If this isn't damning evidence of Pharmaceutical corruption, I don't know what is

NoRegretsEver,

I know you and I don't agree on the point of, "just business," but I just want to validate the point, that both of us do seem to agree on the point that Big Pharma drugs have become a problem.

Troy

Let's try PRINIVIL,
Generic Name: lisinopril (lyse IN oh pril)
Brand Names: Prinivil, Zestril

Drugs.com description

"Prinivil is in a group of drugs called ACE inhibitors. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme.

Prinivil is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), congestive heart failure, and to improve survival after a heart attack.

Prinivil may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide."

Ok, let's observe what people have said about it.

www.askapatient.com...

One patient offered their doctor 5 pills, so they could be on the same page, but the doctor declined.

Troy

What really surprises me after reading through those side effects is that many people keep taking it still??
Why take a drug that clearly does more harm than good??
It really makes no sense..

I know. The pills would be gone from my schedule the moment I knew they were hurting me. But, this is how members of my own family are, and how many people are. They will take it regardless, "the doctor said so." It's more of a fear driven thing, by the health care system. "You might die if you don't take...."

People have woken up, but some ignore logic and continue to take this stuff anyway.

Crazy.

Troy

reply to post by cybertroy


Hey troy. Just read through your thread. Was hoping maybe you could clarify a couple things for me so I can fully understand your position.

Is the "damming evidence" for the "corruption" you mention in your thread title and OP the anonymously submitted side effect profiles and comments left on the askpatient.com website you linked?

If so, how does this constitute corruption in your opinion? - Is it simply that you believe these drugs should not be allowed to be manufactured and sold to the public? - And is that belief based solely on the aforementioned comments from askpatient.com and other relayed experiences from friends/family/strangers?

Thanks.

I was just having a conversation at work yesterday with someone about the pharmaceutical companies and their drugs. That is what they are DRUGS.

I was on seroquel and litium at different times and they were horrible. I found other ways that were natural that worked wonders for me. Those medications made me a zombie and made me have other aliments that required more drugs that would just continue the cycle of needing more and more drugs to mask whatever side effect the meds were causing.

I have a friend who is on like 8 different meds and she doesn't need any of them. She is addicted to them and it's sad.

I give you much respect for getting off the medications. We need more and more people to do that.

Heck, you know, just a vigorous workout will get me out of a bit of a funk. Heck of a lot safer than drugs. And you feel great at the end. All kinds of ways to make a person feel better.

Thanks for posting.

Troy

My spouse and my mother are both on lipitor, and it does suck.

However, it is the only cholesterol medication that has actually worked. They have both tried other meds, mainly do to the issues with muscle soreness, and I don't think anyone takes the first liver function test without a moment of pause to evaluate if this med is for them.

Both of them take about 4000mg of fish oil per day in addition to the daily lipitor. But so far it seems to best option in a bunch of bad of options.

reply to post by LuckyOscar


I don't think there was any corruption at the level of giving the medication to lower cholesterol. That's what it does and it does very well. Our medical team was very up front about the side effects, including the possibility of liver damage which is why they have to do a blood test to check for damage every three months.

Lipitor sucks don't get me wrong, I have yet to meet a person that hasn't experienced at least one of the side effects, typically muscle and joint pain. However, there are other meds out there which don't have nearly as many side effects, unfortunately I have yet to find one that lowers the cholesterol as much as lipitor. Also, as I said before both my family members are on fish oil as well, one takes 4000 mg daily the other 6000, fish oil has demonstrated the ability to align cholesterol levels. Unfortunately even with the extra help of the fish oil we're stuck with lipitor.

From what I know, very few people actually need a statin drug. Me personally, I have a doubt that anyone actually needs them. But, apparently there is a tiny percentage of people who have a genetic disorder, where cholesterol is uncontrollable.

Cholesterol is largely a hyped up problem. Cholesterol performs important functions in the body. You don't want to cut off the supply. Wouldn't it seem to make sense to find out why the cholesterol is elevated in the first place? Instead of just throwing a drug in there to cut off the supply. Besides that, the cholesterol numbers were manipulated to put more people on statin drugs. In other words, what wasn't high before, is now "high."

Statins are known to cause muscle deterioration. And, your heart "is" a muscle. Statins are not protection from circulatory problems. If you must take them for some odd reason, I would make sure to take Coenzyme Q10.

You can check my information at mercola.com.

Troy

I was on lipitor for about 4 and a half years before my doctor attributed my debilitating pain to it. My shoulders hurt so bad, my knees, my upper back, shoulder blades, my legs, you name it, it hurt. I had visual disturbances, became anemic, all the while more pills being added to my list of daily meds-pills to help with all the symptoms lipitor was causing. Even the bottoms of my feet hurt. I had started this thread about it back in 2008:

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Since then, I had stopped taking lipitor, my good and bad cholestrol skyrocketed, I am not a big eater, and I don't even eat fried foods, I eat whole wheat and whole grain breads, no white potatoes, ect. But the numbers were astounding. I was put on Crestor and Tricor. Now, I have just as much pain as I did before. What's a girl to do?

