How Big Pharma greed is killing tens of thousands around the world

EXCLUSIVE: How Big Pharma greed is killing tens of thousands around the world: Patients are over-medicated and often given profitable drugs with 'little proven benefits,' leading doctors warn
Queen's former doctor, Sir Richard Thompson, has backed new campaign
Experts calling for urgent public enquiry into drugs firms' 'murky' practices
They say too much medicine is doing more harm than good worldwide
And claim many drugs such as statins are less effective than thought

By ANNA HODGEKISS FOR MAILONLINE and BEN SPENCER MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR THE DAILY MAIL

The Queen's former doctor has called for an urgent public enquiry into drugs firms’ ‘murky’ practices.
Sir Richard Thompson, former-president of the Royal College of Physicians and personal doctor to the Queen for 21 years, warned tonight that many medicines are less effective than thought.
The physician is one of a group of six eminent doctors who today warn about the influence of pharmaceutical companies on drugs prescribing.
The experts, led by NHS cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra, claim that too often patients are given useless – and sometimes harmful – drugs that they do not need.
They maintain drugs companies are developing medicines they can profit from, rather than those which are likely to be the most beneficial.
And they accuse the NHS of failing to stand up to the pharmaceutical giants.



Too much medicine is doing more harm than good - and costing hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide, leading experts have warned. They maintain drugs companies are developing medicines they can profit from, rather than those which are likely to be the most beneficial
Sir Richard said: ‘The time has come for a full and open public enquiry into the way evidence of the efficacy of drugs is obtained and revealed. 
'There is real danger that some current drug treatments are much less effective than had previously been thought.’
He said the campaign highlights the ‘often weak and sometimes murky basis on which the efficacy and use of drugs, particularly in the elderly, are judged’.
Writing for MailOnline, Dr Malhotra says commercial conflicts of interest are contributing to an ‘epidemic of misinformed doctors and misinformed patients in the UK and beyond’.
Furthermore, he adds the NHS is ‘over-treating’ its patients, and claimed that the side effects of too much medicine is leading to countless deaths.

And he claims the full trial data on statins – cholesterol-lowering drugs prescribed to millions - has never been published, and also points to questions about the power of Tamiflu, a drug that has cost the NHS nearly £500 million.
The group has called on Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee to conduct an independent enquiry into the safety of medicines.
They claim public funding is often allocated to medical research because it is likely to be profitable, not because it will be beneficial for patients.
Dr Malhotra said: ‘There is no doubt that a “more medicine is better” culture lies at the heart of healthcare, exacerbated by financial incentives within the system to prescribe more drugs and carry out more procedures.
‘But there’s a more sinister barrier to making progress to raise awareness of - and thus tackle - such issues that we should be most concerned about.
‘And that’s the information that is being provided to doctors and patients to guide treatment decisions.’





Sir Richard Thompson, former-president of the Royal College of Physicians and personal doctor to the Queen for 21 years (left), warned tonight that many medicines are less effective than thought. He is one of a group of six eminent doctors, led by NHS cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra (right), who are concerned about the influence of pharmaceutical companies on drugs prescribing

He accused drugs companies of ‘gaming the system’ by spending twice as much on marketing than on research.
Dr Malhotra says that prescription drugs often do more harm than good, with the elderly particularly at risk.
One in three hospital admissions among the over-75s a result of an adverse drug reaction, he claims.
In addition to Sir Richard, Dr Malhotra is backed by Professor John Ashton, president of the Faculty of Public Health; psychiatrist Dr JS Bamrah, chairman of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin; cardiologist Professor Rita Redberg, editor of medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine; and Professor James McCormack, a pharmaceutical scientist.
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There is no doubt that a “more medicine is better” culture lies at the heart of healthcare, exacerbated by financial incentives within the system to prescribe more drugs and carry out more procedures
Dr Aseem Malhotra 
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Dr Malhotra, who is launching the campaign in a personal capacity, is a trustee of the King's Fund health think tank, a member of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and advisor to the National Obesity Forum.
He is particularly critical of the dramatic recent increase of the prescribing of statins.
NICE – the NHS drugs rationing watchdog – lowered the threshold for prescribing statins in 2014 to encourage GPs to prescribe the drugs to more people.
But it later emerged that six of the 12-strong panel received funding from drugs manufacturers - either by being paid directly to give speeches or 'advice', or through funding for research.
Dr Malhotra claims that the full data on the power of statins and their side effects have never been published.
He also points to questions about the efficacy of Tamiflu – a flu drug that the NHS spent £473million stockpiling. 
A 2014 report by a panel of eminent scientists concluded that Tamiflu was no more effective than paracetamol.
Dr Malhotra also cites an investigation by the BMJ medical journal, which earlier this month suggested that major blood thinning drug Rivaroxaban is not as safe as its trial data suggests, although the regulator stands by the drug. 



Dr Malhotra also points to questions about the efficacy of Tamiflu – a flu drug the NHS spent £473m stockpiling.  A 2014 report by a panel of eminent experts concluded it was no more effective than paracetamol

He writes: ‘For the sake of our future health and the sustainability of the NHS it’s time for real collective action against “too much medicine”, starting with the Public Accounts Committee launching a full independent inquiry into the efficacy and safety of medicines.’
Professor Ashton added: 'Public health relies on a comprehensive, accurate and cost effective evidence base to ensure we make decisions based on the best available research that improve and protect people’s health, as well as prioritise care in the best way for patients.’
A spokesman for the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said: ‘All medicines undergo rigorous testing for quality, safety and efficacy by global regulators.
‘The data is also subject to continuous scrutiny during trials, once licensed and throughout the life of the medicine, including after a patent has expired.’ 
 A spokesman for NHS England last night declined to comment on the allegations. 

MAILONLINE EXCLUSIVE: DR MALHOTRA'S COMMENTS IN FULL...  

There is no doubt that a 'more medicine is better' culture lies at the heart of modern healthcare.
This is exacerbated by financial incentives within the system to prescribe more drugs and carry out more procedures - regardless of whether it benefits patients, it seems.
But there's a more sinister barrier to making progress that we should be most concerned about.
And that's the information being provided to doctors and patients to guide treatment decisions.
Several weeks ago I was a speaker the annual British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin medical conference in Birmingham.
Other speakers included the chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, the chair of the BMA and the chief executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens.
In my speech, I warned of several things that deeply concern me about the state of medicine today.
In short, these are:
* Biased funding of research - funded because it is likely to be profitable, not beneficial for patients
* Biased reporting in medical journals
* Commercial conflicts of interests and an inability of doctors and patients to understand health statistics and risk



Over-medication is 'causing unnecessary suffering of millions and costing billions to our national economies'

All of the above are contributing to an epidemic of misinformed doctors and misinformed patients in the UK and beyond.
But most concerning of all, this desperate situation is costing tens of thousands of lives around the world.
And not only that, it is causing unnecessary suffering of millions and costing billions to our national economies.
A few months ago, the medical director of NHS England, Sir Bruce Keogh, admitted that one in seven NHS treatments - including operations - are unnecessary and should not have been carried out on patients.
And in the US, it is estimated that one third of all healthcare activity brings no benefit to patients.
This is further backed up by a point made by former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr Marcia Angell.
In a talk given at the University of Montana, in 2009, she revealed that of the 667 new drugs approved by the FDA between 2000 and 2007, only 11 per cent were were considered to be innovative or improvements on existing medications.
And three quarters were essentially just copies of old ones.

LINING THE POCKET OF BIG PHARMA



Previous research has linked psychiatric drugs to thousands of deaths due to suicides and drowsiness

Previous research has linked psychiatric drugs to thousands of deaths due to suicides and drowsiness
Given the fact that drug companies' primary responsibility is to provide profit for shareholders - rather than patient health - this is far from surprising.
But apart from the colossal financial wastage that results from companies having go at flogging a drug twice - and therefore spending twice as much marketing drugs than they do on research and development - it's the considerable harm to patients and the public that should concern us the most.
The Food and Drug Administration reports that adverse events from prescribed medications have more than tripled in the past decade in the United States.
This has resulted in more than 123,000 deaths in 2014 and 800,000 total serious patient outcomes - including hospitalisations and life threatening disability.
But this is likely to represent a gross underestimate.
One person who has long been outspoken on the dangers of modern medication is Peter Gotzsche, professor of research design and analysis at the University of Copenhagen.
He estimates prescription drugs are the third most common cause of death after heart disease and cancer.
In particular, he is deeply concerned about the impact of psychiatric drugs including antidepressants and dementia drugs.
Writing in the BMJ, he calculated they are responsible for more than half a million deaths in those aged over 65 in the US and European union.
This is due to suicides but also because patients are over-medicated and drowsy.
In fact, it is the elderly who are most at risk of so-called polypharmacy - where a patient is taking multiple drugs.

THE PATIENTS RATTLING WITH PILLS

The problem with polypharmacy is that the more drugs you take, the more likely you are to experience side-effects that are then misinterpreted by a doctor or nurse as a symptom of disease that needs treating with additional medicine.
I have lost count of the number of over-medicated elderly patients I have treated, with sometimes three or four blood pressure medications making them dizzy and fall over.
It's a vicious cycle and one that costs lives each year. 
The elderly are particularly vulnerable to polypharmacy with one in three hospital admissions in the over 75s the result of an adverse drug reaction.
Many of these patients will fall and suffer a hip fracture because of medication side effects and a quarter of these will die as a result.
But what is most disturbing is that Professor Gotzsche claims much of the behaviour of the pharmaceutical industry that drives this over-prescription fulfils the criteria for 'organised crime' under US law.



'I have lost count of the number of over-medicated elderly patients I have treated, with sometimes three or four blood pressure medications making them dizzy and fall over,' Dr Malhotra told MailOnline 


'I have lost count of the number of over-medicated elderly patients I have treated, with sometimes three or four blood pressure medications making them dizzy and fall over,' Dr Malhotra told MailOnline 
Between 2007 and 2012 the majority of the largest ten pharmaceutical companies all paid considerable fines for various misdemeanours that included marketing drugs for off-label uses, misrepresentation of research results, and hiding data on harm.
But whether such fines act as deterrent is debatable when profit is the primary motivator.
In 2012 GSK landed a $3 billion fine - the largest healthcare fraud settlement in US history - for illegally marketing several drugs including an anti-depressant, a diabetes drug and one for epilepsy.
But in the period covered by the settlement, it posted profits of more than $25 billion in the sales of these drugs.
Medical journals and the media can also be manipulated to serve not only as marketing vehicles for the industry but be complicit in silencing those who call for greater transparency and more independent scrutiny of scientific data.
Take a paper published by the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) last June.

