Are we over-medicated?

T

tjl

0
Are we over-medicated?

For example, hydrocodone / Vicodin is routinely prescribed for post-operative soreness after tooth extractions. This post-operative soreness is not that great, and it would seem that if anything is desired, plain old over the counter acetominophen would be enough. Hydrocodone / Vicodin has undesirable characteristics like being addictive, making it dangerous to drive a motor vehicle, etc.. Plus unnecessary prescribed medications just add to the cost of the medical system (as reflected in medical insurance costs) and the medications or byproducts end up in the environment after leaving the body.
 
I've never been prescribed anything for a tooth extraction and I've had three wisdom teeth pulled.

Why would you be prescribed anything for pain by a dentist for something that minor? It's not that painful unless they are impacted.

So you're right. Tylenol would be enough to manage any discomfort you had.

Is this standard somewhere? I've never heard of anybody being prescribed pain medication unless they had all 4 wisdom teeth extracted and they were put out for the operation. Even then, it's usually Tylenol 3's for only a few days and then you're on OTC meds.
 
It's pretty clear that we're over medicated, especially when it comes to psychiatric drugs.

Strong pain killers do have their place. Aspirin, Tylenol and Ibuprofen are sometimes not strong enough. It is a problem, however, when people abuse these medications. Some people get addicted, some do not. I assume this is why they're legal by prescription and not completely illegal. I think they should be available for people who need them though.
 
Yep! I am a complete psycho job. What of it? I meet and greet my face in my goal place, while many are left in the dust, cause' that can't figure out the psychology/biology behind their problems within their goal path.

Oh......by the way....there is no medication for this.

Either you find it.....or you don't.

:)


Best wishes

Chillen
 
You say we're over-medicated, yet in your post you offer the suggestion of an alternative drug :S

Have you had a tooth extraction, they are pretty nasty aren't they?
 
i_love_muscle said:
Why would you be prescribed anything for pain by a dentist for something that minor? It's not that painful unless they are impacted.

Is this standard somewhere? I've never heard of anybody being prescribed pain medication unless they had all 4 wisdom teeth extracted and they were put out for the operation.
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Actually it was all four, two of which were impacted. But still, I can't see why Vicodin / hydrocodone would be necessary for the jaw soreness afterward, which is annoying, but hardly disabling (even when taking no pain drugs).

I can see why aspirin or ibuprofin would not be recommended for use after tooth extraction (may hinder blood clotting or increase bleeding). But acetominophen does not have that problem. Nor does not using any drugs at all.
 
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tjl said:
Actually it was all four, two of which were impacted. But still, I can't see why Vicodin / hydrocodone would be necessary for the jaw soreness afterward, which is annoying, but hardly disabling (even when taking no pain drugs).

I can see why aspirin or ibuprofin would not be recommended for use after tooth extraction (may hinder blood clotting or increase bleeding). But acetominophen does not have that problem. Nor does not using any drugs at all.
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Perhaps it's because doctors are tired of listening to their patients complaining about the pain, so they keep "upping the ante". Most doctors I have been to are pretty loathe to write out a prescription for the good stuff unless there is a really good reason for it. But if I ask, they'll always give me a choice, or simply ask me what I prefer. But I have to be really hurting before I dip into the meds ...
 
Drugs!

LOL!....well having grown up in a house FULL of all sorts of drugs any dealer would kill for, (my dad was an anesthesiologist- in the military no less) I think they have their place in this world.

I do think way too many doctors are readily passing out too many drugs and too many people are all too ready to swallow a pill unnecessarily.

However, I have had extensive dental work including surgery on my mouth and there were times when I did need to vocodin. But I didn't need all of what they gave me just 1 usually.

I have a very high tolerance for pain too.

so like I said, it has it's place.....
 
i_love_muscle said:
Perhaps it's because doctors are tired of listening to their patients complaining about the pain, so they keep "upping the ante". Most doctors I have been to are pretty loathe to write out a prescription for the good stuff unless there is a really good reason for it. But if I ask, they'll always give me a choice, or simply ask me what I prefer. But I have to be really hurting before I dip into the meds ...
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Well it could also be that the "good stuff" costs a lot more...

It is a money making business after all.
 
I have a high tolerance for pain, and it's good too, because Vicodin didn't do **** for me. I had a pilonidal cyst, not exactly a nice spot to have a horribly painful infection...pills didn't do jack. So I wish I could say I was "over medicated".
 
I get quite stubborn in wanting to take any medications for anything, lol. I am simply not a cry baby; however, this is both a pain in my @ss and a benefit.

I tend to want my body to recover from its ailment on its own, and am very careful what goes into my body that is suppose to assist with what is ailing me. Oh well, at least I do know the difference in a biological necessity in taking medications, and wanting something thinking its an easy way out, that simply applying some willpower, common sense, and discipline, won't take care of.

I do not look to the bottle, unless it is proved to be necessary for my health.

A lot of medications are given too freely, that a swift kick in the fuggen' ass wont take care of.


