15-12-2014, 09:33 PM
32
Re: Becoming a pill taking nation
Originally Posted by Grumblewagon
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Doctors are (and I think it was a doctor who told me) people who prescribe medicines about which they know very little to people about whom they know even less. Me, I just remain very cynical when it comes to weighing up the possible benefits of some long term medication versus the profit motive of the drug companies.
Doctors are often under pressure from patients to write a prescription sometimes for items which are available over the counter as those who are entitled to free prescriptions then don't have to pay for them. This included things like regular everyday painkillers and Calpol for children.
Doctors are regularly threatened by patients demanding prescriptions for the reasons above and also for heavy duty painkillers and items like valium etc which they some people sell. It can be very difficult to confront a patient even if you suspect they are not telling the truth and if doctors do question the large amounts of certain medications a patient is getting through it can result in a very unpredictable situation but a situation which many GP's have to handle daily.
Regarding the prescription of meds like statins GP's are prescribing according to guidelines and current policies etc.
GP's don't pretend to be experts on medication, you need a degree in pharmacy for that which is on a par with qualifying to be a doctor lengthwise.
One of the jobs of hospital pharmacists is to check the medications prescribed for individual patients and to ensure that medication is being correctly prescribed, especially needed when very ill patients are prescribed many different meds IV's etc.
15-12-2014, 10:17 PM
33
Re: Becoming a pill taking nation
Originally Posted by Anita
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The simple solution then is to say no if you visit a doctor and they say they will prescribe a medication. It's not compulsory, in fact it's far better to say that you won't take the medication that to get the medication prescribed and then leave it sitting in a cupboard, along with the millions of other medications which cost the NHS a lot of money which so so badly needed right now.
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