Re: New York Times: Free Drug Samples? Bad Idea, Some Say

Jeff wrote:
Free Drug Samples? Bad Idea, Some Say

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/01/health/01cons.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin

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Jeff

To all....I didn't comment on the long thread on a similar subject that
preceded this, but could not resist on this new fresh thread by Jeff. This
is a very serious and "real" problem. IMO, the pharmaceutical companies are
controlling the medical arena (which includes their influence on the
lowering of blood test ranges, and blood pressure ranges - which is critical
when considering starting a patient on a lifetime regimen of cholesterol, or
BP pills (two of the largest sellers), which may mess you up if you really
don't need them (the statins especially), because perhaps you are getting on
in age, and you used to be at the upper limit, and now the range has been
lowered (largely due to the friggen pharmaceutical lobbyists), and your
doctor decides to start you on the pills. This is not to say there are not
other research type agencies involved, but the pharma impact is huge.

This is vicious and nasty stuff that keeps getting worse each day. The TV
commercials are sickening - especially the "ask your doctor crap". Chances
are your doctor knows less about the damn drug you are asking about than you
can learn about yourself (if you are a halfway intelligent person - if you
are a dumbass, you are screwed - and boy do I hate it when the old people
(and even worse, many young people also) don't even know what the names of
their drugs are - ie, "I don't know, my doctor told me to take it - duh!).

I have been to approx 75 doctors in my life, and have been studying medicine
intensely for 15 years, and I doubt that the vast majority of doctors even
take the time to read the package inserts of the friggen samples they
receive. I have seen this by experience, since (as an example) the doctor
may not even know what the different strengths are for the particular
medication, and give you the wrong answer when you ask him/her. They get
the sales pitch from the rep and start prescribing it on a trial basis,
especially if it is real popular, with lots of commercials.

I do not totally disagree with free samples, but I definitely agree with
Jeff on his previous comments that an older proven drug that is available as
a generic, can be just as good if not better (since it has a proven track
record). I am all for new technology, if it is indeed better for the
patient, but once you start prescribing a long term "brand name" drug to a
patient, it will not go generic for many years (say 14-17 for talking
purposes), and the patient may not be able to afford it (or want to pay for
it even if they could pay for it, and still get by, sacrificing other
things).

Always remember that the drug companies are big business, out to make the
almighty dollar, and there are no more "Marcus Welby's" or "Patch Adam's"
left in the world anymore, and the doctors themselves have also succumbed to
the system, IMHO. What a shame.

Just look at it this way - Nexium is the left side of the optical isomer for
Prilosec. Why do you think that is. It is very simple - it is so the
Pharma could start up another long term patent for something they already
invented. It's all about patent laws and making money. I think the patient
is just a pawn being moved around. And of course, we don't want to even
mention the subject of curing a disease, versus keeping it at bay - not good
for big Pharma - a subject constantly discussed in this, and many other ng's
:-) .

Pete


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