Wow, that's a wide variety of pain. If you really and truly need to be on the stuff, you really should take CoQ10. For people above 25years of age, you want the Ubiquinol form, for best results. People below 25 should be fine with regular CoQ10. References:
articles.mercola.com...
products.mercola.com...
Yeah, one of the links a bit of a sales page, but the information is still there.

Best of luck to ya, Space Cadet!

I reference Dr. Mercola, because he is a real doctor, who also isn't afraid to stick his neck out. He seems to be a real stand-up guy. I have a lot of respect for him. He understands the need for natural and safe treatments, but also realizes there are times that medication is the right thing. He definitely prefers the natural approach, he doesn't prescribe medications if he doesn't feel they are necessary. As with Statins, he says he rarely prescribes them, because so few people actually need them.

I want people to understand where I am coming from. Big Pharma is no doubt corrupt. Many drugs exist that probably shouldn't. But, I know there are times when maybe a drug is the lifesaver. I'm not questioning valid medications, and their proper use. If you really need it, then, by all means, use it.

But, what I really have a problem with is the way the health care system has become all about drugs, surgery, and expensive procedures, when there many times are much better and safer options, without having to auction off your wife and kids to pay for the medical bill. And, I do have a problem with the ridiculous side effects, some of them being the same type of problem you are dealing with, or worse. That's not "help" in my eyes. That is insanity. People work hard for their money, they shouldn't have to waste it on false cures, and ridiculously overpriced medications that many times worsen the problem. So, you end up deep in debt, but you don't feel better. I want to know where the guarantee is on some of these products and services? I know you can't guarantee some things, but why can't I take my pills back and get a full refund if they don't work, or make me ill? Why can't I get my money back on a botched surgery? You have to sue to get your money back.

I want to know why you can't go to a regular doctor and have easy access to better solutions? Instead of a bottle of expensive pills, or bottles of expensive pills, and a comment about when your arteries clog up even more, we will eventually operate. Would it be wrong to show the patient how they can reverse heart disease? Apparently, some people in the health care field must think it is wrong, or doesn't make enough money.

Big Pharma needs a massive overhaul, and many of those people need to go to jail. It is a criminal organization, because of the way they have conducted business. To continue to let them go on, business as usual, is criminal itself. Big Parma should be a lot smaller than it is. If they only gave the public the medications they truly needed, I doubt they would even be half the size that they are.

Troy

I have been talking with a family member about Psychiatric drugs over the past few days. Look at what I found.

Lexapro, well you get on the web site. Go here

www.lexapro.com...

Click the "full prescribing information" link, it opens a PDF,

www.frx.com...

go down to page 14. Is that not one of the most insane things you have ever read for something that is supposed to be helping you? See, the web site lists a few little side effects on the page and says something like it's not the full list of possible side effects. They didn't tell you the other nasties that have happened to your face, up front. You have to dig a little.

Troy

Originally posted by cybertroy

www.askapatient.com...

One patient offered their doctor 5 pills, so they could be on the same page, but the doctor declined.

Troy

edit on 19-1-2011 by cybertroy because: added quotes

Yes, because it is highly illegal to take medicines that are not prescribed to you. She could of offered him five of anything, he would of said no.

Let's try another Psychiatric medication. Abilify. Some of these stories are disturbing. What's going to happen to some of these people later in life?

www.askapatient.com...

I know some people under Psychiatric care (meaning drugs), personally, and they aren't better, they are a train wreck. I was down and out for years, and I didn't take any of this stuff. I stood back up, I'm creating a better life for myself. Life certainly isn't perfect, but I don't think it's perfect for anyone, but at least I know my health and mental well being is pretty good.

It is so sad what is happening to some of the people on this planet. They are literally drugged and chained to their insanity. "Now, if you just take these drugs the rest of your life, we can manage the symptoms." Manage, why manage, when you can get better? And, not wreck your body in the process.

Troy

reply to post by cybertroy


What would your non-drug based therapy be for people with schizophrenia? Schizoaffective disorder? Borderline personality disorder? Violent paraphilia? Psychogenic parasitism?

Just because YOU don't have a psychiatric illness that necessitates treatment, don't pretend to know how to manage all other disorders. It makes you look like an arrogant, ignorant fool. I've seen a schizophrenic who literally pulled her eye out of it's socket to get to the "transmitter" someone had hidden in her skull. Do you think this person needs medication, or to "get up and get over it", like you described?

