Recently, actually the day after a friend's husband told me his horrific experience with a commonly prescribed painkiller, my daughter contacted me because she was feeling deathly ill while dealing with a case of strep throat. I asked what the physician had prescribed - an antibiotic and a painkiller. When I researched the painkiller, it turns out it was the generic for the very same drug my friend's husband warned me about. I told her to stop taking it immediately and she began to feel much better. I have since learned that this drug is banned in many European countries, including France, Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden, and Great Britain, and that 99% of the world's supply of this drug is consumed by Americans. It sounds like this dangerous drug is handed out like candy in the US.
Although there are definitely times when we need over-the-counter and prescription painkillers, it's important to know the risks involved.
4 comments:
Maybe 2 weeks ago (it might have been 3) This American Life did a freighting show on Ibuprofin
It's interesting to me how as big pharm develops more pain killer drugs that are dangerous to vital organs but that they make a hell of a lot of money off of, that there is more media on how the natural narcotics (opium derived) are so dangerous because of how addictive they are. Personally, I would rather be addicted to a natural substance that does not harm my vital organs than dependent on the new meds that quickly damage the kidneys or liver. The narcotic I can get off of in 3-5 days. The new drugs like the nsaids permanently damage the body. I think big pharm is responsible for all the negative hype about the perils of addiction.
Shona, I'll have to look for that podcast.
Rubye,
Natural always gets a bad rap - mainly because they can't patent them easily so not as much money to be made. It's obvious when a natural product gets yanked if a handful of people are harmed (usually from misuse) when synthetic products kill thousands yet still remain on the market.
Post a Comment