Doctor- medication question?!


Question:

Doctor- medication question?

Why are doctors so often prescribing the newest drugs? My GP, who is over 80 now, always told me to never use the newest drugs on the market. He said let the drug companies use someone else to be their guinea pig to make a profit from. I remember once many years back going in with some illness that required antibiotics. He gave me ampicillan (sp). I mentioned that the cardiologist always prescribed a z-pack. My GP was not happy. And he also took me off Avandia to start me on glipicide instead (thank God) when the specialist had prescribed Avandia. He still converts me with verapimil instead of the newer drugs if the need arises. I think he is wise. As long as the older drugs work for me it is safer to take them because we know their long term side effects, pros and cons. So my question is-- Why do so many younger doctors prescribe the newest drugs on the market? Please tell me it is not simply a financial motive that causes them to do that.

Additional Details

3 weeks ago
Mopar --> That was what cynical enough to wonder yet hoped wasn't true. The more I read these question boards and see what people are taking and what procedures they are enduring, I just wonder, "Why in the world are they doing that?" I hope it isn't merely for profit.

3 weeks ago
The fifth poster mentioned lasix. I have taken that for over 25+ years without K supplement. You don't "have to" add one in all cases.
You know this topic goes further than meds. I slipped and broke my ankle 16 yrs back, went to ER, they called orthopedist who wanted to put in pins in surgery. By that time my family dr had come and convinced me a cast was a better option. I chose the cast.
Another example-- I have always had a murmur. GP has always said it was functional not to worry. An OB heard it, and sent me to a cardiologist who did upteen tests. He came up with the conclusion it was functional not to worry. Why couldn't the cardiologist have known that just by sound if the GP did? And the topic could be carried to other areas in medicine. Somehow, to the general public it looks like overtreatment, over prescribing expensive meds, and overtesting. I am glad to see that the doctors said it was not profit motivated. But it does appear that way to the general public.


Answers:

I have had asthma for years, never took anything with any kind of sterid on a regular bases. Granted if I had a bad cheast infection, I would have to take pretorzone for a week. But never Adva or anything like that. Infact I would not go back to the doctor if they pushed the issue. Our GP just put my wife on adva, and told her that she was asthmatic.
OK I am not a doctor. So I told my wife to go to a regular Asthma doctor so that she can be put on the wright medication.
I am sorry I missed your other questions about the dogs. I agree whole heartly. Myself being a runner have delt with many dogs being off there lead and UNSUPERVISED. It has become a big part of my everyday life. The authorites really don't do much here, and most of the time it to late. So probably for the last 15 yrs I have taken the responceablity on myself, that any dog that comes off their property TO DO ME HARM. I make sure never thinks of doing that again. I recently became a dog owner.




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