A prescription needed for fewer meds?

   A recent national study determined that for the first time, 51 percent of all insured American children and adults are taking one or more prescription drugs regularly for a chronic condition.

   The most widely used drugs are those that lower high blood pressure and cholesterol - problems often linked to heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

   Medco Health Solutions, which manages prescription benefits for about one in five Americans, gathered the numbers last year. The company sampled 2.5 million customers, from newborns to the elderly and medication use was seen in:

• Almost two-thirds of women 20 and older.

•  One in four children and teenagers.

•  More than half of adult men.

• Three out of four people 65 and older.

   Do you think Americans are over-medicated?

   What steps have you taken to get off prescription medications?

   --- Deidre Williams

Comments

[Mark]

In the past two decades many medicines have come to the market which have aided people who have had chronic illnesses live better lives, there is no question about that. At the same time, numerous ads pushing various types of drugs, have crossed the line and may have pushed too many of them. I have to be on several myself, though I have aggressively lowered the number from what I was taking in the past through a serious dialogue with my healthcare providers, repeatedly asking what are my best options. I probably could have taken that approach several years ago and saved myself a lot of issues. Again, the patient needs to be aggressive in asking the questions why, not going into the office and saying I saw this on TV, will it work for me. In the word of increased costs, drug coverage is one of the major cost drivers.

[GuardianAngel]

All medications, prescription and nonprescription, are poison and are meant to be taken with care.

[Lydia Bezou-Hojnacki]

Just say NO to drugs!

Drugs are available only if you permit your physician to prescribe them and you are suckered into having the prescriptions filled.

My doctor already knows she cannot prescribe anything for me except my two life-saving medications, which, by the way, cost a total of about $12/month.

Diet is generally the most effective and pleasant course of action against disease. Same goes for changing one's lifestyle.

The REAL PROBLEM with the pharmaceutical industry is the way it woos and convinces medical professionals about the efficacy of its high-priced products. Do not think that doctors have no stake in the profitability of the prescription drug dynasty.

[Al]

This is way to simplified a presentation, and with information from a basically employer/insurance firm which perspective is questionable. The blatant drug commercials muddy the issue by "creating" a Viagara-like syndrome in people. The effective answer is about Life-Style, which will include knowledge-based health and fitness information and wise counseling. This is available, often at little or no cost, but in a commercialized, medical community controlled society, people are consumed by popping pills. There are drugs that are true life-savers and life enhancers. It's the educational system that is letting society down.

[pgr88]

It seems we now we first invent the cure, then invent a disease for it.

Of course, then everyone will expect the Gov't to pay for it all.

[fedup]

Look around.
Get EDUCATED fast, or die young!
The FDA is NOT going to look out for YOU.
The FCC is NOT going to look out for YOU.
Etc, Etc, Etc....
The GOVERNMENT is NOT going to look out for you.

The food is drugged up with toxic chemicals. Aspartame (thanks mr rumsfield who FORCED the fda to allow that), floride, aluminum abounds in almost everything you put in and on you. Take a quick chemistry lesson, see what their feeding you, cramming the never ending 24\7 pharmacuetical commercials down your throats, every few minutes.

Does anyone really think their doing this all for YOUR own good? Then you deserve to keep taking their red pills.

It's all about PROFITS! RECORD PROFITS, EVERY QUARTER!
NOT YOU or YOUR health.

[Karen]

100 years ago, people didn't have access to drugs we take for granted today-and, by and large, they lived shorter lives, and took longer to recover from illness or accidents. Today, strep throat is easily diagnosed and taken care of, with 10 days worth of antibiotics. It doesn't kill by having your throat simply swell so that you can't breathe, or by migrating to your heart or kidneys. Germs introduced to the body through a wound, no longer cause sepsis or tetanus due to preventative antibiotics, and antitetanus vaccines.
HAving said that...remember when the company that makes Prozac, tried to convince a great many doctors that any woman who complained of bloating before her period, that she was dangerously premenstral, and needed Serafem? That was just Prozac packaged in a nice pretty pink box. And it boosted sales. When my dr suggested I take Serafem, I went to another dr-who laughed at the tale, told me I was fine, but then I knew that already.
The drug companies have put out a great many wonderful drugs, that help those who have tried diet, lifestyle changes, live long productive lives with everything from depression to fibromyalgia to diabetes to psoriasis to arthritis. For that, we thank them. But, for all those ads telling us, that we are ALL depressed, that imply that ALL of us with cholesterol or blood pressure a bit higher than is should be should just take a pill instead of watching our diet, exercising, and learning to relax, that ALL men who take a bit longer, shall we say, getting started in the bedroom, need a pill instead of a patient partner, well, don't look to US to boost your CEO's profit sharing.

[BuffaloCitizenQPublic]

- Definitely, especially for those who have INSURANCE. Soon there will probably be a bad hair day Rx.
-It’s no secret that the continuous barrage of advertising is stimulating a significant increase in prescription drug usage.
- Besides the catchy commercials some pills have a colorful appeal that’s memorable. Consequently, patients are asking for specific medications and apparently many physicians are granting their requests. That’s not always a good thing.