WE DON'T KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT STATINS  

This claimed that a programme that aired in 2013 - which questioned the benefits of prescribing statins to those at low risk of heart disease - may have resulted in up to 2,900 people suffering a heart attack or death from stopping their medication.
The problem with polypharmacy is that the more drugs you take, the more likely you are to experience side-effects that are then misinterpreted by a doctor or nurse as a symptom of disease that needs treating with additional medicine 
I was asked to go on ABC News Australia to discuss this but unfortunately just 30 minutes before my interview was cancelled.
Had I had the opportunity, I would have given my view - that the paper provided no robust evidence of increasing hospital admissions or recorded deaths to support such claims.
On the contrary, the Catalyst documentary under scrutiny is one of the most brilliant pieces of medical journalism I have seen in recent times.
A view shared by the vice president of the faculty of public health Professor Simon Capewell, who described it as 'informative, transparent, and raised legitimate concerns',
As he and I point out in an editorial published two weeks ago in medical journal BMC Medicine, community based studies reveal that almost 75 per cent of new users will stop taking their statin within a year of prescription with 62 per cent citing side effects as a reason. 
In fact, the emerging evidence suggests at best, the benefits of statins have been grossly exaggerated and side effects underplayed.
In recent weeks, two separate research groups in Japan and France have, independently of each other, questioned the reliability of many of the earlier industry sponsored studies that show the benefit of statins.
In fact the Japanese research went as far to even suggests that statins may be a cause of the increasing population burden of heart failure.

British Heart Foundation on the pros and cons of statins



Dr Malhotra claims emerging evidence suggests the benefits of statins have been grossly exaggerated and side effects underplayed

Dr Malhotra claims emerging evidence suggests the benefits of statins have been grossly exaggerated and side effects underplayed
Meanwhile the reputed French cardiologist Dr Michel De Lorgeril has claimed all studies published after 2006 reveal 'no benefit' of statins for cardiovascular prevention in all groups of patients.
I fully support his calls for a full reassessment of all the statin studies and until then 'physicians should be aware that the present claims about the efficacy and safety of statins is not evidence based.'
Furthermore we must demand that the Clinical Trial Service Unit at Oxford University releases the raw data on statins for independent scrutiny.
It is these industry- sponsored studies that have resulted in the prescription of statins to millions worldwide, driving a multi-billion industry.

THE DRUGS THAT DON'T LIVE UP TO THE HYPE 

But back to the wider the picture.
It has been just over 10 years since John Ioannidis, professor of medicine and health policy at Stanford University, published a landmark paper explaining why most published medical research is likely to be false.
But it's not just about studies being poorly designed or stats being manipulated.
He went as far to claim 'the greater the financial interests in a given field, the less likely the research findings are to be true'.
Unfortunately, there are multiple recent examples exposing that our so-called guardians and regulators, NICE and the MHRA, are not only ill-equipped to deal with these issues.
Now, when a patient comes to see me with any new symptom my first thought is could this be a medication side effect? 
Or, as the immediate past president of the Royal College of Physicians Sir Richard Thompson told me ' are "part of the problem rather than the solution".'
NICE was called out when several leading doctors, including Sir Richard, wrote to the Secretary of State for health raising major concerns over the impartiality of the guideline development group on statins with 8 of its 12 members declaring financial ties to companies manufacturing statins and related drugs.
And in April 2014 independent scientists of the Cochrane Collaboration - considered the gold standard body of independent scientists - concluded that Britain wasted more than £500 million on the influenza drug Tamiflu.
After gaining access to withheld clinical trials data, the body found Tamiflu was no better that paracetamol in relieving flu symptoms and had potentially serious side effects including kidney problems and psychiatric disturbance.
Nice was criticised for failing to call for the full data to be released by the pharmaceutical company manufacturing the drug before giving its hasty approval.
At the time, however, manufacturer Roche said it stood behind the wealth of data for Tamiflu. 
Meanwhile an investigation by the BMJ revealed that the blood clotting test device used in a trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine was faulty giving falsely low blood thinning readings in the comparator drug warfarin.
Thus 'casting doubt onto outcomes used to support the use of the World's best-selling new oral anti-coagulant' Rivoroxaban, the journal said.
Of course NICE wouldn't have known about the faulty device but one has to question their judgement on recommending the use of the drug based upon one pharmaceutical company funded trial where there are now calls for the paper to be retracted.


Many clinical trials have provided flawed data, argues Dr Malhotra, and patients have been incorrectly medicated accordingly 

Many clinical trials have provided flawed data, argues Dr Malhotra, and patients have been incorrectly medicated accordingly 

WHY WE NEED A PUBLIC ENQUIRY

The fact that prescriptions are at an all time high with more than 1 billion handed out every year - the figure has doubled in the past decade - should be regarded as a public health crisis in itself.
Now, when a patient comes to see me with any new symptom my first thought is could this be a medication side effect?
The system is broken and cannot be fixed by just pouring in more money
Corporate greed and systematic political failure has brought the NHS to its knees.
Without full transparency and accountability no doctor can provide what we slogged through medical school and devote our heart and souls to - providing the best quality care for our patients.
Last week, responding to a series of recent scandals - including failure of institutions and universities in the UK to tackle research misconduct - former editor of the BMJ, Richard Smith, wrote: 'something is rotten in the state of British Medicine and has been for a long time'.
For the sake of our future health and the sustainability of the NHS it's time for real collective action against 'too much medicine'.
This can start with the public accounts committee launching a full independent inquiry into the efficacy and safety of medicines.
I believe it is an underlying scandal that may likely to dwarf that of the Mid Staffordshire NHS scandal - where scores of patients died due to poor care, a public enquiry concluded. 
Medical science has taken a turn towards darkness.
And sunlight will be its only disinfectant. 

*********************** 

The comments below have not been moderated.

BonjourTristesse, sydney, Australia, moments ago

I used to work as a translator in London. Our biggest clients were pharmaceutical companies. I translated thousands of interviews with doctors throughout Europe as to why they prescribe certain medications over others. I remember working on diabetes medications where the reason they didn't prescribe it 'younger' people was because the drugs caused dementia in 100% of patients in less then 10 years. They were happy to prescribe it to 'older' patients since 'they were going to die anyway'. The same thing for sleeping pills. One sleeping pill also caused dementia another caused cancer. Statins caused a huge number of side effects compared to what they improved. All the doctors knew the side effects but prescribed them anyway. It was incredibly scary to see into this world.

ReplyNew02Click to rate

Kim Jong-Uns Stylist, Surveillanceton, Vatican, 5 minutes ago

Drug pushers - though these ones manage to maintain a veneer of respectability and avoid the clamour calling for their imprisonment or death.

ReplyNew00Click to rate

Sir Winston, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, 17 minutes ago

Canada is the 'pill popping' country of the world! Last year a staggering 624 million prescriptions were issued for a population of just 34 million people - that includes large percentage of kids too! A friend of mine in Calgary, Alberta, his mother who is 91 is given a mouthwatering 38 pills a day!!!! One of her friends in long term care is given 41 pills a day!! I'm no doctor I find it incredible that they are even doing anything whatsoever. Pills are pushed every night on TV for at least 3 to 4 hours a night. They tell you in the first 30 seconds that it'll do your diabetes good, then spend the next 10 minutes telling you all the side effects of the drug, it even includes death with some, all the side effects are worse than the original complaint your supposed to be taking the drug for! All the adverts are from America so the must see Canada as a huge market for pill popping! It's the answer for all Canadian quacks - take these pills, it'll do you good!

ReplyNew16Click to rate

KG, OZ, 29 minutes ago

WE ALL KNOW THAT THEY ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN GREEDY PROFITS NOT THE WELL BEING OF PEOPLE!

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John Preston, Stoke on Trent, 41 minutes ago

After reading an article warning of Statins about 6 years ago (in this newspaper) I did some research and decided to give them up. I raised my concerns with two heart specialists a pharmacist and a GP nor of whom knew of the dangers. Since then I have been trying to warn people on these pages of the dangers. I also raised my concerns about the flu jab. I learned about the connection between Rampril and sciatica pain. Since giving up Rampril I have had virtually no pain whereas, with Rampril, I suffered daily. for about 12 years.

ReplyNew114Click to rate

Korianna Luscombe, Newcastle, United Kingdom, 47 minutes ago

Sha'riah Law must be introduced in the West to punish these perpetrators.

ReplyNew212Click to rate

BushPritzle, Minnesota, 29 minutes ago

No

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rapier, london, 25 minutes ago

You want that, then go to a COUNTRY where that LAW RULES! NOT in the UK!

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Coco, Letterkenny, Ireland, 49 minutes ago

I stopped taking my statin because of severe hip and back pain and leg cramps. I also felt aged and less vibrant. Within 2 months I was back to being enthusiastic, bright and out of pain. Worst medicine ever!

ReplyNew225Click to rate

Londoner, London uk, 51 minutes ago

Olive oil, olive leaf extract, garlic, msm all way better than statins, my doctor didnt even know what they were had no idea how sulphur works in the body. How can they be doctors and not know the vitamins and minerals the body needs, surely that is the basics?

ReplyNew124Click to rate

Nathalie123, Delray Beach, 56 minutes ago

I won't take diabetes meds because the number 1 side effects are cancer and liver damage.

ReplyNew414Click to rate

rapier, london, 26 minutes ago

quite agree. My wife's kidneys have been WRECKED by medication, but, Specialists in UK: EVERY THING fine. On holiday abroad, having problems with Kidneys: You know your kidneys are WRECKED. YET, they still say in the UK: EVERY thing FINE!

