Why are certain drugs, either dangerous or not proven to be effective, massively commercialized and prescribed?
Just to quote a few examples:
1 - Certain antibiotics with extremely bad side effects that should be used only as a last resource but are commonly prescribed for any sore throat or such
2 - A whole class of antidepressants that rely on the assumption that messing with serotonin levels will fix depressive episodes when the results about this are shaky (and the psi areas are some of the worst offenders in the replication crisis).
It's too easy to just say "BIG PHARMA CONSPIRACY". This goes through multiple of people choosing to remain ignorant. Do we have any pharmacy students on /sci/ that can share some stories?
I want to understand what drives scientists to research these drugs and then present them as a great alternative, what drives doctors not to study the bad side effects or the proper literature.
Essentially, how is "big pharma" getting away with it?
Just to quote a few examples:
1 - Certain antibiotics with extremely bad side effects that should be used only as a last resource but are commonly prescribed for any sore throat or such
2 - A whole class of antidepressants that rely on the assumption that messing with serotonin levels will fix depressive episodes when the results about this are shaky (and the psi areas are some of the worst offenders in the replication crisis).
It's too easy to just say "BIG PHARMA CONSPIRACY". This goes through multiple of people choosing to remain ignorant. Do we have any pharmacy students on /sci/ that can share some stories?
I want to understand what drives scientists to research these drugs and then present them as a great alternative, what drives doctors not to study the bad side effects or the proper literature.
Essentially, how is "big pharma" getting away with it?
