MANY PATIENTS MISINFORMED ABOUT MEDICATIONS

According to a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, many patients have beliefs about medications that are untrue. These include:

  • Patients are more likely to choose newer drugs over older drugs when they're not provided information about the product's safety and effectiveness.
  • 39% of respondents believe the FDA approves only "extremely effective" drugs
  • 25% of respondents believe the FDA approves only drugs without serious side effects.

COMMENT: Unfortunately, many doctors do not correctly inform their patients about the drugs they're prescribing. Worse, many doctors don't really know how effective the drugs are because their only information is from the drug companies. The FDA approves many drugs that are "me too" drugs...that are in the same class of drugs but have no distinct advantage to other, older (and less expensive) drugs. Finally, all drugs have side effects and many of the serious side effects aren't even discovered until after the drug has been on the market for awhile.

Posted on Sun, November 6, 2011 by Larry Altshuler, M.D. filed under

2 comments (Add your own)

1. Mahesh wrote:
Hoodia looks like a good product. It is a narutal extract from the various cactus-like plants in the hoodia family. (Although they are not related to the cactus family)I have not seen any negative information about hoodia. Hoodia is a supplement, and is therefor not approved by the FDA. But that does not mean anything . the FDA approves a long list very dangerous drugs including very dangerous drugs that were eventually pulled by FDA like Fen Fen and others. Just because a drug is approved by the FDA that does NOT make it safe, and a drug not being approved does not make it unsafe. There are LOTS of very safe supplements out there, with lots of benefits, that are not considered a drug and therefor outside of the FDA's jurisdiction.Drug companies are in bed with the FDA. The FDA does not do ANY testing on drugs they ask the drug company if a drug is safe, and the rely on the information given by the drug company and then they approve it. Many have had success with drinking Hoodia, although I have not heard any success stories from people using the Hoodia patch.

Mon, May 21, 2012 @ 12:44 AM

2. riqhwg wrote:
ErQXdL ykwcgproyoop

Mon, May 21, 2012 @ 3:36 AM

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