Best wishes

Chillen
 
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i_love_muscle said:
Perhaps it's because doctors are tired of listening to their patients complaining about the pain, so they keep "upping the ante". Most doctors I have been to are pretty loathe to write out a prescription for the good stuff unless there is a really good reason for it. But if I ask, they'll always give me a choice, or simply ask me what I prefer. But I have to be really hurting before I dip into the meds ...
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Maybe there is a "cultural" difference in Canada versus the US regarding the tendency to prescribe drugs? Perhaps that has something to do with why US medical care is so much more expensive per person than Canada medical care. If doctors and patients in the US are much quicker to reach for the drugs than those in Canada, those costs will add up.

Side note: I did not even bother filling the Vicodin / hydrocodone prescription, because I knew that close relatives had bad reactions to it. If I did, the prescription would have just gone to waste, adding to unnecessary costs in the US medical care system (it would have mostly been covered by an employer provided insurance scheme).
 
Chillen said:
I tend to want my body to recover from its ailment on its own, and am very careful what goes into my body that is suppose to assist with what is ailing me.
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Reminds me of something else. A lot of people reach for the aspirin, acetominophen, or ibuprofin at the slightest hint of a fever. Do they realize that running a fever is one of the weapons that their bodies have to fight infections? As long as the fever does not get to temperatures where the fever itself is dangerous, why not leave the fever alone to help fight the infection?
 
I don't like the idea of taking too many medications/drugs, even the over the counter ones. But being female and being gifted with incredibly horrible monthly cramps, I have to take something. It was either birth control, to level out my hormones, and take away my normal cycle or ridiculous amounts of ibuprofen two days before the cramps start.

I chose the ibuprofen because the thought of synthetic hormones makes me uneasy, but I'm sure the ibuprofen will have it's drawbacks someday. :(

It just seems like doctors are so quick to give out birth control, even if it's not going to be used as a contraceptive. Some women, not all, do experience negative side effects and I just don't want to take that risk.
 
tjl said:
Maybe there is a "cultural" difference in Canada versus the US regarding the tendency to prescribe drugs? Perhaps that has something to do with why US medical care is so much more expensive per person than Canada medical care. If doctors and patients in the US are much quicker to reach for the drugs than those in Canada, those costs will add up.

Side note: I did not even bother filling the Vicodin / hydrocodone prescription, because I knew that close relatives had bad reactions to it. If I did, the prescription would have just gone to waste, adding to unnecessary costs in the US medical care system (it would have mostly been covered by an employer provided insurance scheme).
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That might be true. You have to practically be dead to get antibiotics here, too. But that's probably a good thing ;)

It's not easy to get narcotics, either. I didn't even get those after my car accidents. I was on OTC analgesics. I did get prescription-strength anti-inflammatories, though. Those helped.

Most medical staff realize it's much easier to manage pain than chase it, so you get the good stuff post-surgery, etc. But once you're mobile, they don't like to give you anything unless you're in absolute agony. They don't want you lying around in a drug-induced coma like a drooling idiot :D They want you moving.

Most patients, regardless of what surgery they've had, are up walking around the same day. I just assumed it was the same everywhere else.
 
Yes, we are. And its the drug makers doing it.

When I was a teen (i'm 31 now), you NEVER saw an ad on tv or in a magazine for a prescription drug.

But now, you cannot watch daytime TV or read most magazines/newspapers or visit a website without being assaulted by ads for blood pressure meds, anxiety/depression/bipolar meds, viagra, cialis, herpes, restless leg syndrome...the list goes on and on.

we have a pill for damn near EVERYTHING now.

When i had my wisdom teeth removed (no surgery, just a clean numb it and pull it), they gave me cephalexin (antibiotic) and 600mg Ibuprofen.

a friend did offer me a hydrocodone before I went in for a monster tattoo'ing session, but I declined. I didn't wanna get loopy or an upset stomach during a 4-5 hour ink session. I've thrown up once after such a long session...didn't need any help via an opiate drug :)
 
Actually, you're right. We get a lot of American TV channels, and they are inundated with prescription med commercials.

We never used to see that. The one that Canada seems to have is for celebrex (which of course can cause heart failure or heart attacks). They're just pounding that one in on us. They say "Ask your doctor about what Celebrex can do for you."

Yeah. I'll tell you what Celebrex can do for you. I had to take Celebrex for an injury and after a month of being on it, I went back to my doctor and said "Does this stuff cause heart pain? Because it really hurts to breathe when I take these." I was on the lowest dose.

He said "Not that I know of, but I'm pulling you off it if it hurts to breathe." Then I had to get ECGs for the next 2 years to make sure I didn't have any heart damage.

That was BEFORE they found out COXIB drugs did that to people. I felt like a freaking guinea pig. Apparently when Celebrex and Vioxx were being flogged to physicians, they neglected to mention that some people die from taking them.

I just don't trust drug companies, so if I don't have to take something, I won't. I'd rather suck on a willow branch (ASA) :D
 
i_love_muscle said:
I just don't trust drug companies, so if I don't have to take something, I won't. I'd rather suck on a willow branch (ASA) :D
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Why would you use ASA (commonly known generically as aspirin in the US, where it does not have trademark status) if you don't have to take anything?

I asked the dental assistant why they prescribe Vicodin. She said that most patients need it. Strange that most patients in the US "need" it, while most patients in Canada getting the same operation do not.
 
I've had my wisdom teeth pulled out which were also impacted and I didn't need vicodin for the pain but I DEF needed it when I got re-constructive nerve surgery on my hand.

I agree that docs are way to quick to write a script so they can move on to their next patient (paycheck).
 
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