What’s the fourth leading cause of Death in the United States?

By Lisa DeForest, DC

Know the answer?  MEDICATION REACTIONS OVERDOSE.

Forty six percent of Americans take at least one prescription drug daily, almost half the total population.  We are a society of instant gratification.  Take the cholesterol craziness with the drugs such as the Pravachol, Socor, Lipitor, Mevacor, Lescol and Baycol, just to name a few.  These drugs are used for patients with mild elevated cholesterol levels.  The enthusiasm of some doctors is warranted for patients with severe cholesterol levels, which will not make healthy lifestyle changes or have with no success.  The dosage may be the same for both patients, independent of the actual lab results. 

Getting proper treatment for high cholesterol is crucial, since coronary heart disease remains our number one killer and strokes are number three.  The leading cause of both is atherosclerosis associated with high cholesterol.  Some of the side effects are pain in the joints, swelling of the legs, painful muscles and weakness. These are the most common I am seeing.  Many of these side effects are dose related and could be avoided by matching statin dosages to patients’ tolerances.  But the trend today is to use the most powerful statins at dose that are up to 5 times the required dose.  Why would this be occurring?

Many studies have proven that drug companies produce doses that do not fit individuals due to the following factors:

1. Cost. Dose research costs more and it would save millions, extra doctor visits, lost work, avoidable hospitalizations, etc…. Yet pharmaceutical companies don’t pay for these expenditures, so there is not immediate financial incentive for better research
2. Urgency. Brief, limited dose studies help get new drugs onto the market ahead of competitors, resulting in profits
3. Effective advertising. Higher doses produce higher efficacy rates, which makes great advertising
4. Pleasing doctors. Easy to use, less time spent with each patient translates into more patients per hour
5. Weak FDA regulations. The FDA’s powers are limited in requiring the pharmaceutical industry to perform better research and provide vital low dose information to physicians and patients
6. No Public Pressure. Public outrage about the side-effects epidemic is virtually nil.  Patients usually blame doctors when dose related side effects cause harm.
7. Doing the right thing.  The urgency of market dynamics sometimes works against good science.
8. Basic economics.  With record profits and weak regulation, what incentive does the pharmaceutical industry have to change?

These factors were taken from Dr. Cohen, MD’s book Overdose.

After much reading about wellness and health, most experts agree (excluding the drug companies) that “less is best”.  Remember when choosing any medication to ask questions. Be assertive about your medical care.  Whether it is from a medical doctor, a chiropractor or a specific specialist; my advice is that an educated patient is the best patient.  Read all reasonable resources.  Remember it’s your body and you get one chance at keeping it healthy and happy.