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Hope, England, 1 hour ago

Sadly there exits two types of scientists; the good scientists who are absolutely devoted to improving health and then there is the mad scientists who are foremost into profit, eugenics and population reduction. How then when such an attractive wage is offered do we attract only the scientists with a healthy moral mindset? After all, drugs in the wrong hands can be a lethal weapon or exploited for ridiculous profit which the NHS can ill afford. Drugs don¿t produce or promote themselves! Thus it would be safer and sensible for the NHS to use more natural remedies first i.e. vitamins and herbs etc. and reserve all the synthetic drugs for absolute emergencies only. I am certain there is a link between the increase in multiple chemical sensitivity, neurological disorders and decreased immunity with the over prescribing of pharmaceutical drugs. So yes, lets have less of their drugs and preservatives please.

ReplyNew021Click to rate

gbigs, Biloxi, United States, 1 hour ago

Big Pharma has ZERO responsibility to give their products away or provide them cheaply. Grow up people, their products save lives. If you can't afford them then quit whining and go get the money.

ReplyNew367Click to rate

Nathalie123, Delray Beach, 58 minutes ago

Your an idiot

325Click to rate

NineHoursAway, Nottingham, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago

Big Pharma isn't curing us... It's killing us!

ReplyNew242Click to rate

Nathalie123, Delray Beach, 58 minutes ago

Hear hear!

118Click to rate

Sudeep, Mumbai, India, 1 hour ago

First world problems. Most people in India go for Ayurveda and these pharma companies can never do murky practice in India as they hardly get can major business.

ReplyNew69Click to rate

Sarah888, Medford OR, United States, 1 hour ago

You don't say?!!! Finally, and more articles like this please. Good job DM.

ReplyNew231Click to rate

Ann N, Ontario, Canada, 1 hour ago

Something is very very wrong here . Eat clean, take some supplements , look at herbs etc . Don't buy into a pill for every woe . They all have side effects . Good nutrients do not .

ReplyNew338Click to rate

rarbit, Southeast, United States, 1 hour ago

A friend of mine took Lipitor for some years and lowered his cholesterol to less than 100. Now his short term memory is shot big time, It seems that is a problem with statins. Anyone interested can do a search on Lipitor and memory loss.

ReplyNew038Click to rate

McGuffin36, New York, United States, 1 hour ago

It's about time we nationalised the pharmacy industry. Save the NHS billions and we'd do well selling these drugs to America. Unfortunately, won't be able to sell to the Eurozone after June.

ReplyNew1210Click to rate

Mediaistheenemy, Philadelphia, United States, 1 hour ago

Statins reduce your chance of heart attack, stroke or death by 25-50%. If you don't think that's worth $5 a month, don't take your statin. Nothing bad happens to your doctor if you don't take your medicine.

ReplyNew309Click to rate

2 of 4 repliesSee all replies

Gladys, Somewhere, 33 minutes ago

Look up NNT, number needed to treat for a statin to prevent one heart attack.

01Click to rate

Gladys, Somewhere, 28 minutes ago

Hundreds of people would need to be on a statin for years to prevent one heart attack. That is the NNT.

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RebeccaOfSunnyBrook-, Farm. Parish of Westminster., United Kingdom, 1 hour ago

Photo # 1. Photo courtesy of Damian Hurst, Art Gallery.

ReplyNew22Click to rate

TORYPARTY-EVIL-PARTY, London, 1 hour ago

I won't take statins because of side effect what left my muscles on fire from the slightest movement. I only took them for two weeks but the problem persisted for years afterwards and is now only going away. They don't know how statins work on the liver, what damage is being caused by blocking the production of bad lipids, and as for protecting the heart research has shown that as many with low cholesterol die of heart attack as people with high cholesterol. Eating oily fish works better than stain on lowering cholesterol and protecting the heart.

ReplyNew220Click to rate

kittypoker, Clacton, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago

Hubby tested for very high cholesterol and the doc prescribed statins. He didn't like the idea so instead we cut out processed foods, reduced red meat, increased fish and took more exercise. Within a couple of months his cholesterol had dropped to normal levels and he felt much, much better. Father-in-law was on a dozen meds at the end of his life. His consultant was horrified as only one or two were of any use. A terrible waste of NHS resources and some side effects made his final days much more uncomfortable.

ReplyNew026Click to rate

Kim, Setubal, Portugal, 1 hour ago

Generic statins (Atorvastatina) cost about £5 for a two month supply over here.

45Click to rate

eeyore, MIDDLESBROUGH, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago

I have been saying for years Statins are no more than a blank cheque for Pharma companies and doctors.There was a time when the local doctor was the most respected member of the community ,these days, some (not all as there are still some good ones) are no better than snake oil merchants.

ReplyNew230Click to rate

xsnake, orrs island, 1 hour ago

Blame your doctor.

ReplyNew116Click to rate

Bella, London, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago

Sadly this man will very like meet an early end. Like many who've questioned the multi-billion pharma industry.

ReplyNew325Click to rate

GreyAlien, Rigel VII, United States, 1 hour ago

Gee let me see. Every day I see co-workers walk into work and begin their daily routine; popcorn at 8am; cola at 9am; chips at 10am; cookies at 11am; BK for lunch; more popcorn at 2pm; go home. Can only wonder what they eat at home. And of course they complain about their bodies wearing out, sore joints and knees, high blood sugar, etc. Then they take those drugs to get healthy.

ReplyNew324Click to rate

back in OZ now, England and OZ, Australia, 1 hour ago

I watched my parents almost swilling back so many drugs, because "the doctor told us to take them". And then some as my father would haunt the chemists for "natural" things. I refuse to be like that and since developing serious heart disease last year have been knocking heads with doctors as I refuse to take it all. I'm now off statins to add insult to injury, wanting a before and after blood test to prove they work. I got "told" yesterday how much time they could add to my life, but how much might they also take? And will it have quality if I have side effects. I'm a pain to them but I refuse to bow to the doctors and the drug companies, who are just making money out of we "little" people yet again without any thought of consequences other than money for them.

ReplyNew022Click to rate

JJGroves, Miami, United States, 2 hours ago

I blame this 10% on pharmaceutical companies, 50% on doctors and 40% on the people taking them. People have absolutely no common sense any more. They have become worthless!!!! The bottom line is we have a very serious problem. Here in the U.S. we have death from over dose of anti-anxiety meds at a record high.

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Steve237, San Diego, United States, 2 hours ago

Royal Raymond Rife cured cancer and many many other ailments using frequencies and most advanced microscopes in the world, which he built, in the early 1930's. He had one of the most advanced, well-equipped private laboratories in the United States. He determined the MOR (mortal oscillatory rate) of thousands of pathogens and was hailed by top doctors of the day as the man who found the "End to All Diseases". 'Rifevideos' dot kom has the best archive of materials. See the 'Universal Microscope'.

ReplyNew316Click to rate

sleuther, not the UK, Australia, 2 hours ago

Big pharma is not interested in " cures" and, never have been ! It's a business .........and there is no profit in cures .I would imagine that any cures discovered are buried , never to see the light of day .

ReplyNew437Click to rate

Mediaistheenemy, Philadelphia, United States, 1 hour ago

What do you think statins are? They are a cure for heart disease. Take your statin, cut you chance of a heart attack by 50%.

111Click to rate

rarbit, Southeast, United States, 1 hour ago

People do your own research online and see for your self. There was one study that did show that, but is being questioned, because it was funded by a large pharmaceutical company while there are other studies that show that statins can be dangerous. People do your research, and don't be hood winked when it comes to your health. Don't forget to take your aspirin each day, as that definitely lowers (quite a bit) the heart attack rate.

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MyTake345, Charlotte, United States, 2 hours ago

I think some of these drugs ARE helpful, but only in small doses. A doctor who prescribes 80 mg. of Lipitor is putting his patients at risk. Twenty mgs. have the same effect without side effects.

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null, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

Here here, one of the biggest downfalls of the NHS, abuse by suppliers, patients and tourists.

ReplyNew113Click to rate

DaBuzz, Alhambra, United States, 2 hours ago

Could not avoid methimazole - 1 year i tried natural remedies, after months of research, etc- nope. Been on this drug for a short time and it made a miraculous change... but I'm so worried about its effects on the liver, and about its purportedly rare potential for causing agranulocytosis - to say nothing of the weight gain i've heard is quasi-inevitable on it. And what this article states- you take one pill it fixes a problem creates another problem. Then you have to take pill #2 for the new problem- but guess what... another problem... pill #3...

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TyrantGeorge, Utopia, United States, 2 hours ago

That's why I won't take a bunch of stuff. I have the old standby, morphine for pain, some old drug for blood pressure, and that's it. I'm just not going to take a whole bunch of different meds. My folks, take dozens and dozens of different things. Forget it, I just don't need it.

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back in OZ now, England and OZ, Australia, 1 hour ago

Sometimes, just sometimes we have to give in to something. I'm on a hormone which without I'm in bed with severe pain, exhaustion, with it I have quality of life and little pain. I keep being told the risks, I'm prepared to take them for quality of life, not quantity. Without quality you have nothing. However when it comes to some others, oh they can get on their bikes. I saw my parents taking this and that and this and that for side effects and swore I would not be like that. So I research, weighing up the pros and cons, never taking anything on face value.

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Uncle_G, Toronto via basildon, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

Leading doctors? My mrs just graduated medical school and told me the exact same thing when she was in her first year!! Pretty common knowledge in the medical profession I'm afraid DM.

ReplyNew323Click to rate

Delly, Telford, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

Statins are a lie, I was put on them but changed my diet and stopped taking them and the last time I saw my GP he said my cholesterol levels were fine.

ReplyNew141Click to rate

back in OZ now, England and OZ, Australia, 1 hour ago

I agree. I was put on them last year after a big heart op. They didn't care about my previous really good cholesterol level. I'm now refusing to take them. I had a blood test with them now I'm going to have another without and see what the difference is. Unless it's markedly different I stay off them.

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Roo, abc, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

Bad pills - magically writing your own prescriptions and forcing patients to swallow you... Naughty, naughty pill. But good for you Doctor, you innocent bystander.

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Jen, Cambridge, 2 hours ago

I see most doctors blaming drug companies and/or doctors. What about patients? Doctors can be intensely pressured into prescribing drugs by their patients. If the doctor says ," Actually this will get better on its own" OR , which is harder, "There really is not anything to help you", many patients are outraged and moan about incompetent GPs. We all have a responsibility for our own health.

