The Life Ledger

Fitness is a way of life.

The FDA released a news alert today about purchasing Ambien and other drugs over the Internet.  Apparently, some people who order these drugs are instead receiving Haloperidol, an anti-psychotic drug used to control symptoms of schizophrenia and other neurological disorders:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has become aware that a number of Americans who placed orders for specific drug products over the Internet (Ambien, Xanax, Lexapro, and Ativan), instead received a product that, according to preliminary analysis, contains haloperidol, a powerful anti-psychotic drug…  Haloperidol can cause muscle stiffness and spasms, agitation, and sedation…  FDA laboratory analysis of the misrepresented tablets is ongoing, but preliminary analysis indicates they contain haloperidol, the active ingredient in a prescription drug used primarily to treat schizophrenia.

More at the FDA’s site.

Honestly, I have no idea why the hell someone would buy prescription meds off the Internet anyway.  Why do people feel they have the knowledge and education to self-medicate??  Personally, I think a lot has to do with advertisements - now that pharmaceuticals advertise directly to consumers, they feel empowered and emotionally hooked.  They see fluttery luminescent butterflies, cholesterol scores dropping and couples holding hands in floating bathtubs.  They hear a list of “common side effects include” and feel empowered to make the decision for themselves to balance side effects versus the perceived benefits.

“Ask your doctor for Requip.”  In years past, your doctor would spend a good half an hour doing a basic yearly exam, taking time to diagnose and treat your body as a whole, not just the symptoms you display.  Now, people see commercials, decide for themselves they suffer from all kinds of ailments, and doctors who are tired of fighting their patients simply fill out the prescription.  Soon you’ll be paying your $68 doctor’s visit fee to your television.

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All this news about alli and I’m wondering, how many people are actually considering taking this new drug? If you don’t mind, take a second and vote here, and pass this around to your friends and myspace buds.

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