The FastDay Forum

[carorees]

Spotted this really good article discussing how medicines are named can affect people's attitudes towards them.

Here darling, have your chocletamol for your headache and don't forget to take your burgerofen in two hours.

Yes, I'd buy them for sure!

True, good read! Thanks for sharing

Seriously... The last paragraph is something I could print and hang it on my wall!!!

Izzy, where are you? Are you in the UK? I can recommend the best rheumatologist ever!!!

I sent you a PM!
And I agree, a good doctor and right medication make all the difference in the world!

I thought it interesting that the article does not mention the drug "Premarin" = PREgnant MARes urINe. It is basically conjugated equine oestrogens which are extracted from pregnant mares urine. While its name accurately describes where it comes from it is probably the worst name for a drug that I can think of.

[carorees]

Don't get me started on the evils of premarin!!!

Actually carorees I would be interested to hear you thoughts on Premarin. I've been taking it for 3 years and am thinking of stopping. I'm not sure it's much help!

OMG I love that article so much!

I thought this paragraph was revealing--what follows is my own rant so please skip it if you don't want to listen to my critique.

As a chemist, a teacher, and a parent, I think (and blog) a lot about how to immunize people against chemophobia. It’s not because I want to keep chemical companies in business, but because I want to keep my students and friends from being duped into using chemicals that are unsafe, whatever their source. So here is my best advice to keep you from succumbing to the chemophobia pandemic: One, everything is a chemical. Two, don’t take medical advice from a magazine writer, however impassioned and well-intentioned, however popular her story is on the New York Times’ “most read” list, who trusts a massage therapist over medical experts. And three, there are risks to all chemicals, even the ones with friendly names like Montmorency cherry juice and four-marvels powder. Next time, before you click “share” on an article, be annoyingly skeptical. We can stamp out chemophobia in our lifetimes.

Here's what I would add as a current resident of the chemical-infested USA:
As a father of a chemist, a teacher and a parent, I think a lot about how to immunize people against the plethora of harmful drugs that are added to our foods in the form of additives, preservatives and pesticides. I am bombarded with advertisements (try 10 on the daily 30 minute national news programs) telling me to bug my physician about dosing me with one med after the next to cure my depression, high blood pressure, anorexia, erectile dysfunction, leukemia, general malaise, you name it. Of course there are side-effects, they warn, and one then hears a list of 10 or more side-effects, most of them worse than the original problem. Gee, why does no one mention that drug-prescribing these days results in more iatrogenic conditions than anyone cares to mention.? And why is there never any mention of life-style changes to promote freedom from one unnatural drug after the next? Yep, I understand we are bathing is a sea of chemicals by virtue of the fact that we exist. I think the issue for most of us who abjure "unnatural" chemicals is not ignorance--it is the knowledge that pharmacopeia as promulgated by the drug companies often promotes highly undesirable side effects. In the interest of science, I (and many others) suggest looking beyond the "drugs." (Nope, I'm fully aware that drugs are necessary for many conditions and yep, I've been overdosed with all sorts of drugs for asthma, but no longer!) (And nope, I ain't smokin hemp, just adding it to my smoothies! )

Excellent article which made me think, having just spent 3 1/4 years on prednisone, a steroid which has either 82 or 92 side effects, can't remember which. hey, one of the side effects is memory loss!
Then more medication to cope with the side effects, then more medication to cope with the side effects of that medication - and so on, ad infinitum.
So I'm pretty fed up with "chemicals". BUT, a big BUT, I would have spent some years in bed without the prednisone.

Made me remember the all organic restaurant that said it couldn't guarantee its water was organic!

Pammy, prednisolone is not as bad as we think. It used to be believed that cortisone is evil but it is not.
The number of side effects makes not difference, really. Check out the side effects of aspirin or paracetamol or even a simple cough syrup.
Prednisolone is in fact one of the VERY few medicines that DON'T affect our liver, which is very rare and important. It also cures many things quite quickly, which is also very important especially if we talk about allergies.
Personally, of all the medication I took and have taken through the years, my least fear is for the side effects of prednisolone!!!

I think this article highlighted a very common attitude to prescribed medication. On the other hand, it is a natural human reaction to be dismayed and alarmed to have to medicate your child with such strong drugs. However, needs must and very often what the doctor prescribes is the best medicine. I do agree with your point about chemical sounding names, but then most people do not have a science background and giving your child something like cherries "sounds" a lot less harmful than pumping him full of "chemicals". What was it Shakespeare said - "A rose by any other name..."

Yes, I know that it cures nothing but it helps a lot with the symptoms and it doesn't have worse side effects than many other medicines. Honestly, check your paracetamol...