E-drug: Re: No Free Lunch (cont'd)
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A fast reply.
Do sales reps influence us-yes. Does it really make a difference? In most
cases I think the products we use even if they are the heavily advertised
ones are the best products we can give to a patient. I think we generally
would prescribe something for someone's hypertension. For the most
part we get a better product or at least one that's easier to take and has
less side effects when we prescribe a heavily advertised product for
most chronic conditions.
I also take into account the FACT that the pharmaceutical industry uses
much of their profits to do research on better products that really do
save lives. Ace inhibitors and the statins will more than pay for
themselves in the decrease in mortality and morbidity we have yet to fully
see from their use. How many strokes and MI's will be saved from using
them? The anti-virals have kept people with AIDS alive, why, because
the pharmaceutical industry took its profits and developed these drugs. If
we all wrote 100% generic, how many new products would be developed? Few.
We should all take what they say with a grain of salt and prescribe the
product that is the best one for the patient.
What is the best source of unbiased new medication information for a
busy clinician?
That's my quick answer to a complex question.
Blaine Carmichael
Blaine P. Carmichael, PA-C
bpcarmichael@stic.net
C0-Moderator, PRIMARYPA Clinical discussion List
VP Association of Family Practice Physician Assistants
An AAPA Specialty Organization
Disease Detection and Prevention National CME Conference
San Antonio, Texas November 4-7, 1999
[Note from moderator: Some very surprising views on advertising I must say!
If the clinician wants an easy, brief source for unbiased information, not
using Cochrane, local, national or international therapeutic guidelines and
other EBM sources, I would recommend Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, the
Medical Letter and Prescrire International rather than prescribing the most
heavily advertised drugs! And to your examples, I don't want to elaborate,
but it is definitely more than one side to many of them! Kirsten Myhr]
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