ReplyNew323Click to rate

back in OZ now, England and OZ, Australia, 1 hour ago

I agree, patients need to stop saying "yes sir no sir" to their doctors. Unfortunately the doctors in the UK are particularly bad at being little "gods" and so many patients are scared to speak back to them. I did once and did I get an absolute lambasting and even threatened with a solicitor if I didn't listen to him when I needed something that MAY have some nasty side effects but gives me quality where I have none otherwise. I buck the system all the way, research and so on. I'm sick of them thinking they can get one over on me, they can't. More need to do this and then perhaps when one of us speaks up they won't go so ballistic, it will become normal.

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Phoebe, Cornwall, 2 hours ago

Take Cannabis oil every day and you'll never get sick again.

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GreyAlien, Rigel VII, United States, 2 hours ago

So replace pharma drugs for weed? Yeah that's really smart. That's what the babyboomer-hippie generation taught you to do. Why not just say clear-minded, exercise, and live a balanced life.

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back in OZ now, England and OZ, Australia, 1 hour ago

I've heard cannabis oil is very good for cancer and can actually cure it. To be honest Former Brit I would try to get it and take it anyway. Also apricot kernels are wonderful and work for many people. It's hard to get in some countries but there are ways and means which I cannot put on here. Just think outside of the box.

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walcott, walcott, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

umm. yes, the drugs are bad. but WHO is giving them? doctors must take the blame for prescribing useless drugs just to get people out of the surgery.

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david_hughes_uk2000, cardiff, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

What a load of rubbish, most patients with half a brain know if the drugs are worthwhile or not, Doctors are only human after all and there to help which I respect, but surely the main responsibility comes to the patient.

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Lovestosew, Here and There, United States, 2 hours ago

No actually most people don't know if the drugs are worthwhile or not, they just take what the doctor prescribes and don't ask hardly any questions about them. They don't do their due diligence or seek out alternative means of dealing with whatever the problem is.

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TyrantGeorge, Utopia, United States, 2 hours ago

Interesting he blames the drug companies, and not doctors. Like they're impervious. Like I said in another article, doctors protect their own.

ReplyNew326Click to rate

Kim, Setubal, Portugal, 2 hours ago

General practicioners are often overburdened by their day-to-day activity and yet, in many countries, they are expected to withstand the pressure of dodgy reps. I suspect the best option might be to ban contact between pharmacetical companies and medical professionals and make sure that all contacts and decisions on the prescribing of drugs are taken by advisory bodies which are subject to the utmost scrutiny.

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TORYPARTY-EVIL-PARTY, London, 1 hour ago

Trouble as shown with nice 8 of the 12 on the body looking at statins received money from drug companies. That is what needs to be stopped. No doctor can receive money or gifts in kind from drug companies should be made law

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Penrynner, Ex-pat in South America, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

Big Profit is the only criteria with the big pharma companies. Back in the 1970's, they found that the fruit Guanabana, found in the Amazonas, can cure many different types of cancer, targets only the cancer cells, leaving healthy cells untouched. No hair loss, no sickness, no damage to healthy tissue, no side effects. AND 10,000 TIMES AS EFFECTIVE AS CHEMO DRUGS. But they could not create a synthetic version, and as you can't patent a natural product, and so make their billions, they hid their research, keeping it secret in case a competitor found the synthetic drug first. That was 40 YEARS AGO. They also prevented cancer charities from carrying out trials on it, or they would withdraw their funding. So it stayed unknown. How many people have died needlessly in those 40 years??? After taking it every morning for 3 months all my symptoms disappeared. They should be made to reveal information like this if they cannot create a synthetic version, so folk can try it themselves.

ReplyNew633Click to rate

Lovestosew, Here and There, United States, 2 hours ago

You will never force these companies to reveal their internal research documentation.

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Just call me queen., Over the hill and far away, United States, 2 hours ago

I found guanabana extract pills on ebay , thanks for the tip :)

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King Henry IV, Westminster, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

Big pharma is a problem and UKIP supports them. Farage is to blame for this.

ReplyNew337Click to rate

Paperbackwriter, St James, Barbados, 2 hours ago

You really are a prat.

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Migtheparrot, Coventry, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

cancer research they must make billions nows its 1 in 2 havnt cured much they are never done round the door on the phone am sick of them

ReplyNew215Click to rate

Glover LA, anywhere, United States, 2 hours ago

Big Pharmacy companies and doctors are the biggest drug pushers around. They work hand in hand. How do they sleep at night?

ReplyNew532Click to rate

lauren, london, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

I saw a doc, saying about 160 molecules can cure most of the diseases, but we have ten of thousand of medicine on the market, with most of them totally useless in curing illness. One just has to look at the viagra story to know they have no clue what they are doing. Hey look at that side effect, lets make billions regardless of if it kills the elderly.

ReplyNew325Click to rate

Migtheparrot, Coventry, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

mum lived to 94 wouldnt have the flu jab

ReplyNew429Click to rate

Lovestosew, Here and There, United States, 2 hours ago

Which just means she was lucky.

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Glover LA, anywhere, United States, 2 hours ago

Big Pharmacy Companies and doctors are the biggest drug pushers around. They work together. Doctor's prescribe their drugs and in return free trips, extra bonuses. How do they sleep at night.

ReplyNew323Click to rate

elgar61, Fife, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

The science around Type 2 Diabetes is suspect as well. Too many people are being prescribed Metformin. GPs have a vested interest in pushing you beyond being borderline as they get paid for the blood tests and getting you on the medication. NHS testing says I'm just in the Type 2 range, private testing says otherwise.

ReplyNew421Click to rate

barbus, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

You have to understand pharmaceutical firms do not want to cure you,they want to manage your condition as there is more profit in that.

ReplyNew344Click to rate

Migtheparrot, Coventry, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

yOU CAN HAVE PLENTY OF PAIN KILLERS TRY GETTING ANTIBIOTICS IF THEY STOPPED USING THEM IN ANIMAL FEEDS INSTEAD LOADS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE DIE PNEUMONIA IN WINTER BET THEY COULD USE Antibiotics makes me sick no money in cures just diseases

ReplyNew116Click to rate

Im, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Wasn't it Bliar who stocked all the useless Tamiflu his equally useless minister was persuaded was essential by the 'experts' employed by the NHS? Flu vaccines are always useless as the yas always from previous strains not the current one. But they do reduce the number of pensioners blocking beds.

ReplyNew017Click to rate

dkcool, Baltimore, United States, 3 hours ago

Just use cannabis

ReplyNew328Click to rate

Lizzy, Colchester, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Totally agree with this, I can't believe the number and strength of medications that are prescribed and how some Drs get away with pushing specific drugs.... I have had gynae health problems for years and am prescribed really strong stuff (both hormomes and painkillers) in an instant. And one gynae Dr I remember told me only about one particular treatment, mirena coil, (there are about 5 options he should have told me about) to the point where I actually said 'are you being sponsored by mirena coil or something' . Appalling how he could get away with that.

ReplyNew019Click to rate

George_Orville, Manchester, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

What about the billions of lives medication has saved throughout human history. Doctors do not force anyone to take medication so if you think they do not work do not take them.

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El loro loco, The Jungle, United States, 3 hours ago

Mine tried every scare tactic in the book to try to make me continue my medications when I told him I was discontinuing them and letting nature take it's course with me. I exercised my patient rights to refuse further treatment, and had I continued on with a high risk, life changing surgery plus medications that seemed to just make me more ill (as per the doctors), I don't think I would be here today.

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George_Orville, Manchester, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

What about the billions of lives medication has saved throughout human history. Doctors do not force anyone to take medication so if you think they do not work do not take them.

ReplyNew238Click to rate

B.Thomson, Scotland, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Well that's right. Everybody knows somebody who has a big bag of pills from the NHS.

ReplyNew017Click to rate

Wayne Clarke, Swansea, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

What about an enquiry into the dodgy NHS practices of doling out statins for no good reasons or the so called pre diabetes clinics which just tell people who dont have diabetes to eat better and get more exercise (theres no such condition as pre diabetes according to the BMA.)

ReplyNew223Click to rate

janico, LONDON, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

Pre diabetes is the point at which blood sugar levels are raised above a healthy level although has not yet reached the level at which diabetes is diagnosed. No medication is prescribed for it, but eating healthily and losing weight has a significant impact on reversing blood sugar levels to normal level and avoiding diabetes. You should get educated on the subject.

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Angel, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Who prescribes useless drugs? Big Pharma wouldn't survive without "cooperating" doctors. And people need to learn that drugs are for urgent health issues only. It's not a lifestyle. Good health is not about swallowing pills. We need a new wave of wise doctors.

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Around the Bush, Somewhere, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

I developed hallucination after taking Avelox prescribed by Dr. Chlysta. Later, I found out that I did not have a H Pylori infection after all. People, please be careful and googled the medicines you are prescribed before getting it filled.

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Dave, USA, 3 hours ago

A drug is removed from use after it kills the excepted number of people and has turned a profit.

ReplyNew817Click to rate

TyrantGeorge, Utopia, United States, 2 hours ago

"Expected"? Do you even know what "excepted" even means? And we're to listen to you about how a drug kills a specific number and people and then the drug company removes it from the market? hahaha! Yeah.....

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aSwe, Texas, United States, 3 hours ago

Ya, think.

ReplyNew28Click to rate

mrsV, Berkshire, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

What a load of rubbish, he pharmaceutical industry is probably the most regulated in the world. Pharmaceutical companies are businesses and they need to make money to survive just as every other business does. I'm not aware of many other business who are forced to pay 15% of their profit to the government like pharma does. Look at he men b drug - that took 25 years and cost billions of dollars to produce, that money has to go back into the industry to fund research on new drugs that might just save your life. Don't be so bloody ignorant!

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gettingthere, Sheffield, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Yes they do need to make money to put back into research. They also need to pay their share holders. If you break a leg in the USA it costs more for the drugs they give you than for a scan and Xray. Drugs? For a broken leg? That'll be the painkillers then. I'd love to hear your justification for that?

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TyrantGeorge, Utopia, United States, 2 hours ago

Not to mention the cost of developing drugs. No doubt there's big money in it, but there's also big loss too.

