Health by Robert MacMillan MD When I first started practising, I remember that the doctor practising in the nearby town (who dispensed his own drugs) was quite offended if the patient even asked what drug he had prescribed. That authoritative attitude no longer exists and now we not only know the generic or trade name of the drug, but are also given verbal and written information regarding its proper use and potential side-effects sometimes by both the physician and the pharmacist. In addition to that, most of us are now able to research the drug online and determine details about the medication for ourselves. The use of drugs to manage our health has become increasingly common in recent years and the number of prescriptions provided to patients, especially seniors, has risen dramatically. In addition to prescribed medication, we are inundated by advertisements for over-the-counter cures for everything from wrinkles to memory loss. Natural health product stores abound and drug stores have become more like supermarkets than prescription drug dispensaries. There is a wide array of useful drugs ‒ more each year ‒ that can improve our health and lead to a better life for both quality and duration. There are also numerous prescribed and over-the-counter products which may be expensive, cause side-effects, may be useless and, in some cases, downright dangerous. Over time in the lives of many of us, the discovery and use of many drugs and vaccines have significantly helped prevent and treat many conditions that otherwise would have been associated with suffering, disability and/or early death. At the same time, numerous other “health” products have become common without a lot of scientific evidence of their usefulness. In a recent Canadian Medical Association Journal editorial article, the advertised benefits of numerous natural products have been criticized for purporting to prevent, heal and cure a wide array of health problems…many without any legitimate scientific proof. It calls on the government of Canada to tighten the rules governing the promulgation of such claims and to require the same proof of efficacy demanded of drugs before they can be sold. Doctors as well are often accused of over-prescribing and the recent opioid crisis has prompted the CMA and regulatory bodies across Canada to publish new prescribing recommendations for this class of drugs. Drugs and Seniors 34 | www.snowbirds.org
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