Danger of overuse of Drugs in this Country

Lets look at some of the over-prescribed drugs. Have you flipped through a magazine or watched television lately? Then you have probably noticed an influx of drug companies adveristing their products. What do you think is behind those glossy ads and snazzy sound bites. You guessed it what else-money.So whats the harm in these drug ads? The real danger is that they provide misleading information to the consumer. Here is a quote from the Journal of the American Medical Association: The pharmaceutical industry is driven part, by financial motives and is providing information of suspect quality, and the minimal benefits. I am concerned that consumers are being manipulated by these sophisticated marketing campaigans that lead to the over-perscription of several medications. The harmfull side effects of some of these drugs are baffling. There are about 100,000 people are hospitalized each year due to adverse reactions to these medications Lets take a look at some of these meds.

1. In a mad dash for a drug to end impotence, men fail to realize that a drug may be causing the problem in the first place. Among the medications that list erectile dysfunction as a possible side effect are drugs prescribed for migraines, gastrointestinal ulcers, incontinence, skin rashes heart problems, prostate cancer.....I am sure you get the point! Now lets look at the other end. This is very interesting.Medications commonly prescribed for emotional problems--such as depression, eating disorders, alcoholism, attention and anxiety problems--guess what? They trigger sexual problems.

2.Ritalin This drug is most prevalent in the US, where more then 1.3 million children take it for Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)--a figure five times more then the rest of the world. What about a child being normal with high energy? Well, I sure had high energy as a child, my mother never took me to the doctor and said please give him Ritalin.

3. Antihistamines. This is an interesting one. Lets look at some of the common ones: Seldane, Zyrtec, Claritin and Allegra. The most common one I see right now , with the most aggressive marketing campaign is Claritin. This drug has been cornering 56% of the $1.8 billion market with its class of medication. What is really the underline cause of allergies. Most allergies are caused by eating the wrong foods or because the person is under alot of stress, but looking for that quick fix without dealing with the real cause people are ruining their health in the interm and starting another problem somewhere else in the system.

I could go on and on with other health issues but I am sure you get the point, if needing further help in health issues feel free to give me a call at 650-291-0709

until next time Dr. Dietrich