of their "ask your doctor if blah, blah is right for you." It's hard enough to ask your doctor what you need to ask without giving him suggestions for what you might take based on commercials on TV. Also, some of the ads are like Saturday Night skits when they mention the list of possible side effects after pitching the product. Oh, and "be sure to tell your doctor if you have liver, kidney or whatever disease." Well, hopefully, the doctor would know your medical history. I wish they'd reduce the cost of the product rather than spending millions to promote it to the general public.

After over nineteen years on dialysis, most of it on self-care, I've seen people in all kinds of stages life. I've learned not to pooh-pooh anything. Bill Mahr is a comedian and he and other comedians can make fun of any topic. That's their thing and I laugh just like everyone else. I'm not going to be writing him a strongly worded letter because he made a joke about Restless Leg Syndrome or anything else. I've long thought it funny that people think people like Bill or Jon Stewart are hysterical until they hit a topic that is too close to home. A lot of us who have no kidney function call ourselves the walking dead. Many of the professionals that care for us act like living is the most important thing no matter what, while most of us on the machines know that there is a limit to what we will go through and then we'll simply not come in anymore and that will be that.

[EllieGreen]

3. Don't know....

...I boycott Tom "I know what is right for women" Cruise.

;-)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. Aw come on. You need a silent birth, is all. Then you will be all healthy.

Scientologist leaders must shiver in their gowns when they see him making headlines. Hubbard created one hell of a pyramid scheme, and managed to keep it a secret to 99% of the membership. The top guys happen to live quite well.

[EllieGreen]

11. Now you've done it....

...I'm sure that we will soon hear about lawyers suing DU for damaging the reputation of Scientology! ;-)

[Union Thug]

5. my favorite is Social Anxiety Disorder...

Holy crap... I used to be called shy, but now I need profit-motive-prescription drugs to make me more social. Right. Beer is cheaper and probably less harmful.

[EllieGreen]

12. Since when did being shy constitute a medical disorder?

Oh, I forgot, money can be made. What was I thinking?

Anyway, I agree...Beer is a wonderful way to relieve anxiety. ;-)

[mzteris]

17. Oh for crying out loud

ANXIETY IS A DISORDER!

And some social anxiety can be completely crippling for some people.

FYI - Beer is definitely NOT "less harmful" for some people - dependent on the quantities. And at least zoloft doesn't make you stupid. :p

Do you say that DIABETES is something that doesn't need medical treatment?

How about cancer?

Maybe people who need glasses should just squint a little harder, eh?

[Union Thug]

25. comparing cancer to 'anxiety'...puhleez...

Rubbish.

Want to stop anxiety dead in its track? Smoke a joint. Enriching the pharmaceuticals for their over-priced, oversold poisons just facilitates a corrupt system that on the one hand, wants you to think you need to pop a pill for every little discomfort, while at the same time funds the 'war on drugs' (that they can't profit from) by its active opposition to smart drug legislation.

Personally, I avoid prescription drugs as much as possible for this reason.

[NMMNG]

26. A drug is a drug

I myself would love to see marijuana legalized as it is useful for many maladies, has few side effects, has yet to be proven lethal even in high doses, is not physically addictive and has very pleasant effects as well. However use of it can get one fired from their job and even arrested. Therefore it's not a viable candidate for long-term use. One can't exactly blaze up every day before work or other high-anxiety situations. :shrug:

[mzteris]

30. I think we need to decriminalize

most all drugs.

Marijuana should be regulated in the same way as alcohol/tobacco.

I definitely don't want to see it used by teens (like I don't want them using either of the above to referenced "legal drugs") - as there is evidence (brainscan) that the alteration in the brain itself when used by a teen whose brain is still plastic (meaing it's still physically changing) - is very negative in the long run.

The biggest problem with pot is there isn't a test sophisticated enough to tell if someone smoked just before they climbed into their big rig to drive at 85 mph down the interstate, of they smoked three days before on their off-shift. (Except maybe putting a big plate of brownies or a bag of Milano cookies on the table and saying, "don't touch" while you leave the room. :rofl:)

[mzteris]

29. smoke a joint.... lol

so - non-prescription drugs are fine, just the prescription ones are bad.

ok......

