If you watch TV for any length of time, you will see advertisement after advertisement for medications to heal your life and make everything well. The promises and claims that these medication advertisements make on TV and the media astound me to no end.
Of course, if you really watch closely, you'll see the long list of side effects that each medication has. In fact, it seems to be a badge of honor to these pharmaceutical manufacturers to have the side effects. It is almost the more side effects you have, the better your drug. If you take it one step further, if it includes death, than it seems to be more important in their advertisement.
The thing I wonder is just how much anyone thinks about all of this. I'm sure I could answer this by seeing how many times the advertisement gets aired and the sales that are generated by these companies. We really need to step back in this country and in our world and listen to these advertisements for the medications. They are not as innocent as they appear and we all know that but we are choosing to ignore it.
This 5 part blog post series is not meant as medical advice nor is it meant for you to stop taking medications prescribed by your doctor. You should always make those decisions with a qualified medical doctor. I am merely pointing out information my own study of a different way to view the body. Remember, the more you understand about how your body works, the more impact you can have upon your life. Just to make this crystal clear, consult your medical professional before making any changes with your medications and health. This is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.
According to Forbes.com, the following are some of the most popular prescription drugs in the US in 2009. I'm sure the list has changed by now since there is a mad dash in our country to turn out new drugs and benefit the bottom lines of the pharmaceutical companies. Of course, it doesn't matter what the name of the drug is, the list of side effects a mile long will still be there and people will still not be thinking clearly about what they put into the body.
1) Hydrocodone/acetaminophen (painkiller) - 128 million prescriptions
2) Simvastatin (high cholesterol) - 83 million prescriptions
3) Lisinopril (high blood pressure) - 81.3 million prescriptions
4) Levothyroxine sodium (thyroid disorders) - 66 million prescriptions
5) Azithromycin (antibiotic) - 53.8 million prescriptions
6) Metformin (diabetes) - 52 million prescriptions
7) Lipitor (high cholesterol) - 51.5 million prescriptions
8) Amlodipine (high blood pressure) - 50.9 million prescriptions
9) Amoxicillin (antibiotic) - 49.2 million prescriptions
10) Hydrochlorothiazide (high blood pressure) - 47.1 million prescriptions
11) Omeprazole (heartburn) - 45.4 million prescriptions
12) Alprazolam (anxiety) - 44.4 prescriptions
13) Furosemide (high blood pressure) - 42.8 million prescriptions
14) Metoprolol tartrate (angina, high blood pressure) - 40.5 million prescriptions
15) Atenolol (angina, high blood pressure) - 38.6 million prescriptions
If you look at the list above, you will notice that there out of the 15 drugs listed, 6 of them were for high blood pressure, and 2 were for high cholesterol. Pain killers were at the top of the list. Here's the breakdown of the conditions that rank in the top 15 by number of prescriptions for 2009 according to the article on Forbes.com .
1) Pain Killer
2) High Cholesterol
3) High Blood Pressure
4) Thyroid
5) Antibiotic
6) Diabetes
7) Heartburn
8) Anxiety
Please come back tomorrow for part 2 in this series about medication side effects.
Part 1
Part 2 (Posted 4/23/11)
Part 3 (Posted 4/24/11)
Part 4 (Posted 4/25/11)
Part 5 (Posted 4/26/11)
Further Information:
1) Drugs.com
2) Forbes.com - The Most Popular Prescription Drugs
3) High Pulse Rate and Heart Disease
4) KaiserEDU.org - US Health Care Costs
Disclaimer:
This blog post series is not meant as medical advice nor is it meant for you to stop taking medications prescribed by your doctor. You should always make those decisions with a qualified medical doctor. I am merely pointing out information my own study of a different way to view the body. Remember, the more you understand about how your body works, the more impact you can have upon your life. Just to make this crystal clear, consult your medical professional before making any changes with your medications and health. This is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.
Blog Post & Images (c) 4/7/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com
Of course, if you really watch closely, you'll see the long list of side effects that each medication has. In fact, it seems to be a badge of honor to these pharmaceutical manufacturers to have the side effects. It is almost the more side effects you have, the better your drug. If you take it one step further, if it includes death, than it seems to be more important in their advertisement.
The thing I wonder is just how much anyone thinks about all of this. I'm sure I could answer this by seeing how many times the advertisement gets aired and the sales that are generated by these companies. We really need to step back in this country and in our world and listen to these advertisements for the medications. They are not as innocent as they appear and we all know that but we are choosing to ignore it.
This 5 part blog post series is not meant as medical advice nor is it meant for you to stop taking medications prescribed by your doctor. You should always make those decisions with a qualified medical doctor. I am merely pointing out information my own study of a different way to view the body. Remember, the more you understand about how your body works, the more impact you can have upon your life. Just to make this crystal clear, consult your medical professional before making any changes with your medications and health. This is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.
