Discussion Drugs USA VS Drugs elsewhere

[Johnnythefox]

I get the impression that members in the US are prescribed more drugs than members elsewhere, or am I mistaken in this?
I think medicines are more expensive in the US, and wonder if there is a connection with more = more profits?

 

[Lra888]

From my experience Doctors here are always quick to prescribe drugs.

 

[peachesNpoison]

Yes to all. There's a John Oliver segment that touches upon it if you want to see some of the horseshit that goes on:


In my personal experience, I've been surprised a few times when I've asked for advice on something like indigestion and they just immediately give me Rx for something when I'm just looking for natural suggestions. There's good doctors and bad doctors though so you can't really say they all do this, but it's enough to be a real problem.
The only exception, of course, can be opiates b/c that's when they get worried about their own liability for pill shoppers. However, depending on where you live, you can just go to "pain clinics" and get plenty.
It's a horrible, exploitative situation but that's what you get with a private system. Bernie Sanders is still trying to fix it, but who knows.

 

[killing me softly]

definitely. i once heard about a colicky baby being put on a mood suppressor.

 

[15dec]

Yeah, reading posts here I get the impression that drugs are ridiculously easy to obtain in America. Especially antidepressants -I swear they're impossible to get here! Same goes for psych wards. I think you're onto something with the profits though, can't think of any other reason to be so willing to give out meds and sectioning people for things that are pretty minor here.

 

[Smilla]

definitely. i once heard about a colicky baby being put on a mood suppressor.

WTF.

We have MDs in the US and also DO (doctors of osteopathic medicine). Some MDs look down on DOs but many don't: DOs often work in the same family practices alongside MDs and serve patients who want less invasive treatment either via surgery or drugs which MDs are more likely to recommend. I'm sure a med professional could explain it better but that's what I gather.

Anyway, I think I read somewhere that a quarter of incoming freshman to university are on an antidepressant here in the US.

 

[Johnnythefox]

Yeah, reading posts here I get the impression that drugs are ridiculously easy to obtain in America. Especially antidepressants -I swear they're impossible to get here! Same goes for psych wards. I think you're onto something with the profits though, can't think of any other reason to be so willing to give out meds and sectioning people for things that are pretty minor here.

As an aside, my oldest brother trained as an RMN and doesn't advocate the use of drugs. I don't feel much benefit from Prozac apart from increased flatulence and regular bowel movements.

 

[15dec]

As an aside, my oldest brother trained as an RMN and doesn't advocate the use of drugs. I don't feel much benefit from Prozac apart from increased flatulence and regular bowel movements.

Yeah I've heard drugs are usually pretty useless for curing depression, I read a few weeks ago that the most effective ones are rarely prescribed or aren't even used for treatment. Only makes it more baffling for me why they're handed out so eagerly in America with such little success rate

 

[killing me softly]

WTF..

sorry...that was just my dry sense of humor coming out to play.

 

[Trulysorry]

I'm In Canada.. and the doctors here seem pretty quick to prescribe as well

 

[Angst Filled Fuck Up]

Doctors here will generally prescribe medications very easily - oftentimes even the wrong kind - just to get you out of the office. Antidepressants are very simple to obtain, and they'll often happily give you antibiotics even without a confirmed infection, or one that's viral in nature.

 

[15dec]

Doctors here will generally prescribe medications very easily - oftentimes even the wrong kind - just to get you out of the office. Antidepressants are very simple to obtain, and they'll often happily give you antibiotics even without a confirmed infection, or one that's viral in nature.

I'd have to wait months and speak to even more professionals to even be reconsidered to go on antidepressants. And as for antibiotics, it's taught pretty much everywhere not to take them unless you need them (I swear I even saw an ad on TV about it) and even if you do have a viral infection the doctors make a point of telling you that it will most likely go away on it's own accord. I can't imagine that stuff just being handed over to me

 

[Trulysorry]

In my experience antibiotics are handed out like nothing here.. I've been on more than I can list (chronic toncilitis).. and antidepressants as well.. without proper diagnosis .. it is honestly as though they just want you out of their offices

 

[Angst Filled Fuck Up]

I'd have to wait months and speak to even more professionals to even be reconsidered to go on antidepressants. And as for antibiotics, it's taught pretty much everywhere not to take them unless you need them (I swear I even saw an ad on TV about it) and even if you do have a viral infection the doctors make a point of telling you that it will most likely go away on it's own accord. I can't imagine that stuff just being handed over to me

Yeah, it's pretty crazy. I once went in with a suspected infection, but my blood test showed no raised white blood cell count or any other signs of infection, and they gave me antibiotics anyway. They're working less and less well on the whole, even when they're actually needed. The only meds they're really cracking down on are things like codeine, promethazine and opioids because of the widespread abuse.

 

[Johnnythefox]

I think it just reinforces my belief that the American system is about profit before people.

 

[Johnnythefox]

With the rise in superbugs resistant to drugs the human race could see it's demise sooner rather than later.

Apparently we are overdue for an outbreak similar to the 1918 influenza pandemic.

 

[killing me softly]

With the rise in superbugs resistant to drugs the human race could see it's demise sooner rather than later.

Apparently we are overdue for an outbreak similar to the 1918 influenza pandemic.

i was just listening to a On the Media podcast that was talking about that

 

[Johnnythefox]

 

[Madame Psychosis]

In my experience, doctors in the U.S. will prescribe drugs at the drop of a hat. I mentioned to my doctor that I occasionally had trouble sleeping, and he wrote me a prescription for some pretty heavy duty sleeping pills without asking about the severity of my insomnia, nor whether or not I wanted the pills. Bonkers.

It was common practice in my high school to feign symptoms of an anxiety disorder to get Xanax prescriptions. Many people I know have some seriously screwed up relationships to their psych meds, in part because their doctors didn't take the time to make sure they were prescribing the right things in the right quantities.

 

[Misanthrope]

Honestly coming here and reading about American health care is truly depressing. More depressing is that same poison is coming to the UK busy butchering the NHS via various stealth tactics. It is utterly sick. Sick, how Americans are treated, sick you have so few protections against it. Access to meaningful health care should be a fundamental right in this day and age. I hope you can demand a better way.