Cholesterol

More on the cholesterol scene. The slick ads on the TV are to get you to purchase a product. Or as the pharmaceutical ads say, "ask your Doctor if this drug may be right for you." I have seen many patients since these ads started who come to the office purely to see if they need to be on the drug. Some patients actually get angry when I have told them no. As a scientist, I look at the research on the drugs to see what the actually numbers are. You and I both know that you can make statistics say whatever you want. The statistics may say that there is a significant difference, but when you actually look at the numbers, it may not be the picture that you think.

The example is Vytorin, a cholesterol drug. Looking at the numbers, I wouldn't say that this drug is any better than some other cholesterol drugs that are out there. If fact, it may not work as well. So why do the drug companies put these ads on TV? They are looking to you the public to ask the doctors to switch you to the latest and greatest drug, which, oh by the way, is going to cost you more and make more money for the drug company.

Be cautious of the TV ads for any drug. My premise has always been that the less medicine you are on the better for you. Yes, sometimes you do need medicines, but not always.