FYI - I'm a "child of the 70's" so yeah - I've btdt.

Anxiety can be completely debilitating. And for some people - like children - smoking a fat one is NOT an option, capice?

A brain chemical imbalance is responsible for *much* of anxiety. Meditation helps some people. Medication helps others. Maybe a cup of chamomile. Maybe a really good workout. Maybe - you need something a little heavier hitting.

I'm not the one to judge what will or will not work for you - nor you for myself or anyone else.

Drugs - legal prescription ones - ARE the answer for some people. And for you to pooh-pooh *all prescription drugs* makes you sound a bit like Tom Cruise, ya know?

BTW - untreated mental health issues CAN kill people just as readily as cancer can.

[Coastie for Truth]

6. I have a friend who is a retired cop in a college town

a big (like BIG), stereotypical, jovial Irishman who is now a bar tender.

One of his standard lines "If yer health insurance covers psychiatrists and psychiatric drugs - it should also cover Irish bar tenders and Jim Beame."

[Union Thug]

7. Great line! Love it!

[Atman]

9. RLS is real. I have it, but I refuse to take anything for it

This was posted yesterday. I asked my wife about the recommended drug for it (the name escapes me, Reprinol or something like that -- it is in this thread); it is a Parkinson's drug.

Anyway, the biggest problem with "Restless Leg Syndrome is that they gave it an absolutely stupid name which is too easy to make fun of. But if you have it, like I do, it sucks. Not exactly a life altering "syndrome" or anything, but it sure is annoying!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=903692&mesg_id=904128

[MuseRider]

14. My husband has had it for years.

I always thought he was nuts until I got it. I rarely have a problem with it, only several times a year but it is very annoying. Last month he bought some of the medicine you are talking about. He has not used it but I got a case of the "leg jumpies" the night before a concert and just could not afford to be up half the night walking around so I took one. I'll be darned if it did not work like a charm. I doubt I ever use it again since the rare case I have is nothing particularly bothersome but I can tell you right now, it works and it works quickly. Just a little bit of info for you in case you really suffer from it a lot.

[Atman]

18. "Suffering" with it is a bit too strong a term

It isn't exactly pleasant, though, as you know. Probably more for my wife than me! Trying to watch teevee peacefully while I'm kicking my leg in the air every few minutes I guess is a bit annoying!

But, like the other posters, when I first heard of it a while ago, I laughed and thought it was a joke. I only started getting the "attacks" about six months ago, so I don't want to take anything until and unless it progresses to the point of being unbearable.

Thanks for the information on the Reprinol. I'm not ruling it out, but I don't even like taking aspirin unless I absolutely have to.

[MuseRider]

20. I don't take stuff either

that is why I hesitated to write anything about it since it is a "made up" problem. I was a nurse for a long time, this is nothing new and thankfully there is something for it because it can be a real problem for the people who have it. I hope yours never gets any worse. I think more that anything it is just damned creepy to have that going on with your legs. I can almost make myself feel it just by thinking about it now.....YIKES!

I will most likely never use it again, I just thought "Why not?" the time I did use it. Now I know it does work so I feel I should pass it along to others who have this particular "made up" problem.

** to clarify, I agree that much is made up but this one is real, I can assure you it is real and has been around a long time**

[BlooInBloo]

13. It's probably where republicans got the idea of "perpetual war"....

... to keep the public scared, and republicans in power.

Drug firms and/or doctors use the idea of "perpetual sickness" to keep people buying their wares.

[newportdadde]

21. She's got the "Jimmy Legs"

[Peter Frank]

27. All this controversy is giving me Acid Reflux Disease...

Anyone got a Purple Pill?

[sweetheart]

28. cannabis cures cannabis non-smoking disease

The ailment can also be diagnosed as anal retentiveness,
bloody obstinante foolery, and general obnoxiousnesss.

And when they get stoned, its a miracle cure... :-)