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HorseOfTheRisingSun, N-A, France, 3 hours ago

Always ask your doctor and look them in the eye - "If you had my condition would you take this? Are you sure?" If there's a shifty look, ok well review it next time... Which will be never.

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Miyako99, Boston, United States, 3 hours ago

I live in the US and as I right this, "I am ready to put my Hep C behind" blares from the tv, yes the US is one of a handful (2 I think) of countries that allows an even more sinister practice of Direct Consumer Marketing; hence the constant bombardment of Big Pharma ads 24/7...it should be illegal and is immoral for patients to be peddled drugs (that are new and untried) and then told to "go ask their doctor", wrong wrong wrong. Never never never never seek out a new drug or take one, especially one that is heavily marketed. At my former law firm, the defense of Big Pharma suits was the most busy and booming. Crime.

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sam, merseyside, 3 hours ago

Write even

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TyrantGeorge, Utopia, United States, 2 hours ago

You mean of course, slimy lawyers that would sue their own mothers if there was money in it? Those guys? Yeah, SOoo hard to believe.....

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Gerry, Derby, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

I had a letter from Doctor, stating I should make an appointment for a blood test, he had said I needed. I haven't been ill, nor have I visited the Doctor. Is obviously like the "well person", and the flu vaccine, they get paid for doing these procedures. I will not and do not take any medication, even pain killers. I am fit, healthy and happy. Unlike many of my friends, who have been persuaded they have "Type 2" or need Statins, etc.

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Boadiccea, East Anglia, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

I am invited for a free flu jab every winter. So far, I have not taken up the offer. Learnt a while ago that only one strain of flu is covered anyway, and some of those who I know who have taken it have been very unwell and had uncomfortable side effects. Last week , for the first time, I received a letter from local surgery inviting me in for a free vaccination against shingles! Is all this for our good, or is it another example of Big Pharma flooding the GPs surgeries with drugs? Stay away!

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vielnick, köln, 3 hours ago

There are a lot of medicines without proven benefits, that is especially the case with the TV- promoted ointments which active ingredients cannot pass the skin barrier. But to my own experience the prescribed pills have improved my laboratory cosmetic with blood pressure an especially with cholesterol. But I don't have any knowledge which influence will have these values for my life.

ReplyNew16Click to rate

Inés, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Oh look an article about Big Pharma that dozens of DM readers post about then get told to put on our tin foil hats because it a conspiracy theory. It is not! So many things are going on that people call conspiracy theories when it's just they can't face the truth.

ReplyNew119Click to rate

Reduntildead, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

And what will be done?? NOTHING not a dam thing while someone's getting rich !!

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Tifany, Alabama, United States, 3 hours ago

Just remember many of these drugs keep people alive. I am grateful to live in a time when antibiotics and heart drugs are readily available, not to mention vaccines.

ReplyNew815Click to rate

Cozypowell007, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Your body is designed to pretty much kill everything. Ok there are exceptions to some virus and bacteria but if you have a sniffle don't take any drugs let your body do what it's supposed to. Down the line people won't have an immune system of drugs are constantly used.

ReplyNew119Click to rate

GreyAlien, Rigel VII, United States, 1 hour ago

God designed our body to take care of itself. Now that many people in this country do not attend church, they have replaced God with other gods such as food, alcohol, and drugs and then when they're body is worn out, they take pharm drugs for that magic cure. People have tuned their life into a roller coaster. And it is their own fault and no one else.

20Click to rate

Cozypowell007, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Your body is designed to pretty much kill everything. Ok there are exceptions to some virus and bacteria but if you have a sniffle don't take any drugs let your body do what it's supposed to. Down the line people won't have an immune system of drugs are constantly used.

ReplyNew25Click to rate

Burtiebutton, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

The health service are not obligated to cure, but they have to make profit....

ReplyNew111Click to rate

annoyedonline, Klein Bonaire, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, 3 hours ago

Smoke weed every day

ReplyNew99Click to rate

sam, merseyside, 2 hours ago

What's your point?

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sceptical, Ware, 3 hours ago

Pharma companies spend billions developing drugs, very few of which get approved for use. All prescription drugs have to be approved by the MHRA here or the FDA in the States, if they're not effective they're not approved.

ReplyNew711Click to rate

Boadiccea, East Anglia, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

I don't doubt that many of them are effective, and that many patients are helped by them. The problem is that, as in the case of statins, doctors are being encouraged to put as many people as possible on them. This is the worry.

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rapier, london, 3 hours ago

Are we surprised? NO! GREED comes BEFORE patients. From family experience in the UK, and abroad. Abroad REDUCED pill intake by 75% and changed another drug for similar that ACTUALLY did the job, where the previous one did NOTHING. As the specialist abroad said. You could INJECT the WHOLE tube in one go, it would have no EFFECT on your system one bit. You can guess the reaction by the so-called specialist in the UK!

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El loro loco, The Jungle, United States, 3 hours ago

I think the ONLY thing that could compel me to see a doctor ever again would be an injury I could absolutely not treat myself. I almost died as a result of the systematic negligence of the medical industry. I can honestly say I have never been so healthy in my life as I have since I stopped seeing doctors and taking their drugs. For the past 8 years since I told my final GI doctor to shove it and I wasn't taking any further medications (against his advice), my crohns is now in complete remission (dietarily), my 'female' issues are tolerable, my skin is clear, I don't get sick, I have actual energy... Remember, doctors are in the business of keeping you sick. If you aren't sick, they don't make money.

ReplyNew430Click to rate

cathinscotland, Highlands, 3 hours ago

Well, I've long suspected this, having watched, various documentaries on the subject and they showed, this was clearly the case. Personally, my cholesterol, is close to Zero and my BP dropped to low, so it was all done, with diet. My cholesterol has always been low - and the GP at the time, said 'Oh, well, that's genetic' when I asked, why that was? Well, explain to me - how come, my husband's was ALSO at near Zero - when he's only related to me by marriage - if it's not controlled by diet? We both ate the same food - funny that, eh? The same happened, when he was diagnosed, with advanced, aggressive, prostate cancer and given a prognosis of 12-18 months - yet, I kept him alive, for 10.5 years. Oh, it's was the meds, they said? So, when my next partner, also got prostate cancer and was told it was 'early stage' - I changed his diet, to include, oily fish, as I thought it might have helped my late husband, with his prostate cancer - my new partner's PSA went down to 0.5?

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vielnick, köln, 3 hours ago

Cholesterol close to zero? then your brain will stop any activity

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El loro loco, The Jungle, United States, 3 hours ago

You do realize the human body produces it's own cholesterol (does not have to come from dietary sources) and needs a certain amount of for normal functions (especially of the brain) right?

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jonjonsezhi, okc, United States, 3 hours ago

BIG BAD GOV, BIG BAD MEDS......an little you, but you have them by the numbers LET US THE PEOPLE WORLD WIDE RISE UP. evil does not kill its self, we are all infested by traitors of all flavors. What will man look like in 100 years, if we do nothing now. Serfs or worse.

ReplyNew112Click to rate

LIEbor ruined the UK, London, 3 hours ago

And the drugs you do need you are not allowed to have just in case they make you better.

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Mike Newland, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

It's not just greed. It's also the post-war medical miracles like antibiotics which were sold to the public as meaning that the doctor has a pill to cure everything so you need not bother about your disastrous life style. This was seized upon by a lazy public and we can see the results. There have been miracles - but not for everything! James Le Fanu's book The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine is a good text. People seem mostly now to be blithely ignorant of the connection between lifestyle and disease. On average obviously. There are no individual guarantees. We are talking the odds here.

ReplyNew111Click to rate

TracyTinkle, sydney, Australia, 3 hours ago

Fairly obvious that this has been happening for years. Haven't you noticed how new conditions are always being dreamt up to explain bad behaviour or how old clinical trials from decades ago are still being used to justify more medications. Pharma companies have you all fooled

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steve c, Sussex, 3 hours ago

What an absolute load of garbage - just another example of Big Pharma bashing. As already pointed out, it is the GPs and NICE that are pushing the Statins - for economic reasons. Since the Statins are out of patent and dirt cheap, it is cheaper for the NHS to pile patients full of Statins, despite the known side-effects, than risk having to treat them in hospital for heart conditions. No-one seems to mention that the life-saving medicines developed by the Pharmaceutical companies cost a lot of money. Without the profits, they would be unable to plough more money into R&D in order to develop the life-saving medicines of the future. What about the Meningitis B vaccine that everyone is lobbying Government to give to ALL children. Without all the efforts of Big Pharma, such vaccines would never have been developed to save lives. How about giving Big Pharma a break and credit where it is due!!!

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mikky-mike, hitchin, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Which one do you work for

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Kieran1981, Kotu, Gambia, 3 hours ago

Is anyone really surprised by this? I'm not. Don't think Quackery only existed in the Victorian era.

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Rickie the Sickie, Chicago, United States, 3 hours ago

In the United States, pharmaceutical companies line the pockets of Republican politicians so they can keep getting what they want

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Abdul Raafi Karuybi, Bashnatrashi, Syria, 3 hours ago

We need stay in EU ok

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Abdul Raafi Karuybi, Bashnatrashi, Syria, 3 hours ago

#### off

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Boadiccea, East Anglia, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

Last time I looked Abdul, Syria was not a member of the EU! However, millions of your countryfolk now appear to be IN Europe! hmmm!!!!

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edn16s, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

The sooner we get out of here the better.

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norrie, brisbane australia, 3 hours ago

I'm with yer mate

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Ratcatcher, Westminster Sewers, 3 hours ago

If you want to look at scandals in medicine, look at the scandal of people being forced to have smallpox vaccinations during the 1960 and 70's before they traveled abroad and how many developed meningitis as a result with hundreds of subsequent deaths. This was a huge cover up by the governments of the time.

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Pete, Liverpool, 3 hours ago

And nobody in the world has died of smallpox since

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cufc54, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

I assume you realise smallpox killed an estimated 500 million people in the 20th century and 2 million in the single year of 1967. Perhaps a vaccine shouldn't have been developed to eradicate this horrendous disease.

