What do we know about the medicines we take? Can they be trusted to work?
Over the course of a person’s lifetime, they may take over 14,000 pills. Antibiotics, cholesterol lowering drugs, antidepressants, pain relievers, even pills to prolong youth and improve performance in bed. These drugs work wonders every day, but what do people know about them?
Drug discoveries are often both coincidental and scientifically based, which means learning a lot about how a drug works and even what it does when you take it. By examining some of the most popular pills people take, Horizon asked how much they could be trusted to do what they were supposed to do.
develop drugs. GSK’s pharmaceutical laboratories contain over 2 million unknown compounds. These compounds could be poisonous, or they could be panacea; but how did scientists find out?
Effects of drugs on health. The two discussed the results of Ritalin, a drug prescribed for people with ADHD. One person does have the condition and the other doesn’t; what would the results show?
The success of Viagra. Researcher Chris Wayman talks about how one of the best-selling drugs of all time was born. However, some experts have been critical of the drug’s marketing.
contraception. Women all over the world use and rely on birth control pills, even though that’s not their primary purpose. Meanwhile, a scientist discovers a male contraceptive pill.
side effect. All medicines have side effects; however, the side effects of some medicines can be fatal for many people who take them.
Look for. For some, drug solutions have proven to be a problem. A woman talks about her addiction to painkillers and the problems that come with it.
antibiotic. Antibiotics are thought to extend human life expectancy by almost a decade. However, the body developed resistance to the drug, which could become a big problem in the future.
Statins. A new drug, a type of statin, may alleviate a disease or condition even before someone is diagnosed, but it’s not without risks.
Choose death. Quit International thinks they should choose when to die. They’ve even tried to create a pill with the ability to kill peacefully.
