Prescribing Too Many Pills
It's estimated that 5+ million Americans are currently living with dementia
Despite that suggested decline however, prevalence rates of dementia in other places around the world have seen an increase and it's an issue that is and will continue to impact millions of people worldwide.
For some of those who receive a dementia diagnosis, they might also face the issue of being prescribed inappropriate or unnecessary medication as a result.
Their study results suggest that for those who are newly diagnosed with dementia, that their likelihood of being given unnecessary medications will increase. They found that medication use had increased by at least 11 percent; use of inappropriate medications had increased by 17 percent.
“Potentially inappropriate or unnecessary medications included sleeping tablets, pain drugs, depression drugs and acid reflux drugs (proton pump inhibitors).”
Researchers warn of the dangers that can come from being prescribed inappropriate and unnecessary medications, such as drowsiness, sedation, potential fractures, and even hospitalization.
It isn't only dementia patients either, who are being over-prescribed, as previous reports have suggested that there is prominent misuse of other medications such as painkillers and antibiotics. U.S. doctors have been frequently found to be all to eager to prescribe drugs to their patients.
Researchers have suggested that perhaps involving more decision-makers or caregivers in the process, might help someone to reach a more informed decision.
This might be someone such as a pharmacist or some other health professional etc. And they note that people will be able to obviously reduce unnecessary costs and discomfort if they are able to avoid taking unneeded medications.
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The information that is posted above is not intended to be used as any substitute for professional medical advice, or diagnosis or treatment. The above is posted for informational purposes only.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/21/health/dementia-rates-united-states.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/howardgleckman/2016/11/21/dementia-rates-are-falling-in-the-us/#38d6862b1033
https://www.prb.org/global-dementia/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180419154640.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/p0503-unnecessary-prescriptions.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doctors-still-overprescribing-drugs-antibiotics/
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/10/the-american-greed-report-is-your-doctor-prescribing-too-much-medication-watch-for-the-signs.html
https://health.usnews.com/health-care/articles/2018-04-19/addictive-opioids-still-overprescribed-after-surgery-study
I heard it's not the prescription that causes problems, but the combination of pills taken together that causes more symptoms which causes more pills. Vicious cycle. I started using essential oils for some things and wow, amazing!! I think homeopathic remedies are best coupled with good nutrition and lots of sunshine!
Well, if I was an unscrupulous doctor connected to a corrupt pharmaceutical industry I'd probably take advantage of things and pump my intellectually-dissolved patients full of unnecessary drugs in order to bump up my prescription-writing profits too. Or wait, maybe that's too cynical.
I think the problem starts in childhood with lots of unnecessary vaccines that poison our systems. Then there is the fluoride in the drinking water and lots of added fertilzers/chemicals and white sugars in food. By the time most people get to 50 they have a condition like high blood pressure, diabetes, cancers, dementia (the list is so long) and now they have to depend on a variety of medicines forever. Meanwhile big pharma companies are laughing all the way to the bank :)
very true, and unfortunately more people are addicted to prescription drugs than illegal :( its not doing nearly as much good as it advertises
@doitvoluntarily Whatever it takes to make a quick buck, right?
"How Many Pills Are Too Many" in the NY Times:
From overprescribing drugs to the greed that led to the opioid epidemic, it seems like biotech and pharma companies cannot be depended on to make decisions that promote social welfare. Capitalism governs corporate decision-making as CEOs worry about satisying shareholders rather than the negative consequences of their decisions. They get fired for not producing enough profits more often than they do for malfeasance or promoting policies and practices that function at the public's expense.
@doitvoluntarily great post. I think health is something that is taught in the home. The degradation of family units and familial ties is at the heart of the mental and physical plagues we are dealing with today.
The best medicine for the overuse of pills is to imagine a world without them.
Hi doitvoluntarily,
How did this society of citizens allow the pill companies and doctors to brains wash them to take too many harmful pills such as pills that supposed to help with dementia?
There has to be a better way like natural herbal alternative for help with dementia earlier in the elderly lives.
In a word: Money. There is tremendous pressure for doctors to sell drugs. The worst part is that only antibiotics cure anything. All other drugs only mask symptoms.
Antibiotics help reduce dementia since when?
Sorry, I can see the play on words. Antibiotics cure only bacterial infection. Antibiotics cure something. All other chemical medicines treat only symptoms not the disease that causes them.
Regarding dementia, Dr Mark Mattson has done some remarkable work using fasting protocols to prevent and reduce symptoms of dementia including Alzheimer's disease.
http://www.johnshopkinshealthreview.com/issues/spring-summer-2016/articles/are-there-any-proven-benefits-to-fasting
Really very good information and timely in our times since the patient when consulting with the health professional indicates what would be best for him, no matter how necessary it is, we must educate the population, know how to listen and program so as to indicate the medications at a time in the state of health, since it is not the doctor who prescribes to please but to cure.
This pills madness is a marketing, from my point of view and from what I have seen, some pills are making it worse ... unfortunatelly, the pills are not working the same for all the pacients.
And is easier to give some medicine than to find a different way to "cure".
You are correct. Chemical medicine is one of several ways to treat diseases, but arrogance prevents considering them. Chemical medicine has a monopoly and it is just disgusting.
thank you for providing very useful information