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Too many people take too many pills

economist.com

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Re: Too many people take too many pills

#151

Post by jvm_fan »

moritzwarhier wrote: post #129
local_crmdgeon wrote: post #2

I hate these articles. While yes, this is true, it's also true that _many_ people have severe, untreated illness that they're just "toughing it out." My friend with BPD ruined his life because he's "stronger than the disorder, I don't need to take my meds" Spent millions foolishly, genius engineer - horrible story. Easily fixed.

As far as I know, there is no evidence-based treatment for BPD based in medication, except for basically what amounts to tranquilizers. What's common is to prescribe SSRIs and similar medication for all kinds of psychiatric illnesses, including BPD. The evidence that this would help in the long-term is vague to non-existant, and I'd avoid trusting it (as with almost all research on anti depressants). The best-researc…

[flagged]

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#152

Post by ars »

guidoism wrote: post #147
ars wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do occasionally repeat and it does make a difference, but you only need 1/10th as much shampoo the second time.

I’m curious. What does the second iteration accomplish? Is it dirt and grease that is embedded in your skin? What kind of job do you have if you feel comfortable answering?

It's not usually needed, but if I'm really sweaty and sticky the first washing removs dirt, and the second washing adds "squeak" is the best way I can put it.

It just feels cleaner. I assume it's because the additives in the shampoo become overloaded on the first use, and are active on the second.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#153

Post by qwytw »

seattle_spring wrote: post #115
blacksmith_tb wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmm, well I wouldn't recommend taking a whole handful of ibuprofen, but it probably shouldn't kill you (unlike a handful of acetaminophen/paracetamol, or opioids), it would be hell on your stomach, but I suppose fast-paced drama doesn't have time for realism.

Great way to get kidney failure.

I think chronic over-usage is a more serious concern. Taking even handful of pills is not that likely to result in permanent damage (unlike paracetamol). Up to 100 mg/kg shouldn't be that risky (so 20 400mg pills for somebody who weighs 80kg)

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#154

Post by Doxin »

asdfman123 wrote: post #10
local_crmdgeon wrote: post #2

I hate these articles. While yes, this is true, it's also true that _many_ people have severe, untreated illness that they're just "toughing it out." My friend with BPD ruined his life because he's "stronger than the disorder, I don't need to take my meds" Spent millions foolishly, genius engineer - horrible story. Easily fixed.

There is a fine and very important distinction to be made here. If you have a health problem, you should do your best to get exercise, eat healthy, etc. However, that doesn't mean medicines are wasteful or pointless. People often greatly benefit from them. I've struggled with ADHD, depression, and anxiety my whole life. And indeed, yes, the best treatment I've found is diet, weight training, and long-duration cardio.…

This sort of stuff always reminds me of this passage:

> To this day

> He is a stick of TNT lit from both ends

> Could describe to you in detail the way the sky bends

> In the moments before it’s about to fall

> And despite an army of friends

> Who all call him an inspiration

> He remains a conversation piece between people

> Who can’t understand

> Sometimes becoming drug free

> Has less to do with addiction

> And more to do with sanity

  - To this day, Shane Koyczan

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#155

Post by meh8881 »

manuel_w wrote: post #37

Slightly related: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16252372 I noticed that taking pain-killers is a very common thing in american TV shows. The main protagonist (male hero) gets hurt, goes to the bathroom, hastily pours a handful of pills into his hand and pops them into the mouth. Not one, but a hand full of pills, cleary too many. I've seen it so much, I'm starting to wonder if it's a TV trope. I'm wondering if…

Is this true? I can’t actually think of any examples of this off the top of my head. I can think of examples of popping anxiety pills to show weakness and lack of resolve, pills that suppress their acuity in some way, or some sort of amphetamine because they need energy.

But pain pills don’t ring a bell. The classic move is strongly taking a swig of hard alcohol and then pouring it over a wound and wincing.

In my opinion, people shown to be taking pills are usually portrayed as weak or digging themselves into a hole.

Perhaps with some exceptions to people shown taking pills which I interpreted as a display of competence and experience more than anything.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#156

Post by suzumer »

meh8881 wrote: post #155
manuel_w wrote: post #37

Slightly related: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16252372 I noticed that taking pain-killers is a very common thing in american TV shows. The main protagonist (male hero) gets hurt, goes to the bathroom, hastily pours a handful of pills into his hand and pops them into the mouth. Not one, but a hand full of pills, cleary too many. I've seen it so much, I'm starting to wonder if it's a TV trope. I'm wondering if…

Is this true? I can’t actually think of any examples of this off the top of my head. I can think of examples of popping anxiety pills to show weakness and lack of resolve, pills that suppress their acuity in some way, or some sort of amphetamine because they need energy. But pain pills don’t ring a bell. The classic move is strongly taking a swig of hard alcohol and then pouring it over a wound and wincing. In my opi…

Dr. House takes vicodin. But that is the only example that comes to my mind.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#157

Post by JohnFen »

obruchez wrote: post #135
JohnFen wrote: post #15

I had surgery last year, and had to give a list of the medications I currently take. My list had a single item, OTC allergy medication. The surgeon and intake nurse both independently double-checked that my list was complete. They told me that it's almost unheard of for someone of my age to have no ongoing prescriptions and they wanted to be sure a mistake wasn't made. I was very surprised by this. I was even more su…

How old are you?

50something

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#158

Post by meh8881 »

suzumer wrote: post #156
meh8881 wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is this true? I can’t actually think of any examples of this off the top of my head. I can think of examples of popping anxiety pills to show weakness and lack of resolve, pills that suppress their acuity in some way, or some sort of amphetamine because they need energy. But pain pills don’t ring a bell. The classic move is strongly taking a swig of hard alcohol and then pouring it over a wound and wincing. In my opi…

Dr. House takes vicodin. But that is the only example that comes to my mind.

Ehhh but that’s just Sherlock Holmes’ drug addiction manifesting.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#159

Post by guidoism »

ars wrote: post #152
guidoism wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m curious. What does the second iteration accomplish? Is it dirt and grease that is embedded in your skin? What kind of job do you have if you feel comfortable answering?

It's not usually needed, but if I'm really sweaty and sticky the first washing removs dirt, and the second washing adds "squeak" is the best way I can put it. It just feels cleaner. I assume it's because the additives in the shampoo become overloaded on the first use, and are active on the second.

I like the squeak too. I recently moved to a place with hard water and so everyone has water softeners. With this super soft water I can't get the squeak ever. It just feels slimy to me.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#160

Post by WorldMaker »

lubujackson wrote: post #140
xkgt wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder how much these tropes and storytelling techniques shifts the baselines of cultural norms. For example, a sitcom would often find it convenient to have friends meet daily in a bar and somehow drinking almost daily is perceived to be a normal thing to do.

In the 80s there was a show called Cheers centered around the same people being at a bar every day. I don't think it is a new phenomenon and it has actually been going the other way - it used to be typical to hit the bar after work every day (and still is in a lot of places) and was generally more about winding down/socializing than consuming alcohol.

It's a "problem" nearly as old as America. One of the scapegoats much touted in handbills and pamphlets of the "ills of society" that led to Prohibition in the US was that "fathers spend too much time in the pubs drinking alcohol after work rather than at home raising children".

It was the source of many jokes in sitcoms in the 1960s, too, not just the 80s, including notably what we think of today as a "kid's show" (despite being a primetime show when aired) in that it was a recurring thing in The Flintstones.

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