Re: herbs vs drugs
I worked in the pharmaceutical industry for almost 15 years. Some thoughts/ observations:<br /><br />Those of you who talk about it being about the money are correct, but perhaps for the wrong reasons.<br /><br />Drugs are regulated by the FDA and require significant and expensive testing to prove they are safe and effective before they are approved. About a decade ago, the FDA was entirely funded by the government. In order to expedite the lengthy FDA review process, it was decided that the Pharma's could contribute funding for additional FDA resource to expedite the review process for their drug. Although I'd hesitate to speculate on the actual effect of this, it does at least raise the prospect of the possibility of a compromise between the independent relationship between the Pharmas and the FDA.<br /><br />I read an article a while back about how Drug companies give doctors huge kickbacks for prescribing their drugs. Things like free dinners, golf vacations and the like. They also get cash on occasion. The more the drug gets prescribed, the better the kickbacks. It's not illegal either. If you do a google search for drug company kickbacks you'll see some proof that yes, drug companies and doctors are in bed together.<br /><br />The above is actually illegal. It used to be that Pharmas WOULD provide Drs. with expensive gifts, dinners, and host seminars with all expenses paid in exotic locations (vacations). Although done with the stated purpose of 'educating' the Drs. about a new drug, I think it's safe to say the real purpose was to create a relationship that would subconsciously encourage the Drs. to prescribe their medication. The practice was outlawed years ago, with strict limits placed the $ amount of benefits the Pharma reps could provide the MDs. <br /><br />I'm almost positive that actual kickbacks for prescribing drugs is and was illegal, although like any other industry, it may have (or may still occasionally) occur. What mrbscott might be referring to is rebates based on the amount purchased to institutions like HMOs or Insurance companies that actually buy drugs, not to the MDs who prescribe them. Of course, the HMO or Insurance co can influence the MDs or patient w.r.t. what particular drug will be prescribed based on the amount they will reimburse for one vs. another.<br /><br />Another thing that mrbscot might be referring to relates to the way drugs are tested in the approval process. Pharmas 'hire' MDs to participate in 'studies' which test the new drug against a placebo, an approved competitor, or both. The MDs often are allowd to use the results they observe in these studies to publish in medical Journals; publication often equates with prestige in the Medical field. As such, the MDs may subconsciously be 'pulling' for the new drug to work so they can publish the results. Proper study design eliminates the potential for any such bias to influence the results. The MDs participating in Pharma trials are usually paid by the number of patients they enroll, but this does not carry over to reimbursement for prescribing the drug once the study is over and the drug is approved. <br /><br />Herbs, vitamines, and things like amino acids (lets call them 'neutraceuticals') are rarely tested because there is little incentive for a company to spend the vast amounts necessary to conduct the necessary trials the FDA would require to approve it for a particular indication. Drugs are patented and the developing company has exclusive rights to market them for a set period of time. Thats why they are so expensive until the patent runs out and generics can be marketed. You can't patent herbs, so even if you got them approved for an indication, anybody could market it, even though you spent all of the money on the studies.<br /><br />Personally, I have no doubt that some 'neutraceuticals' work as well as some of the drugs approved for certain indications (ginger for motion sickness and various other forms of nausea, for example). I also have little doubt that there are many sold by hucksters that provide nothing except perhaps a placebo (sugar pill) effect ('male enhancement' compounds, diet pills, etc.).<br /><br />One other thing to keep in mind is that just because something is natural, that doesn't mean that it can't be unsafe if taken in too high an amount or in combination with other compounds. And since noone is testing them for safety, there no way for the general public to know how much is too much.<br /><br />I believe the Pharma industry is guilty of overpricing at times and occasionally either suppressing safety infomation or releasing it in a tardy fashion, but in general you can be fairly certain that an FDA aproved drug has undergone pretty thorough testing and review. Keep in mind that people react differently and that NOTHING is completely safe for everyone (most of us would be surprised at the proportion or people who could die from an allergic reaction to peanuts). <br /><br />Kind of a rough summary of some of the issues, but hopefully some might find it helpfull.