A lot of the blame falls on the corporations and doctors, but just as much falls on the shoulders of the people who take this stuff. A lot of these health problems we're seeing popping up all over the place are a product of a large percentage of our population being lazy, obese, not eating healthy, and not exercising.

With the crap most americans eat, it's no wonder they look and feel like #. Proccessed food is filled with toxins. Fast food is far worse. There's no excuse for putting that crap in your body. No one needs to tell you it's not healthy. Anyone with half a brain realizes when they're eating healthy and when they're not.

Exercise is a cure for many health problems. Yet most of america is too damn lazy to get of their butts and go for a run, or lift weight. If you're fat, you know why you're fat. Or you're an absolute idiot, who most likely can't count the fingers on your left hand.Physical activity leads to weight loss. Not being active leads to weight gain. It aint complicated.

All this is connected to pharmaceutical drugs. People aren't heathly, and aren't making an effort to be healthy. Then they go to the doctor complaining about some symptom, and getting their meds prescribed. Then they take it without doing any research? Again, their fault. If I were to offer a random 50 year old a few hits off a joint, most likely they would say no way, and tell me how bad it is for your body. Yet, if a doctor offers them a script of oxycontin for a back problem, they will down it without hesitating, while ignoring the fact weight loss and stretching would be just as effective, if not more. It boils down to people being lazy, and not owning their body. They want a quick fix. It;s much easier for a doctor to say, "here take these", rather than, "you've gained a lot of weight and aren't eating heathly, I want you to get on an exercise program, and starting eating natural foods".

The majority of people I know who take prescription meds are unheathly for various reasons, and it boils down to their lifestyle.

It would be great if everyone here fully blaming the drug compaines, was required to pull up their shirt, and post a picture of their midsection. Are you taking responsibility for your own body? Drug compainies don't give you a fat gut, your lifestyle does. I'm curious as to how many on here actually exercise daily, and eat healthy, natural foods, or just sit at their computer all day complaining.

Many of these drugs enable people suffering to lead healthier, normal lives. Nothing is as truly evil as you're making them out to be. Do I agree that our society is entirely too overmedicated? Yes of course I do, but I also realize that these medications (while profitable) are also helping just as many people as they are giving bad experiences to, if not more.

Some people who have it truly bad just have no choice. They cannot have any sort of life without the help of medication. The user should always educate themself and ask questions and do so as a last resort.

reply to post by spinalremain


That's somewhat true. Sometimes there is a need for medication. But, it should never be a lifetime commitment, unless absolutely necessary. Because, many of these drugs are just plain toxic, especially over the long term. I've seen too many people on medication, and I know it usually doesn't create a healthier person.

You never want to tie someone to a drug. The best and safest approach should always be used. If a vitamin cures heart disease, for example, then the patient should never be chained to a lifetime of toxic drugs.

People are rebelling against the pharmaceutical industry, because it's just not helping.

I'm coming out of a long enduring "darkness" right now, and never had one prescription drug to "treat" it. And apparently, this is something the health care system considers incurable, just something you have to live with, or something you can only treat the symptoms of. It's a lie, just like many of the other "incurables."

Troy

reply to post by cybertroy


Man i hate how evil and twisted this society has become,there are perfectly effective natural remedies being undisclosed and illegalized while these severly dangerous drugs are being pumped into us with and without our knowing,doctors dont really have your best interest in your well being and quality of life in mind,never forget, its a buisness and their job is to keep you comming back,of coarse they arent gonna give u what works,even if you say it works,whats funny is how strict they are about giving out the good suff like marijuana and pain killers,the hypocrisy of the pain killers is funny, of coarse i know the DEA watches them but heres my point, they say,we dont prescribe pain meds unless you really really need them,funny,i was stabbed 3 times including getting my neck sliced damn near to the juggular and they gave me naproxen(aleve) lol, must have to have ur head hangin on by a thread of nerves to get codine. we dont give them out as much because they are habit forming, ok,do they or do they not say you have to keep taking paxil or zoloft or prozac and all those lousy good for nothing for nobody SSRI's and other anti depressants,or you will suffer severe withdrawls and suicidal thoughts,ok whats the difference,if your gonna give me something because im feeling down give me the good stuff that i know will work ok, its insane, you shouldnt take drugs because they are mind altering,yeah well so is sleep, and dont tell me these nutty psych drugs arent mind altering when you got parents offing their kids brutally while taking that stuff and school shootings just to name a few atrocities caused by these demented substances, marijuana is the safest drug out there with no chance of over dose and doesnt cause lunacy and its scheduled at the top of the list with really dangerous drugs, this has to be hell,something as frivalous and worthless as a federal reserve note is more important than a person,is life worth living anymore in this place? not really but like a movie i wanna see it thru til the end cuzz i wanna see how crazy it really gets lol