Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog » Lifestyle Drugs and Risk

July 15, 2007

Lifestyle Drugs and Risk

I see taking drugs as risky. Certain drug have long histories and seem safe and even seem to have positive side effect like Aspirin (though even it is not without risks - see below). Even if a drug has a good chance of a positive result in treating some medical condition - assuming it is otherwise safe is not wise. I believe you have have a significant positive known benefit to consider taking drugs given the unknown problems that are likely to be lurking. I find the pop a pill culture for anything that might be a minor annoyance to be foolish - taking risks without consideration. Taking drugs entails taking a risk and the more you take the risks of interactions and cumulative effects increase the risks to you. Business Week (somewhat surprising given the huge amount drug makers pay to advertise lifestyle drugs) has a decent article pointing out some of the foolishness involved in the Lifestyle Drug Binge:

The renewed excitement is most evident in four treatment areas that account for the bulk of lifestyle-drug sales: weight loss, hair loss, sleep, and sexual dysfunction.

This trend is surprising because such treatments can expose patients to risks, sparking criticism of drug companies at a time when patient safety is already under a spotlight. Lifestyle drugs are defined loosely as products used to treat conditions that are not life-threatening. Because people take them over long periods of time, sometimes on a daily basis, they may be more dangerous than they first appear.

We have found amazingly helpful and useful drugs. This is great. But people need to remember these drugs are not without potential negative consequences. Take advantage of them when appropriate but don’t forget the risks each instance has for negative side effects. Related: health care improvement articles - health care blog posts

Can daily aspirin therapy save your life? (from the University of Michigan):

Although taking aspirin leads to a wealth of potential health benefits for adults, people should realize that even a baby aspirin is not free of dangerous side effects,” says A. Mark Fendrick, M.D., an internist at the U-M Health System. “Therefore, in my opinion, aspirin should not be taken on a daily basis without first discussing it with your health care provider. According to Fendrick, aspirin use should be based on the tradeoff between the risk of disease you are trying to prevent, such as a heart attack, and the risk of side effects, such as a bleeding ulcer. “Most consumers are not aware of this tradeoff,” he says.
…
“I think aspirin is currently undergoing a bit of an identity crisis,” says Fendrick. “Because it’s been around so long and is available over the counter for pennies a day, many people can’t believe that aspirin is equally or more effective than prescription drugs that cost over a hundred times more.”
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“Aspirin is not benign,” says Fendrick. “Thousands of people die each year in the United States from complications related to taking aspirin and other NSAIDs.

by curiouscat Tags: Economics, Health Care, Life Science, Science, Students
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3 Responses to “Lifestyle Drugs and Risk”

CuriousCat: Overrelience on Perscription Drugs to Aid Children's Sleep? Says:
August 10th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
“They found that 81 percent of these cases resulted in the prescribing of a drug to treat the problem. Only 7 percent of patients received dietary counseling, and only 22 percent were given behavioral therapies such as psychotherapy or stress management counseling…”
CuriousCat: Drug Price Crisis Says:
March 17th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
“The mounting U.S. drug price crisis can be contained and eventually reversed by separating drug discovery from drug marketing and by establishing a non-profit company to oversee funding for new medicines…”
Addiction Rehab Centers Blog » Should Rehab be Enjoyed? Says:
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:34 am
“Less than a decade ago, a stint in rehab was assumed to be a body- and soul-wrenching experience. Today a sojourn at a boutique establishment like Promises in Malibu… is openly discussed and in some quarters glamorized as a hip, if costly, refuge for the gilded set.”