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The Secret Of Which Medicine Is Prescribed For You

   Written by on August 29, 2013 at 12:19 pm

By Averett Jones, Southside Messenger Editor

<br>A few weeks ago I wrote on the hypothyroid epidemic in America. That editorial brought more response than any I have written. Considering millions of Americans suffer from hypoactive thyroids that shouldn’t have been surprising. What was interesting is that EVERY response told the same story of fighting to get a diagnosis and then fighting with doctors regarding treatments and medication.

The drug of choice for most doctors is Synthroid, a synthetic replacement for T4, one of the four hormones produced by the thyroid gland. There is also a replacement  for T3, but for some reason most doctors act as if it is their job to protect the supply of T4 and T3 medication by refusing to prescribe them. T1 and T2 have “never been clinically proven necessary” so they are ignored. That sort of sounds like the ancient Egyptian embalmers who carefully saved every body part the deceased would need in the after life but threw away the brain because it had no known function.

It seems obvious that if a thyroid is not functioning, and that if a healthy body produces T1, T2, T3 and T4 and that if all are available, all would be prescribed. Even more perplexing is that there is a replacement supplement made by Armour that contains all four of these hormones from natural sources. This is not a new medication. It has been used successfully for almost 100 years.

However, even with a century of successful use doctors refuse to prescribe it. They claim it isn’t consistent even though it is required by FDA to be consistent. They claim there have been recalls even though the Synthroid has had more recalls. They claim it isn’t effective even though it is successful with patients worldwide. They claim it has side effects even though  it has fewer side effects listed than Synthroid and fewer than aspirin.  They flatly refuse to prescribe it. They even refuse to prescribe it at the patient’s request.

I discovered the answer to who decides which drug I am prescribed almost forty years ago. One of my acquaintances was a pharmaceutical sales representative who often referred to his job title as a legal drug pusher.

I had mentioned I was going to the doctor in a previous conversation. He had laughed and predicted my diagnosis and treatment which was correct.

“It’s like this,” he said. “You think  your doctor decides which medicine you get. What actually happens is you are prescribed the medicine sold by the best drug rep.” Your doctor doesn’t have the time to research medicines. It takes all his time to see patients.

“Once he decides he trusts me he follows my advice. I give him free samples, promotional pens and paperweights. I give him the short version of what it does. You come in and you get what I recommend.”

At that time valium was one of the new hot drugs. My friend said, “Suppose a woman goes to the doctor for any minor pain. It could just be nerves.  Your doctor contemplates his paperweight with valium on it, or his calendar with valium on it – picks up a pen with valium on it and prescribes valium and gives out a few of my free samples. If it doesn’t work he prescribes something else but it probably works because most complaints are self-limiting and will go away without treatment.

“The patient, who wants to be told something is wrong and to be given something to fix it, is happy. The doctor is happy because the patient is happy. My boss is happy because sales are up and I am happy because I get a bonus when my boss is happy.”

So the way I shake it out is, Synthroid has great sales reps and the patients suffer.

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