My Aunty used to give healthy habits and remedy advice, which ranged from foods to eat or avoid, dressing warm, hygiene, etc. Although Aunty did not have years of training or certifications, she comprehended the importance of nurturing a body and mind to build health.
A stark contrast is the pharmaceutical-based treatment well illustrated by categories of drugs, including antihypertensives, antibiotics, anticoagulants, anti-angina, antiresorptive, antihistamine, antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, ACE inhibitors, aromatase inhibitors, and beta blockers.
The overwhelming theme of those listed drug classes is to put the brakes on body processes and endogenous compounds. The drugs inhibit, block, and “anti,” which is why all drugs have unintended side effects.
Drugs are subjected to several studies before receiving Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Once approved, they are aggressively marketed with phrases such as “safer” and “more effective.” After approval, several have had to be removed from the market because of their lack of safety — sometimes due to the drug itself but other times due to drug-drug interactions.
Here are some of the more famous examples:
Fenfluramine/phentermine (fen-phen)
Maker: Wyeth-Ay erst Laboratories Recalled: 1997 (after 24 years on the market)
Fen-phen was a hugely fashionable weight-loss drug, and its popularity peaked in the 1990s. An estimated 6.5 million people took it to help fight obesity. After consumers began experiencing heart disease and other pulmonary problems, the FDA recalled the drug. More than 50,000 fen-phen victims filed suits against the drug manufacturer, and legal expenses combined with awards exceeded $21 billion, an unprecedented amount.
Mibefradil (Posicor)
Maker: Roche
Recalled: 1998 (after one year on the market)
In only one year on the market, the antihypertensive drug Posicor was linked to 123 deaths. Considered relatively safe when taken alone, Posicor became potentially deadly when combined with any of 25 different drugs. The large number of deaths is dramatic considering that the drug was prescribed to only 200,000 people worldwide in the space of one year. This sad chapter is often cited as a strong example of what can go wrong when drugs are rushed to market.
Rofecoxib (Vioxx)
Maker: Merck
Recalled: 2004 (after five years on the market)
Vioxx is considered to be the largest drug recall in history, and one that elicited great public outcries. Vioxx, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was prescribed to more than 20 million people as a pain reliever for arthritis. The drug was found to be responsible for an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Both Merck and the FDA were bluntly criticized for ignoring evidence of the dangers of Vioxx before its eventual recall. The Lancet reported that as many as 140,000 people could have suffered from serious coronary heart disease from taking the drug in the U.S. alone. Merck settled Vioxx litigation in the U.S. for $4.8 billion.
The following list includes many other recalled drugs.12
Generic Name
Valdecoxib
Pemoline
Bromfenac
Levamisole
Isotretinoin
Sibutramine
Terfenadine
Troglitzone
Cerivastatin
Brand Name
Bextra
Cylert
Duract
Ergamisol
Accutane
Meridia
Seldane
Rezulin
Baycol
Drug Class
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
Central nervous system stimulant
Analgesic
Antiparasitic
Acne medication
Appetite suppressant
Antihistamine
Antidiabetic/anti-inflammatory
Statin (cholesterol lowering)
..."The overuse, underuse, or misuse of medicines results in wastage of scarce resources and widespread health hazards."...
In this world, doctors are supposed to evaluate the risk versus benefit of a given procedure or prescription. When a new drug is introduced, how can it be known if it will be added to the previous list? Those dangerous products were all given the fanfare of “safe” and “more effective.” This same type of marketing flourish continues with next week’s new drug.
As stated by the World Health Organization (WHO), “The irrational use of medicines is a major problem worldwide. WHO estimates that more than half of all medicines are prescribed, dispensed, or sold inappropriately, and that half of all patients fail to take them correctly. The overuse, underuse, or misuse of medicines results in wastage of scarce resources and widespread health hazards.”3 The problems surrounding prescription and over-the-counter drug use are real.
Aunty’s advice of eating real food, exercising regularly, avoiding excesses, never smoking, sleeping well, and laughing often has never been recalled by the FDA and shouldn’t be. Aunty also had chiropractic care, something that’s never had to be withdrawn from the public due to dangers.
In contrast, the “anti” has had some real blunders, resulting in tangible injuries and deaths. If the issue is health and safety, it’s better to listen to Aunty.
Alan Cook, DC, has been in practice since 1989. He ran the Osteoporosis Diagnostic Center (19962019), participated in four clinical trials, and lectured nationally. He currently works with the Open Door Clinic system in a multidisciplinary setting and provides video-based continuing education with EasyWebCE. To see more of his work, log onto: www.EasyWebCE.com
References
1. 12/1/2021 | Author: ProCon.org
2. Saleh N. 10 Dangerous drugs recalled by the FDA. MDLinx; March 25,2020.
3. World Health Organisation. Rational use of Medicines. Available at http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/rationaljise/en/index.html; 2010. Accessed 14.01.12.
