OK, I’m kinda on a roll today. I’m not a fan of big pharma – way too much prescribing going on, without considering other options. And with no plan for patients to get OFF the drugs.
Recently I took my son to ZoomCare because he was having some shortness of breath. They prescribed an albuterol inhaler. That’s nasty stuff! I asked the doctor how long he should expect to be on this stuff. She said “indefinitely.” My son is 18, has in own insurance, and a job. I’m not going to be running his life. But I encouraged him to use the inhaler ONLY when he needs it. Fortunately, he hasn’t needed it. The doctor also wanted him to get a chest x-ray and an MRI, and see a Pulmonologist.
That was several weeks ago. My son chose not to use the inhaler, he did get the chest x-ray, and not the MRI or the other doctor. My son is fine now.
This is a humorous look at the serious business of pharmaceuticals. Did you know that Americans are the most medicated people on the planet? How’s that working out?
