I think people in general are over medicated/pickled in pharmaceuticals and it also starts younger these days then becomes a life long crutch.that gets added onto with something to fix the thing that the medication might be causing.....as you say, there's a pill for everything. A lot of kids, I think, self diagnose, then convince the doc to put them on medication for anxiety/depression/bi-polar etc based on what they google instead of learning the triggers and coping skills... I think it's hard to cope for sure sadness/depression/anxiety but becoming more in tune with your emotions and triggers can at least help move the needle to learning new natural techniques(meditation, exercise, healthier habits, looking at "it" in the face for some of these ills even at a young age may help into aging). Feeling emotions is normal and many of these meds only shut off human emotions and don't cure anything, however, natural also won't give you the blissful or quick acting fix people want right away but at least you have or become good at recognizing your conscious awareness.
I think the answer is easy yet complicated; eat better, move more for two. I think you've covered many of these topics before. I also know not everyone is the same, of course, and some really need some medications for specific ailments.
Too many people just say OK to a medication prescribed by a doctor...NEXT! Not enough people take their health into their own hands and depend on the doctor to fix everything, I think, and then end up down that rabbit hole.
Good information. I particularly hate advertising to consumers about medications that are complex and usually expensive. I think it increases the likelihood that patients go to their doctor and say ‘I want xxxx’ whether it is actually appropriate or not.
I'm told that there's a discipline among physicians that specializes in geezers. I've yet to find one but am still on the hunt. I used to take too many pills. Now I take a few. But think that somewhere-to-be-found geez doc might help too, just sayin'.
Excellent article, Don! You covered many of the pitfalls of polypharmacy and of the less-than-efficient use of electronic record keeping by doctors --whether they're in the same hospital or office system or not. And privacy rules exacerbate the problem.
But I have another quarrel with our pharmaceutical system: the drive by pharmacies and insurance to lower costs for these medications. In my experience, (1) Cheaper is Not necessarily better, and (2) Different manufacturers' versions of a single drug are not always equal in their effectiveness, efficacy, and potential side effects! My PCP and I work together to make sure the medications I take do not cause more harm than good. Symptoms like stomach upset, balance issues, or just feeling worse after using a particular brand have caused me to stop my pharmacy and/or insurance company from changing brands on me.
I think people in general are over medicated/pickled in pharmaceuticals and it also starts younger these days then becomes a life long crutch.that gets added onto with something to fix the thing that the medication might be causing.....as you say, there's a pill for everything. A lot of kids, I think, self diagnose, then convince the doc to put them on medication for anxiety/depression/bi-polar etc based on what they google instead of learning the triggers and coping skills... I think it's hard to cope for sure sadness/depression/anxiety but becoming more in tune with your emotions and triggers can at least help move the needle to learning new natural techniques(meditation, exercise, healthier habits, looking at "it" in the face for some of these ills even at a young age may help into aging). Feeling emotions is normal and many of these meds only shut off human emotions and don't cure anything, however, natural also won't give you the blissful or quick acting fix people want right away but at least you have or become good at recognizing your conscious awareness.
I think the answer is easy yet complicated; eat better, move more for two. I think you've covered many of these topics before. I also know not everyone is the same, of course, and some really need some medications for specific ailments.
Too many people just say OK to a medication prescribed by a doctor...NEXT! Not enough people take their health into their own hands and depend on the doctor to fix everything, I think, and then end up down that rabbit hole.
Just my opinion, yup!
Good information. I particularly hate advertising to consumers about medications that are complex and usually expensive. I think it increases the likelihood that patients go to their doctor and say ‘I want xxxx’ whether it is actually appropriate or not.
Stay healthy, be vigilant.
I'm told that there's a discipline among physicians that specializes in geezers. I've yet to find one but am still on the hunt. I used to take too many pills. Now I take a few. But think that somewhere-to-be-found geez doc might help too, just sayin'.
Great point, Jackie! Thanks for adding that to the discussion.
Excellent article, Don! You covered many of the pitfalls of polypharmacy and of the less-than-efficient use of electronic record keeping by doctors --whether they're in the same hospital or office system or not. And privacy rules exacerbate the problem.
But I have another quarrel with our pharmaceutical system: the drive by pharmacies and insurance to lower costs for these medications. In my experience, (1) Cheaper is Not necessarily better, and (2) Different manufacturers' versions of a single drug are not always equal in their effectiveness, efficacy, and potential side effects! My PCP and I work together to make sure the medications I take do not cause more harm than good. Symptoms like stomach upset, balance issues, or just feeling worse after using a particular brand have caused me to stop my pharmacy and/or insurance company from changing brands on me.