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Midlander solihull, solihull, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

I know someone who goes from one pharmaceutical company to another and left his previous one as there was some wrong doing in price fixing!!! They are all out for a quick buck regardless of the consequences. Oh and he and his family tell you not to go to GPs as they only give you the fashionable and most pushed drugs - totally unethical business!!

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Ian, UK, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Hmm and the big Pharmaceutical companies are the next on Cameron's list of 'signed letters' top be published to reinforce his Pro EU campaign. The signatories like Cameron have nothing to gain have they? And just as in this article, at the British publics cost.

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dinkydonk, the firmament, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Doctors just hand out prescription drugs to deal with symptoms, but then that's the approach they were taught at medical school, this goes way back to Rockerfella in the US funding medical schools who only prescribe patented drugs, those expensive patented drugs. Understanding an illness, the root cause of it is rarely understood, they do symptom management and that suits big Pharma £$ big time. Anything that actually cures patients is discouraged unless pharma can re-synthesise the compounds again, give it a new name and market it as a new wonder drug (which will be on a trial) and a months supply will be $48.000.

ReplyNew217Click to rate

Sking, Knutsford, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

This is old news. We know this already

ReplyNew221Click to rate

Kristian, Anfield Road, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

I am actually surprised you were allowed to run an article like this.

ReplyNew642Click to rate

JillJill, Kent, 3 hours ago

Alternative medicine does work. The pharmaceuticals have brain washed us into believing it doesn't.

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steve c, Sussex, 3 hours ago

Garbage!

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SpodoConundrum, l-_-l, Christmas Island, 2 hours ago

No, the evidence has shown us that it doesn't and the stuff that does work has become what we call medicine.

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Paleo_man, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

More people are addicted to prescription and over the counter drugs than all illegal drugs put together.

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Tara Phoenix, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

More people die from prescription drugs than all the illegal drugs put together. Yet cannabis oil treats most illnesses - including cancer - and Big Pharma (with the help of this rag, it must be said) ensure it stays illegal, so you can't treat yourself safely and without side effects for free.

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HorseOfTheRisingSun, N-A, France, 3 hours ago

Addicted? Wow! So you'd deny someone pain relief for fear they'd become addicted? There is a lot of difference between short term pain relief, long term pain relief and those who use prescription and OTC drugs recreationally. If your pain is gone and you continue to use drugs then yes there is a problem; if you seek drugs to use recreationally then yes there is a problem. If you actually have chronic 24/7 pain and have no other means of managing pain and have been given drugs to deal with it to be able to function, work and be productive then you are not as you suggest an addict. I would however agree that a substantial number of individuals have conditions that can be managed through lifestyle changes but choose not to and thereby become reliant upon medication to resolve their issues. Though diet and exercise I've helped my husband avoid the need to use diabetic drugs, sadly I have a form of arthritis has no natural cure and I'm stuck being an addict as you put it for the time being.

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IJW2961, Yorkshire, 3 hours ago

Oh my god what a load of rubbish is being spoken. Just so that you are aware we have the lowest uptake of new medicines in the western world. virtually all statins are now generic which means they cost pennies. so big bad pharma is making nothing from them now. Massive strides have been made in all the major disease areas especially cancer. For instance breast cancer survival rates after 10 years is now 80%. So let's nationalise the industry in the uk and watch our health outcomes take a dive compared to similar countries. We are getting there already because we keep supporting a healthcare system in the nhs that is doomed to failure.

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steve c, Sussex, 3 hours ago

Well said IJW2961, how many of the idiots commenting on this article would turn down a life-saving drug developed by Big Pharma if they were diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.

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gettingthere, Sheffield, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

Whether statins cost pennies or thousands isn't really the big issue though, is it? The issue is are "we" being prescribed drugs we don't really need?

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Kevin, Blackburn, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

The wining and dining that goes on by these large pharmaceutical companies with our doctors is mind blowing . Their budgets for this are beyond belief .

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The shrine, Sd, United States, 3 hours ago

Maybe in UK, in US reps can't even give docs a plastic pen.

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gettingthere, Sheffield, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

Coming to an NHS near you, soon? :/

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Poppy Clarke, southofCroydon, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

These are private companies out to make as much profit as possible What do you expect , they can't wait to get their hands on the NHS

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Tara Phoenix, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Yes, and still no reporting of TTIP in the media. When that becomes law, we're screwed.

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Peut, Skegness, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

The medical profession has succeeded in turning us into a nation of hypochondriacs,most visits to the doctors surgery are unnecessary and result in prescriptions for medicine that is not needed and could even be harmful.

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gettingthere, Sheffield, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

My caring, sharing locus, GP told me if I wanted to die that was my choice. My crime? I refused to take the statins he wanted to prescribe me!

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Gill, Lincoln, 4 hours ago

We learnt a long time ago to stay away from the GP surgery and whatever they've been told to 'push'. So far, so good!

The comments below have not been moderated.

littlejoe, not over there, Switzerland, 4 hours ago

Tamiflu is made by Roche and Roche is Swiss. Who cares if the patients did`t benefit as much, as long as we Swiss made some money out of it

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Boadiccea, East Anglia, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

Typical Swiss attitude. Very insular country. Only cares about money and what is good for them. Everyone else can go hang. Same in war time.

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Ssh60, London, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

As a 54yr old, female; non smoker, non drinker; weighing 8st. at 5.6", and having very low blood pressure, 90/60, I was still put on statins, because of 'high' cholesterol, which was 8. My GP to me was 'God', so without question I took them. After two years of the most hideous side effects, especially the chronic muscle pain 24/7, without telling my GP, I simply stopped taking them. For the last four years, I've felt fine. No muscle pains, and the last time it was taken, my cholesterol was 6. I've never changed my diet, which is eating everything in moderation, and junk/takeaways two or three times a week, which is my guilty pleasure. Now 60, and perfectly healthy, (barring being disabled due to a head injury being inflicted) I couldn't care less what my cholesterol is, and know I ld NEVER take statins again! Prefer to take my chances...

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Nevergiveup, Germany Ex-, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Good on you!

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plete, Devon, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

I am on chemo. I also secretly take a drug that was approved in the 80's in the US, but very difficult to find now as the patent has ran out and there is no money in it for them. Only 6 doctors in the Uk prescribe it, although it is popular in Ireland. I am positive that it is extending my life. The number of dieases it greatly helps is absolutely amazing. Google LDN and go to their homepage- you will be astonished. My monthly supply cost me £18. Because of the low dosage, there are no side effects. My Oncologist and nurse's cannot belive my progress and vitality.

ReplyNew320Click to rate

Nevergiveup, Germany Ex-, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

I googled it and what I found sounds rather amazing. I suffer from MS and could imagine trying this out - even if it is only to do something other than just take what Big Pharma wants me to do. How did you stumble across Naltrexone (LDL) and what kind of disease do you take it for?

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Whitegold46, Cheadle Hulme, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Biggest con of the century - so many natural remedies out there but they actively block the development. There's one 'drug' I read often that they say cures cancer but big pharma will not allow it's legalisation or further development (I don't know if what I read on this is true or not but am sure others have read the same and wondered...?) My husband is trying desperately to come of diabetes meds and trying all sorts of naturals like tumeric and others.

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Tara Phoenix, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Yeah, it's called cannabis oil. Look at the Paleo and Specific Carbohydrate diet for diabetes, as well as high dose Vit D3

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SpodoConundrum, l-_-l, Christmas Island, 2 hours ago

So a 'drug' you 'read' about 'somewhere' that 'they' say 'cures' cancer, is being held down by big pharma? Well that's me convinced!! Cannabis.. hmm.. didn't seem to work for Bob Marley! Those 'naturals' won't help your husband, he needs to make bigger changes to his lifestyle and diet. Not some fad diet or supplement that he read about on google.

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Whinging_Worker, Up North, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

I would bet the cure for the common cold was found many years ago but it has been locked away allowing drug companies to generate massive profits selling repeat lifelong treatments. Under the current economic system we will probably never see this cure and probably many others.

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AMP8, London, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

And on top of that I wouldn't be surprised if they also release viruses and bacteria to infect people so we need their medication... time to time there is an epidemic of something.. and it is always strange how all starts..

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Tara Phoenix, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Zika

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SpodoConundrum, l-_-l, Christmas Island, 2 hours ago

CONSPIRACY THEORISTS UNITE!

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Meg, Penge Sur Mer, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Live each day to the best of your ability and remember, if you feel well, you are well.

ReplyNew337Click to rate

Kane, perth, Australia, 4 hours ago

its not just greed, its desire.They hate.

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geebee, lancashire, 4 hours ago

At my 40yr old health check the nurse said my cholesterol was high and straight away told me to take statins, I said no I'll reduce it myself. The only thing I changed was to have butter again. A few weeks later had it checked again to be told it's come down to 'normal'.

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cufc54, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

geebee - if you have such a low regard for advice and modern medicines, I am surprised you went for a 40yr old health check.

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Boadiccea, East Anglia, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

Unless you feel you have a problem, why would you go for a 40 year old health check?

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futilityatbest, Morecambe Lancs, 4 hours ago

a rat catcher always leaves 2 rats. a male and a female!!!!???

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Tara Phoenix, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Yup. Healthy people don't make them money.

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magnolia flower, Kissimmee, United States, 4 hours ago

I was wondering when some one would broach this subject. Between the pharmaceuticals and certain esteemed medical persons, people are given these prescriptions to enhance the pharmaceutical bottom line. Listen to medications being promoted through television adverts, and separate the negative side effects that comes with taking those meds. They have more don't than can do for the patient. So if that is the case more side effects from taking them, then why swallow them in the first place. Bottom line consider your self a step to a closer death. Ask your physician this question, would he/she take the meds that they are prescribing to you depending on their answer will dictate how you feel about taking them, also if the scale tips in your favor. The same is applicable for surgeries. If you get an answer then you know that you and them are on the same page.

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rocal2012, Aberdeen, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Pharmaceuticals has nothing to do with it, they have expensive and experienced analysts doing the test to make sure that every batch on product they produced passes the required potency range...! Those are dignified standards of chemists and analysts, whats wrong in this country is the lack of qualified and really experienced doctors..!! Some of them dont know what their giving to their patients, been to a gp a few times and many times ive been asked what i want them to do with my allergies?!?! Its like seriously??? Admit it..! There is not enough education and good practice of doctors in this country...! They cant even tell that long term use of some drugs are dangerous, in nursing homes, some folk are getting paracetamols for years everyday! And who prescribed that???? DOCTORS..! Pharmaceuticals are only making the demands of the doctors and pharmacists. If your a good doctor you wont prescribed anything that a patient dont need!! No matter how much they want!