According to Forbes.com, the following are some of the most popular prescription drugs in the US in 2009. I'm sure the list has changed by now since there is a mad dash in our country to turn out new drugs and benefit the bottom lines of the pharmaceutical companies. Of course, it doesn't matter what the name of the drug is, the list of side effects a mile long will still be there and people will still not be thinking clearly about what they put into the body.
1) Hydrocodone/acetaminophen (painkiller) - 128 million prescriptions
2) Simvastatin (high cholesterol) - 83 million prescriptions
3) Lisinopril (high blood pressure) - 81.3 million prescriptions
4) Levothyroxine sodium (thyroid disorders) - 66 million prescriptions
5) Azithromycin (antibiotic) - 53.8 million prescriptions
6) Metformin (diabetes) - 52 million prescriptions
7) Lipitor (high cholesterol) - 51.5 million prescriptions
8) Amlodipine (high blood pressure) - 50.9 million prescriptions
9) Amoxicillin (antibiotic) - 49.2 million prescriptions
10) Hydrochlorothiazide (high blood pressure) - 47.1 million prescriptions
11) Omeprazole (heartburn) - 45.4 million prescriptions
12) Alprazolam (anxiety) - 44.4 prescriptions
13) Furosemide (high blood pressure) - 42.8 million prescriptions
14) Metoprolol tartrate (angina, high blood pressure) - 40.5 million prescriptions
15) Atenolol (angina, high blood pressure) - 38.6 million prescriptions
If you look at the list above, you will notice that there out of the 15 drugs listed, 6 of them were for high blood pressure, and 2 were for high cholesterol. Pain killers were at the top of the list. Here's the breakdown of the conditions that rank in the top 15 by number of prescriptions for 2009 according to the article on Forbes.com .
1) Pain Killer
2) High Cholesterol
3) High Blood Pressure
4) Thyroid
5) Antibiotic
6) Diabetes
7) Heartburn
8) Anxiety
Please come back tomorrow for part 2 in this series about medication side effects.
Part 1
Part 2 (Posted 4/23/11)
Part 3 (Posted 4/24/11)
Part 4 (Posted 4/25/11)
Part 5 (Posted 4/26/11)
Further Information:
1) Drugs.com
2) Forbes.com - The Most Popular Prescription Drugs
3) High Pulse Rate and Heart Disease
4) KaiserEDU.org - US Health Care Costs
Disclaimer:
This blog post series is not meant as medical advice nor is it meant for you to stop taking medications prescribed by your doctor. You should always make those decisions with a qualified medical doctor. I am merely pointing out information my own study of a different way to view the body. Remember, the more you understand about how your body works, the more impact you can have upon your life. Just to make this crystal clear, consult your medical professional before making any changes with your medications and health. This is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.
Blog Post & Images (c) 4/7/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com
absolutely, we are a drug addicted country. Having grown up in another country as a child, we never went to the doctors for colds, etc..I mean we really had to be sooo sick to be brought somewhere..I don't remember once as a child when we were put on antibiotics , but living here I find myself and other moms running to the doctor after 2 days of a cold or congestion with our kids. I think mostly this is due to our fast paced lives here , working etc..that we really don't have the time to be sick and desires to get well RIGHT away.. than we grow up to be adults and we still run to doctors who are eager to medicate us because the pharmaceutical companies are paying big bucks to their pockets or showering them with gifts, cruises etc..and before we know we are hooked on all kinds of stuff. Human greed on behalf of our doctors who take a medical oath to serve but get carried away with money..and we as making ourselves the victims voluntarily..who is wrong who is right..who knows, who can say..but, the pharmaceutical companies are now the biggest drug dealers, one does not have to go to the corner now..all you have to do is find a doctor who is willing to write a perscription and pay his fees..all the advertisement and ads in papers just sicken me..it is not normal but sick in its own self. Look at how many children are on drugs, and usually the most poorest and uneducated..Our government is not protecting the people either, because they have millions of dollars from lobbyists representing the drug firms. Their experimental drugs are tested in poor countries with poor people who don't know any better, and God only knows what our excuses are to be allowing all this. I truly believe all will answer at the end of the journey and when they are reminded of their desires to help people and the point when they forgot their own desires. Thank you for writing on this important but not talked about subject. blessings to you.
ReplyDelete@mary ann,
ReplyDeleteI find the more deep release healing that I have gone through - the intense healing stuff, the more healthier I have become. Between that and the whole fresh food smoothies we do each day, I just don't get sick like the average population does. I used to have a laundry list of illness/conditions I dealt with and drugs to go with each. A year ago, I had to get an antibiotic for a dental procedure and that was the first one I had taken in years. It felt strange going to have a prescription filled. Unfortunately, it is the norm now. Thanks for your comments. I'm happy that this has touched someone else because I believe we're headed down the wrong road in health care (I'm not talking politically either) but in a physical health treatment sort of way.