Good And Bad Pharmaceutical Drugs

November 19. 2009

Modern medical science has presented the world with quite a few discoveries. Some good, some bad. Take for instance, the Polio vaccine did wonders for many. 

The modern pharmaceutical industry sometimes exemplifies the term "trial and error." They often guess and it becomes evident when they run trials on a drug, it fails, then they change the disease or affliction they wish to target (Flibanserin). That's called guesswork.

Ibuprofen is a drug that has helped many with pain relief, with few, if any side effects. It is one of the better pharmaceutical drugs that have been created, which has been well tolerated by many. However, it is not right for everyone, as it can act as a blood thinner.

However, there are some horrific pharmaceutical drugs out there, which create worse side effects than the medical problem they are designed to address. 

For example, Topamax, is a terrible pharmaceutical drug. It is meant to target migraine headaches, but many people have reported serious side effects such as blurry vision, blindness, severe depression, hair loss, anxiety, heart palpitations, psychosis, tingling in limbs, trouble finding words when reading, confusion, aggressiveness, fatigue, feelings of dread, loss of appetite, memory loss and in the worst cases, a number of suicides.

Is it worth all that to stop migraines - NO! Topamax has a number of lawsuits against it and deservingly so. What it has done to the health and well being of many is disgraceful. 

Neurontin (Gabapentin) is a drug currently embroiled in a number of lawsuits for wrongful death, as it put some patients at a high risk for suicide, resulting in a number of deaths. It also created severe anxiety, shaking, dry mouth, throat pain, fatigue, stomach pains, confusion, kidney stones, hallucinations, dizziness, memory loss and heart palpitations in many. It is supposed to target seizures, but is being marketed for other uses such as relief from nerve pain, which is debatable and the treatment of bipolar disorder. 

It was recently discovered, pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, tampered with Neurontin studies. There needs to be transparency regarding Neurontin, as the current lawsuits indicate there is deceptiveness on the manufacturer's part. Consumers don't deserve that.  

Tegretol (Carbamazepine) is another drug that has some issues, in that it is meant to target items such as seizures, but it lowers the white blood cell count, which decreases the effectiveness of the immune system. They need to work on that.

When a person is sick, they need the best care available. Conflicts of interest can arise, when some doctors are on a pharmaceutical company's payroll, as has been found in a number of cases. 

Some pharmaceutical drug makers mean well, but some are reckless and looking for a profit at any cost, even if it means putting a product on the market that test trials revealed is very dangerous.

It's one thing when a drug company does not know what the side effects and long term effects are, but it is quite another when they do, but rush the product out anyway, killing people, for a quick buck.

Another issue is drug interactions, as quite a few drugs are not meant to be taken in tandem with others. A number of celebrities have overdosed in this manner.

Life and health are so precious. At the end of the day, everyone deserves proper medical care and the best pharmaceutical products available. Drug companies, doctors, nurses and hospitals should bear that in mind when they show up for work, as when you put yourself ahead of the patient, you will fail. Then it becomes about you and not making people better.