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Tara Phoenix, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Haha. Which pharmaceutical company do you work for? They fiddle the test results all the time and create illnesses to treat.

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susie, Dallas, United States, 4 hours ago

It's not just the statins - look at how they push antacids. First they try to kill you off with nasty processed food and then they compound the problems by shoving antacid tablets down your throat. Don't take those damn things - eat properly in the first place and if you do get indigestion have a little glass of vinegar water. Problems solved.

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The shrine, Sd, United States, 2 hours ago

Nobody's shoving anything down your throat but you.

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futilityatbest, Morecambe Lancs, 4 hours ago

stuff it,, back to the brandy!!!

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martin, cheshire, 4 hours ago

And this is news because? Everyone, apparently bar the NHS, knows that the drug companies have talked us into believing these 'take them for life' drugs are essential because they are a handy cash cow rather than an effective cure for anything and there's ample evidence of statins causing far more problems than they fix

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Noggin The Nog, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Big Pharma aren't in business to make you well folks....they are in business to keep you needing their tablets....and then plenty more tablets from other ailments caused by the side effects.... There are drug dealers that have better morals than these guys.

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skeptickofeverything, southampton, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

There is a lot more money to be made by getting healthy people to take a pill every day forever than from treating sick people because there are a lot more healthy people in the world than sick people. Our so called strapped for cash NHS spends £450 million a year on statins. Almost as much as it spends on the managers pension pots!

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Syhala, warsaw, Poland, 4 hours ago

I've been prescribed antibiotics twice before having the test results back. Both times the results came back negative

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Barbara, London, 4 hours ago

Well, in future, accept the script, and take the antibiotics when the results come back, no need to go back to the doctor, just go to the pharmacy, if needed. You have to take your own life back.

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kev47, Hermitage, United States, 4 hours ago

We have just had a doctor telling us that alcohol is bad for us. It would seem that it's really doctors that are the real killers.

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Steve Zodiac, BEXHILL-ON-SEA, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Why do you think that there has been no major progress in finding a cure for cancer in more than fifty years? that's right, it is much more profitable to give drugs to prolong life and mask symptoms than it would be to cure everybody.

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The shrine, Sd, United States, 3 hours ago

Right, and all the doctors and researchers in this big cover up prefer masking a cure so they too can watch their loved ones die for profit.

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Bella, London, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago

Apparently there was a cure found in the 1940s but the multi-billion pharma industry and successive governments are part of the cover up.

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PJM, London, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Drug companies exist to make vast profits. 'Testing' drugs on animals does not make them safe for humans despite the endless propaganda. Purely on the suffering inflicted on animals in laboratories people get the drugs and nasty (much more than mere) side effects they deserve.

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JoFee, Thiene, Italy, 4 hours ago

Pharma.. from the Greek pharmakon meaning poison. Society is being poisoned.

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StayAtHomeDad69, West Bromwich, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

It's from sorcery. Or so I thought.

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Oneper, Flanders, United States, 4 hours ago

Start by changing the entire theory of western medicine which is treat the symptoms not the cause. But doing that requires the understanding of cause and hearing your patient. Not a fifteen minute ram bam thank you here is your prescription.

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Brycebrycebaby, Las Malvinas, Argentina, 4 hours ago

That's capitalism folks. Voting out will only make it much, much worse.

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Noggin The Nog, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

You think we are going to take advice from Argentina!!!!!!????? Got one thing and one thing only to say to that....JEREMY CLARKSON!

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gettingthere, Sheffield, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

Argentina? Falkland Islands, surely?

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Seattle Seahawk Lady, Seattle, United States, 4 hours ago

The public needs to accept their part in this as well. Most who go to see a Doctor don't feel they were treated if they aren't given a prescription before they leave. I know many Doctors who would (and should but don't) tell their patients, go home, get 8 hours sleep a night, stop drinking, cut out junk food, exercise daily and get a life. They'd lose their patients who don't like being told their lifestyles are what's killing them. So they write out yet another prescription, the patient is happy. In the US the average time a Doctor spends with a patient is 7 minutes. How can they possibly know what's wrong with you? They rarely remember to tell you what NOT to eat or meds to take with your new prescription as well, which kills many. You're gambling with your life when you walk in a Doctor's office.

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Meg, Penge Sur Mer, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

True. The majority of people visiting their GPs are "the worried well". If their doctor was to tell them to go home, eat and drink sensibly, get plenty of fresh air and exercise, there's nothing wrong with you, they would be disappointed and would probably complain.

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SpodoConundrum, l-_-l, Christmas Island, 2 hours ago

It's worrying that grown adults need to be told to do that. Also worrying that people hold doctors to account for peoples own lack of ability to take care of themselves and their own health. If you need a doctor to tell you to exercise more, eat better and get more sleep then you have bigger problems! The type of people who need to go to a medical professional for this advice are the type of people who wouldn't follow it anyway.

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sparrowspouse, Merica, United States, 4 hours ago

What Big P harma has done is one of the greatest scandals in modern human history.

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Wingman44, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Big Pharm make the tobacco industry look like good Samaritans.

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Albertan, Alberta, Canada, 4 hours ago

How many physicians have shares in pharmaceutical companies?

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billyelton, Peterborough, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

I have raised cholesterol so took statins for a while but had to stop because of serious muscle aches headaches and feeling tired all the time , doc said you must stay on them I told him where to go and am feeling great now ,then found out that we all need cholesterol !!

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Steve Zodiac, BEXHILL-ON-SEA, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Top man! I have high cholesterol, my Doc pretty much said "you're going to die" so did loads of research and decided to leave myself alone. All my friends and relatives have come off Statins and all say they feel the best they've felt in years.

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Country Gal, Bedford, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

I work with majority of elderly patients on a daily basis, and it amazes me how many tablets that are prescribed to them. My main issues are that more often than not a patient has been prescribed tablets to counter act against the effects of another tablet etc etc etc, rather than stop the original tablet. Secondly I find that so many of my patients are prescribed medication well into their 90's! Realistically are these tablets going to make a difference to these elderly patients or call me cynical but are they easy cash cows for GP's and pharmaceutical companies?!

ReplyNew244Click to rate

million.to1, chester, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

SO, IS IT THE TABLETS THAT'S MAKING THEM LIVE INTO THEIR 90'S?

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Johnny English, pandora, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

TTiP agreement. Cheaper generic drugs will disappear as they will be pretty much illegal once this vile treaty kicks in.....

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gettingthere, Sheffield, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

TTIP is being kept really quiet. And it's not just more expensive meds; if the Pharma company doesn't make as much profit as they are hoping, TTIP gives them the right to sue the country.

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DP, ST ALBANS, 4 hours ago

I am a pharmacist and could have said this to you some 50 years ago.

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PrettyCheesedOff, Newcastle, 4 hours ago

And community pharmacist don't make money from the NHS? Parallel trade? Switching from generic to generic confusing patients? Specials?

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million.to1, chester, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

A PHARMACIST KNOWS MORE ABOUT DRUGS AND SIDE EFFECTS THAN DOCTORS!!! IT'S TRUE

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Millsybubs, Kent, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

It's the Drs that prescribe NOT the big pharmacy.

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gettingthere, Sheffield, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

And you don't think the salesman in the waiting room aren't going to offer some incentive to the Dr?

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Tommy_, Midlands, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

That's why Big Pharma feared Phytocannabinoids. Thankfully we're witnessing the start of the biggest health care revolution in Human history.

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Andy, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

No sheet Sherlock. They've also been actively campaigning to stop a certain "drug" from becoming legal.

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sunnysideoflife, ludlow, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

health is just an industry - poor health = profit

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skeptickofeverything, southampton, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

If you are on statins and want to come off them do it gradually or you will suffer really badly like I did.

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million.to1, chester, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

CORRECT

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rmurg, stoke, 4 hours ago

50% of vaccines are also obsolete because they have not been kept within their specified temperature range. Despite new laws the big companies still feel they are too powerful to change this!!!

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Sazzle, Tyne - wear, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

I think they also cause the disease to generate the need for the drugs to make money. The same reason why I think there will never be a cure for cancer. If they cure it people will stop fund raising.

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skeptickofeverything, southampton, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Statins are very dangerous and the side effects are horrendous to many people, my doctor still swears by them, I know someone that was on 10 mg for years with no problems and when the doctors upped it to 20 mg the problems began his daughter knew another GP and was told that the dose was increased to 20 mg because the drug companies had lowered the price of the stronger dose! I was put straight on the 20 mg and I had horrendous problems because I believed the doctor. The latest dose you get put on is 40mg! I predict more trouble ahead for anyone that takes them. Get the book "the great cholesterol con" by Dr Malcolm Kendrick and don't take these pills.

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Handy, London, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

This has been going on for ever! It's always about money and how to sustain growth.... If you cure someone or wipe out something where's the money in that?

ReplyNew263Click to rate

S. Hark, Bedlam, Philippines, 4 hours ago

Pharma - piranha!

ReplyNew828Click to rate

whiskey some water, leeds, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

The facts are that there is no moey in cure as once the patients well hthey dont need the cure . Drugs that are taken over many years provide an income stream an example being blood presure tablets.

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PricedOutButNowFree, Limburg, Netherlands, 4 hours ago

Drink alcohol instead; that's killing you too according to the DM, but at least you'll have more fun doing it!

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PricedOutButNowFree, Limburg, Netherlands, 3 hours ago

You're taking this WAY too seriously. Probably the drugs.

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PricedOutButNowFree, Limburg, Netherlands, 3 hours ago

PS Kids and Heroin don't mix.

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Nothing dodgy here., Stoke, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Big pharma isn't the problem. There's 100s of qualified doctors stuck in camps like Calais who want nothing more than to move here for a better life. Get them over here and into research jobs - we'll all benefit in the long run.

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Meg, Penge Sur Mer, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Norm Al: I assumed Nothing dodgy was being facetious (because the Calais campers all claim to be doctors, engineers and other professionals).

