Medications

[nivek]

I've noticed this at the company I work at now and the previous company, also with my employees at my local business...Everyone I have met and talked to in this company I work at currently is taking a pill or taking medicine for something, without exception, either it's for something physical or psychological, they have brought it up in conversation...A few that have inquired to me and find out I don't take any meds and rarely ever do seemed shocked by that as if that shouldn't be or think I'm hiding something lol...

Are there really a high percentage of people in the US or in western countries taking meds for one thing or another?...

...

 

[pigfarmer]

I've noticed this at the company I work at now and the previous company, also with my employees at my local business...Everyone I have met and talked to in this company I work at currently is taking a pill or taking medicine for something, without exception, either it's for something physical or psychological, they have brought it up in conversation...A few that have inquired to me and find out I don't take any meds and rarely ever do seemed shocked by that as if that shouldn't be or think I'm hiding something lol...
Are there really a high percentage of people in the US or in western countries taking meds for one thing or another?...
...

We're targeted by advertising so that we run to a doctor to get a pill to fix a problem we've self diagnosed. Then there's all the over the counter crapola. And we're gobbling feel good 'natural remedies' and preventatives for ... what exactly?
Not that any of the above doesn't have it's place it's just that for every one person that needs to take something there are a zillion more that don't who are anyway.

Then there are those who think their doctor is a body shop. Screw something up and the doc will just knock the dents out. Eat what you want, never exercise and then run to somebody to straighten all that out because you got problems.

Mom was a hypochondriac who destroyed her stomach lining with Excedrin by the bucket full. Bleeding ulcers, multiple stomach resections, not nice. Mother in Law is a hypochondriac who spends her days snarfing one thing to make something happen and another to stop it and some genuine heavy duty horse tranquilizers for reasons that no one is clear on. If you or I took a fraction of what she does on a daily basis we'd be in a coma. But regular.

Another friend is morbidly obese and yet all of his myriad problems are never a result of that, but clearly are. Constant complaints about back, feet, aches and pains - always something. Yet if I took my truck and severely overloaded it with cement and it started to creak & groan and ruin it's shocks and tires he'd be the first one to deliver a lecture on the topic.

Here I go again. Niagara Falls? Slowly I turned ..... step by step ....

 

[goblin]

Anecdotally, yes I believe a lot of Americans (myself included) have one or more prescription medication they take.

I still find it strange that prescription medication is advertised to we regular citizens. I feel like, shouldn't the doctors be the people learning about the medicines? FWIW I've never gone to my doctor and said hey I just saw this great commercial about a new drug that sounded really promising to me.... I just don't quite get it.

 

[cosmic joke]

morning. well here it still is, you all know how old i am. believe it or not i don't take any meds. my dad lived to me 97 his sister 100. neither one to my knowledge took any medications. ya sure ibuprofen for the odd headache, but nothing prescribed. heredity? lucky? every time i see my doc he says 'bad decision'. wants me to get a flu pneumonia and shingles shot. i say haven't yet and no thanks. he thinks 65 and over should get these shots. trying to wear me down by repetiton i guess. took the 'good for 10 years' tetanus shot though.

 

[Sheltie]

There are almost certainly some medications that are being over prescribed, especially the psychological ones. Unfortunately, I believe most of the increase in meds being taken by Americans is for real. It's all a direct result of the obesity epidemic and sedentary life styles.

It's estimated that at least one third of all adults in the US are now dangerously obese. I know that Nivek, who is into health and fitness like me, will agree that the number of ailments and diseases that obesity either causes or contributes to is mind-boggling.

Just making an effort to eat a little healthier and do light exercise, such as leisurely walking, would make a huge difference for most people.

 

[Standingstones]

I will take an alternate view. Twenty seven years ago I fell from a ladder. I landed on my tail bone and I have had spine problems ever since. I’ve gone through three operations with a rod and fusion to add to my list. The bottom line is I have had chronic pain every day. Once your back is fucked up there is no simple cure. You need to take pain medications and generally you are looking at reoccurring surgeries.

The surgeries and the pain medications are a temporary band-aid. My pain has been increasing since the beginning of the year. The orthopedic doctors I have seen tell me that more surgery will help in the short run but I will end up like those elderly folks that you see with arched backs. I prefer not to go that route.

Taking constant pain meds leads to additional problems I won’t get into. The main thing for me is to be damn glad you don’t need to take multiple prescriptions for any reason. Just know that not everyone falls into a bucket where they can avoid pills. It isn’t that simplistic sometimes.

 

[Sheltie]

I will take an alternate view. Twenty seven years ago I fell from a ladder. I landed on my tail bone and I have had spine problems ever since. I’ve gone through three operations with a rod and fusion to add to my list. The bottom line is I have had chronic pain every day. Once your back is fucked up there is no simple cure. You need to take pain medications and generally you are looking at reoccurring surgeries.

The surgeries and the pain medications are a temporary band-aid. My pain has been increasing since the beginning of the year. The orthopedic doctors I have seen tell me that more surgery will help in the short run but I will end up like those elderly folks that you see with arched backs. I prefer not to go that route.

Taking constant pain meds leads to additional problems I won’t get into. The main thing for me is to be damn glad you don’t need to take multiple prescriptions for any reason. Just know that not everyone falls into a bucket where they can avoid pills. It isn’t that simplistic sometimes.

I'm sorry to hear this, Standingstones. There have been a few times in my life when I've overworked my lower back and I know how painful that can be. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have recurring major back pain.

It seems like every day you read the news there are stories about the opioid epidemic and the abuse of pain pills. I worry that the crackdown on pain pill prescriptions could make it more difficult for the people like you who genuinely need pain pills to get them.

 

[Standingstones]

I'm sorry to hear this, Standingstones. There have been a few times in my life when I've overworked my lower back and I know how painful that can be. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have recurring major back pain.

It seems like every day you read the news there are stories about the opioid epidemic and the abuse of pain pills. I worry that the crackdown on pain pill prescriptions could make it more difficult for the people like you who genuinely need pain pills to get them.

Getting pain medications is a difficult procedure these days. Your family doctor is now reluctant to write script for pain meds. I have to go to a special pain management doctor to get my medicine. The rules and regulations make it extremely difficult to get what you need.

When I am in pain I am not in the mood to jump through hoops but those are the games you have to play. Those people who have screwed over the system now make it harder for those who truly need their meds.

 

[Sheltie]

From what I've read, a new generation of pain pills that are significantly less addictive and far less harmful when taken long term is just around the corner.