Do you rattle when you walk?

Just back from another trip to Michigan, and rather concerned about the Prescribed Medication culture over there.

Here in the UK, I hardly know anyone on regular medication.

Whereas over there you have doctors gleefully filling out prescriptions, every other commercial is for some sort of drug, and every citizen that I meet is regulary medicated for uppers, downers, sleepers, wakers etc ...

When you moved to the UK, was it easy to quit?  Or do you still argue with the doctors that you NEED your prescriptions?

You must know healthy people. 

I know quite a few people who are on multiple repeat prescriptions here and very few in the US. 

But most of the people I know in the US are younger and less likely to need them and the people I know who are on repeats in the UK are older. 

I'm not sure what you mean- taking drugs for the sake of it? I don't think I know anyone who does that??   In US, unless you have incredible heath insurance and don't pay anything, medication can be very, very expensive- and co-pays on insurance can add up to lots and lots and why would you do that if you didn't need the meds? And side effects! Why would you put up with that?

I know lots of people on regular medication, including myself. I have an autoimmune connective tissue disorder and my regular meds are a godsend.   I was in misery and I feel like a new person now and I can get outta bed in the morning and face the day.  So yeap, I rattle!  Likewise, I have taken anti-depressants which helped a ton and I would again should I need that help.  Depression is a disease and feeling better is all that matters to me.

My sister with RA is grateful for regular meds for getting her out of bed every morning.  Likewise I volunteer with a few different Diabetes organisations and believe me, regular medication is definitely needed, and insulin is needed to live for someone with Type 1.  Or if you have hypothyroid you need thyroid replacement drugs to live.  I could go on forever -people with MS, heart conditions, my friend with a kidney transplant is grateful for her donated kidney keeping her of dialysis but needs to take anti-rejection drugs, epilepsy, mental health conditions, etc, etc etc (more than) appreciate their regular medications!!!!  

 
 

I'm not on anything, although I did take birth control pills for years.

Perhaps your perception was coloured by the ads, just because it is on TV doesn't mean people are taking them and vice versa of course.

Unfortunately, I often play "Devil's Advocate", however this subject does concern me a lot.

Sure, there are people that need medication to acheive a reasonable standard of living.  I think I must just hang around with a lot of hypocondriacs.

The concern comes from knowing what doctors are like over here, and seeing a doctor at work over there.  Huuuuuuge difference.

Here: "put some olive oil on it"
There: "well, that medication doesn't seem to be working, try this and this and this ..."

Still not sure which is better

The ads are ridiculous over here. But eventually, you tune them out. They drove me insane when I first moved back though.

I think perhaps the ads create a culture of people asking for medications more, or even asking about risks more, but I'm not sure they really end up taking more. I knew lots of people in the UK on regular medication.

I do hear people here being more willing to discuss being on antidepressants. But I think in general (yes, a stereotype here) Americans are more willing to talk about personal stuff anyway.

Perhaps your perception was coloured by the ads, just because it is on TV doesn't mean people are taking them and vice versa of course.

  could be ...

I recall seeing this really dead coolio gadget on an ad that can measure your blood if you're a diabetic, and felt a slight pang that I didn't need it

It probably depends on the individual people/families as well, rather than being a generalisation of Americans.

My relatives in America are on so many different medications it's unbelievable... they have an entire kitchen cabinet full of current prescriptions for the 5 of them (2 adults and 3 kids under 11) - the kids are on 3 or 4 different types of medication each (but to be honest, I don't think there's much wrong with any of them at all - if they were in the UK, I doubt the doctors here would prescribe half of what they take in the US)!!

However, I have a feeling that the family take so many pills because they work in the medical profession and are basically hypochondriacs - I have never known anyone have so many doctor or hospital appointments in the space of 3 weeks before (16 appointments between 4 of them when I went to visit one year!).

I have never known anyone have so many doctor or hospital appointments in the space of 3 weeks before (16 appointments between 4 of them when I went to visit one year!).

Wow! My BF and I were joking today that I'm practically a hypochondriac, having gone to the doctor 5x in the last 15 months (2x for one condition, 2x for another, and 1x last week). Can't imagine 16 visits/year (for multiple things, obviously an ongoing condition is different), let alone 16/month.

 

I'm not sure what you mean- taking drugs for the sake of it? I don't think I know anyone who does that??   
 

I meant in my above post legally prescribed drugs    I know plenty of folks who have 'medicinal' and herbal medications and follow natural medication practices - I know lots of hippies! Also, I'm a huge fan of natural medication and acupuncture alongside my prescription drugs -the combination makes me feel much better and I can move and breath and have so much less pain and I feel more energetic and better.     

Pharma companies advertise in the US because they can and because of regulations and anti-kickback laws, sales folks have had to find newer creative ways to market.  Its hard to know if it's really having an impact or not, other than someone might know the name of a drug if you're on it. 

On the other hand I had terrible eczema, or some kind of rash, on my hand for months. I kept going to the GP and she kept giving me the exact same cream I bought over the counter at Tesco.  Try it for a while longer.

It got to the point where I couldn't bend my fingers to hold a pen or tie my shoes. 

I went back and saw a GP from Romania who gave me a course of antibiotics because my hand was horribly infected.  It cleared up in a week and I haven't had any issues in over two years. 

So yeah. I'd rather have the pills the first time thanks. 

The ads are ridiculous over here. But eventually, you tune them out. They drove me insane when I first moved back though.

They drive me insane when I'm back visiting - all the TV adverts for drugs, and that quickly spouted off disclaimers/caveats/etc at the end of every one.  Geesh!  It's funny how I didn't think anything about them when I lived there, but really it's overkill. 

Just remember that for every advert for those wonderful drugs in America that they advertise on TV, you have adverts for the Attorneys or Solicitors who want to help you sue the pharmaceutical companies for the side effects or damage they do to you     sorry couldn't resist that one   

Pharma companies advertise in the US because they can and because of regulations and anti-kickback laws, sales folks have had to find newer creative ways to market.  Its hard to know if it's really having an impact or not, other than someone might know the name of a drug if you're on it. 

The impact is that people go to see their doc in the US already thinking they know what medication they ought to be taking. Pharma advertising is the doctor's worst nightmare.

Having said that, I worked in the industry for a lot of years, so they paid my salary! And very well, too, I might add! 

Unfortunately, I often play "Devil's Advocate", however this subject does concern me a lot.

Sure, there are people that need medication to acheive a reasonable standard of living.  I think I must just hang around with a lot of hypocondriacs.

The concern comes from knowing what doctors are like over here, and seeing a doctor at work over there.  Huuuuuuge difference.

Here: "put some olive oil on it"
There: "well, that medication doesn't seem to be working, try this and this and this ..."

Still not sure which is better

Well, I do hate the constant US commercials for medicine; however, I also cannot stand the never-ending ads for sofas here (UK).   

But seriously, I've spent the past 9+ years in the UK and all my GPs LOVE to prescribe meds.  My DH (UKC) says they like to treat the symptoms and not the cause here.  Oh well...all I can say is that it's overkill here also, although I was never offered so many meds when back in the US.  Personally, I like trying holistic methods and a healthier lifestyle first, then meds if needed.