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PricedOutButNowFree, Limburg, Netherlands, 3 hours ago

They are more than welcome to apply for those specialised jobs in the normal channels. Just like everybody else. If they are skilled they will go far.

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Hawkeye01, Shropshire, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

The government should have a department of professional buyers and would be responsible for all purchasing. No hospital or chemist should be allowed to buy medicines that require prescriptions .

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lavenda1, lincolshire, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Take nothing at all eat healthy, with plenty of exercise ,

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StayAtHomeDad69, West Bromwich, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Yeah, I'll do that when I have cancer or have broken my leg. I'll even put some healing crystals on my taint.

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Meg, Penge Sur Mer, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

StayAtHome: Of course that wouldn't heal your broken leg any more than statins or any other drugs would. It might not do your cancer (which I sincerely hope you never get) any harm, though.

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AJB, Sleaford, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

And statins are the number one scam. Followed by Big Pharma screeching that aspirin causes stomach bleeding so people use their patented anti-clotting drugs instead.

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Meg, Penge Sur Mer, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

The biggest money-spinner / scam, is chemotherapy drugs.

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Norm Al, Age of Political Ignorance, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Peroxitine Hydro-chloride, another.

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Meg, Penge Sur Mer, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

"Arms dealers in shining vraiment" is how the author John le Carre described the pharmaceutical companies in his book, 'The Constant Gardener'.

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Meg, Penge Sur Mer, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

...sorry, "shining raiment" (not vraiment).

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Hawkeye01, Shropshire, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

The NHS and governments purchasing is useless ,the NHS will probably have some ex doctor or civil servant who has never held a buyers job in his or her life. Seems to me the these departments are run the same as FIFA was run. Someone was making great deals but who the deal was good for is not 100% known.

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Jam Biscuit, Glasgow SCOTLAND, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

I can't wait until Scotland leaves the UK and we won't have to deal with these problems anymore.

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Cannonballmk2, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Scotland will crumble on its own.

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Arathorn, Bromley, 4 hours ago

Although my doctor prescribed Statins to me, after my own research, I stopped taking them. Subsequent research has fully justified my decision. Big pharma is just a money making scam

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PrettyCheesedOff, Newcastle, 4 hours ago

Key phrase: Doctor prescribed....

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steve c, Sussex, 3 hours ago

Big Pharma makes nothing out of statins, they are out of patent and dirt cheap. It is the NHS that saves money by not having to treat patients for heart attacks!

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Amber92, Bedford, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

The statistic for America, that a third of treatments are unnecessary shows that doctors and hospitals will carry out unnecessary tests and surgery when they willare making a claim from an insurance company. The NHS may not provide all the treatment you need but is much less likely to provide unnecessary treatment as there is no financial gain.

ReplyNew322Click to rate

KC, Exeter, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

I am 59 and would gladly forego free prescriptions at 60 if I could have my concessionary bus pass instead! A bus pass would be far more life giving to me than pills.

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Meg, Penge Sur Mer, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

You are so right. The bus pass (or Freedom Pass in London) is the greatest benefit to retired people ever. Thanks, Ken (Livingstone), the best thing you ever did.

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Wisewoman, London and Brazil, 4 hours ago

I have to say that any doctor who looks after the Queen must have something to say about good health! It's interesting that nothing has been said about homeopathy, and the fact that the Royals have been using homeopathy for years. There is a groundswell towards the benefits of positive health - but we have to consider multiple aspects, not just throw a pill at a problem.

ReplyNew924Click to rate

Shantyman, Harwich_England, 4 hours ago

If you think about it pharmaceutical companies have little incentive to CURE our diseases but a massive incentive to PROLONG them!

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PrettyCheesedOff, Newcastle, 4 hours ago

Except all the cancer drugs that have been developed for some rare and more common forms of the disease? Which have ensured cancer sufferers live to see their children grow up? You can't pick and choose when pharma add value and when they don't.

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SpodoConundrum, l-_-l, Christmas Island, 2 hours ago

So explain the increase in cancer survival, the closure of TB hospitals, the reduction in cases of polio, smallpox, measles and countless other illness that have been treated, reduced or eliminated. Improved sanitation i guess?

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J W, Yeovil, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Think of the alternative. No profit, no new drugs ever. Axes being ground on both sides.

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Wilsa, Newcastle, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

Been on statins for 3 years along with quite a few other drugs after having a heart attack we just take what is given to you as the Doctor knows best and you rely on them having your best interests at heart. My legs ache and burn, pains in my back,stomach,and head, Back and forwards to the docs to be told restless legs, irritable bowel. Wondering now if this is the statins?

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Helen, Wales, 4 hours ago

skepticofeverything. ---My husband had the same aches & pains as you & more, why don't you either suggest to your doctor that you wish to stop taking them, or change to a different statin as my husband did, far less pain now.

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SpodoConundrum, l-_-l, Christmas Island, 2 hours ago

Oh for heavens sake don't go looking up Mercola... and if you do make sure you google the word quack with his name. That's all you need to know about him and his ilk!

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Wisewoman, London and Brazil, 4 hours ago

Excellent news - and long overdue.

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Radio_Free_UK, wales, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

About time something was done about this - the greed of the pharmaceutical industry has no limits.

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Meg, Penge Sur Mer, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

The pharmaceutical industry is big business and no different to, say, the automobile industry. To stay alive (pardon the pun), they have to bring out new products, and hence new health scares (cholesterol and statins being a prime example, blood pressure tablets another) year after year and encourage the public to believe that they need them.

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Fry9847, Japan, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

And the doctors taking back handlers from them to push their products

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Ann G, Southampton, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

And doctors tutting and blowing if you tell them a drug doesn't agree with you.

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Elliette, Cumbria, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

You took your damn time! This scandal has gone on for years. I refused a statin years ago, I knew back then about the strong side effects that affect so many have suffered (if you need it and it works for you that's fine). The 'courting' of the medical profession by big pharma is sickening, yet medical people who have spoken out for years had their concerns dismissed as if they were quacks! Don't rely on 'Joe's Medical Emporium' on the internet for medical advice, but do look carefully at what you are prescribed; find out as much as you can about it. My cholesterol level is fine btw-cholesterol itself becoming the bogeyman of symptoms to justify massive sales of statins. Don't let this go onto the back burner. Your Doctor is supposed to treat you, NOT big pharma-and they currently and increasingly are your 'Doctor'.

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null, 4 hours ago

I wish these people would give us some examples of medicines which do not very much and cost a lot. It's so predictable that statins are again mentioned but not other drugs. Let us know which drugs are included in their deliberations!

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Elliette, Cumbria, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

ocl has answered you.

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ocl, Qld, Australia, 4 hours ago

Viagra, anti- depressants & statins. The three drug classes that return more profit for pharmaceutical companies, than every other manufactured medication, combined.

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CarolinaHiker, Marietta, United States, 5 hours ago

This is news? It's been obvious for years. Pharmacy reps are worse than heroin pushers.

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steve c, Sussex, 3 hours ago

And the drugs sold by Pharmacy reps save lives!!!

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HorseOfTheRisingSun, N-A, France, 3 hours ago

Pharmaceutical reps are NOT medically qualified they are sales reps always remember that.

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Filly, Bury, 5 hours ago

ALF , the animal liber action front and friends have been saying this for at least 20 years !

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Filly, Bury, 5 hours ago

Sorry couldn't spell it correctly ,it would not get published !

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jo, london, 4 hours ago

Quite and all that negative energy produced from to r ture for the ps ico paths at the top, under the guise of healing us, gets passed on to the patients. The fact that this article has been published is surprising, since a lot of the public is way ahead of the DM. I think this is probably a bait and spy on the commentators article.

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Veronica, Essex, 5 hours ago

How about an on-line petitions. Lets have a go at the greedy companies. I know of someone who needs certain pills to live and every time they go to the chemist they are told how much they cost , as if the patient can do anything about it !

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Chris from Cheddar, Cheddar, 5 hours ago

And are we supposed to be surprised by this? Old news, everyone know the pharmaceutical companies put profit before health.

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Sarah, Spain, Spain, 3 hours ago

The pharmaceutical business model is that our sickness brings them profit. So the more they can cause sickness with a barrage of vaccines in very young infants, harmful and often unneeded drugs, plus sponsoring unhealthy food choices, the more money they make. They ONLY thrive when we are sick so of course they are going to do everything they can to make us sicker.

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steve c, Sussex, 3 hours ago

So Sarah, are you one of the 700,000 that signed the online petition for the life-saving Meningitis B vaccine to be given to ALL children???

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purpledave, Great Britain, United Kingdom, 5 hours ago

Nearly everyone is on Statins, UN Agenda 21

ReplyNew9213Click to rate

Anon2015, Interweb, United Kingdom, 5 hours ago

We've all being saying this for a long time! So what's going to be done about it?

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Jd1212, West Midlands, United Kingdom, 5 hours ago

Shareholders before patients, nationalise pharmaceutical companies and this issue will cease. I am not a socialist but this is the only way to make sure that this issue is resolved.

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Ssh60, London, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

As a 54yr old, female; non smoker, non drinker; weighing 8st. at 5.6", and having very low blood pressure, 90/60, I was still put on statins, because of 'high' cholesterol, which was 8. My GP to me was 'God', so without question I took them. After two years of the most hideous side effects, especially the chronic muscle pain 24/7, without telling my GP, I simply stopped taking them. For the last four years, I've felt fine. No muscle pains, and the last time it was taken, my cholesterol was 6. I've never changed my diet, which is eating everything in moderation, and junk/takeaways two or three times a week, which is my guilty pleasure. Now 60, and perfectly healthy, (barring being disabled due to a head injury being inflicted) I couldn't care less what my cholesterol is, and know I ld NEVER take statins again! Prefer to take my chances...

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Ssh60, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

ps: the biggest shock about 'high cholesterol' was advice from a medical friend, that something tiny like eating a curry the night before my cholesterol test, (which may well have been normal), would result in it shooting up the next day, before the test! THAT'S how much cholesterol fluctuates. So before any of you go the statins route, just eat a really bland meal the night before the test to make sure you don't get a false reading due to what you ate! Good luck all...