Drugs on Television

It’s no secret that the United States is one of the only countries in the world that allows pharmaceutical advertising on television. We are swamped with commercials, all day, about the relief we can get from our ills if we take a certain medication. What is more troubling, over the past few months, are the amount of class action lawsuits that are being advertised on the same channels. Most recently two have been popping up; one for prescription testosterone therapy and another for Risperdal, a drug used to treat ADD. Prescription testosterone therapy has been shown to cause stroke, heart attack, and even death. Risperdal has been shown to grow breasts in young boys under treatment. The medical term is gynecomastia. The other troubling fact about Risperdal is that the drug is being prescribed, 'off-label', for treatment of ADD, which means it was never approved or tested for ADD in the first place.

All of these lawsuits, recalls, and 'off-label' prescribing got me thinking…what does the FDA actually do? Every drug that has been recalled or has been the focus of a class action lawsuit FIRST had to be approved by the FDA! Where are the rule makers when physicians can start prescribing a drug (Risperdal) used to treat schizophrenia and symptoms of bipolar disorder to children with ADD?

Many of the conditions that these drugs are being used to treat can be reversed by changing one's diet, exercising, getting a good night’s rest, and getting your spine checked for subluxation. Why not try a drug free approach first? It could save your life!