Do you take pills...

United States
April 27, 2007 9:38pm CST
Are we being fooled into believing that all of life's problems can be solved by one pill or another. I realize that for some people medication is absolutely necessary. It has now become my position that medications for mental issues are becoming too widely prescribed. Look there is scientific proof that there are steps that can be taken to naturally help keep anxiety and depression in control. Take exercise for example it is widely accepted that exercise releases endorphins that combat both anxiety and depression. I guess that my point here is that they are trying to make us believe that our salvation lies in the newest and latest pill. That without that we can do anything for ourselves.
11 people like this
20 responses
@ganwn071 (1116)
• Singapore
28 Apr 07
I have high cholesterol and it had been with me for more than 4 years now. I tried all way, exercise, watch my diet, etc.. to reduce the level but was not successful. I was trying very hard not to take the pill. I tried to watch what I eat and avoid fatty and oily food, eat more of oak, etc..it only manage to bring down 20 points and after trying all methods, the doctor decided to put me on medication.
5 people like this
• United States
28 Apr 07
case in point medication necessary.
1 person likes this
• Norway
28 Apr 07
I have psychic problems and have had them for over a year now, without the pills I`m taking i KNOW i would`nt be sitting here right now and writing to you all. The medication I use is 2 types of antidepressives and wth them i can sleep, I even gained some weight (just over 30 kg to be exact). With those pills i also got rid of my stomace problems (I know it sounds wierd but it is true), because the pills take away much of my stress-related problems. Yes, off course, there are many times when pills are NOT to be used for treatment, but I think it`s a fact that in these times, we all need some pills of sorts.... ;)
@Jennifer21 (2476)
• United States
28 Apr 07
Well, I do not agree. I must take my perscriptions everyday. I am bipolar. I have a chemical imbalance in my brain that is only controlled, but not cured, by medication. You can never cure a chemical imbalance, it can just be controlled. That is why I mustn't skip a dosage, or I have uncontrolable mood swings.
3 people like this
@meljessxena (2315)
• Australia
28 Apr 07
i think only time need to take pills if you have something wrong with you, like my father does he has blood pressure, so he takes tablets to keep it normal. but some people take tablets for who knows for what reasons and its just silly. sometimes if i have a migrane i might take some panadol, but even then i wait a while before even thinking of taking one
2 people like this
• United States
28 Apr 07
Well, I take medicine for depression and anxiety, but that is after everything else was exhausted. I do feel better than I have in about 14 years because of the medicine. I've always been very active and it didn't help. I do agree though that pills get thrown down people's throats before exhausting every other alternative. The only reason why every other alternative was used in my case is because I made it clear from the beginning that I didn't want pills. The doc still had to fight with me over it until I finally decided to give it a try. I also have to take medication for my heart. If I didn't, the condition could worsen quite a bit. The medicine keeps my heart rate under control as well as other benefits. I've been on that for about 8 years.
@angela2006 (1845)
• China
28 Apr 07
I do not take pills on my body and there is not pills in my house.I do not depend on pills because I think sometimes pills can not work and sometimes it is not necessary to take pills.for example,when I catch a cold,I stick not to take pills ,but I insist on taking some exercises,then I can be turn to healthy too.so why must we take pills?
3 people like this
@wolves69 (755)
• United States
28 Apr 07
Its almost always better to take the non medicine option then to take medicine. The only pills I take are multivitamins. I'm supposed to take blood pressure medicine, but I've been doing well using other methods. Last year, I went into the doctor's office for a persistent cough, and I walked out with nine different medicines! Everything from decongestants, to aspirin, allergy medicines, cough suppressants, and bronchitis medicines. When I asked why, he said its cheaper to hit all of the possible symptoms now then to do other medical tests....I never did take the medicines.... What really bothers me is when the "professionals" want children to get on medicines. Especially for Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD). Again, (imho), its the teaching professionals pushing the recommendations since they are too afraid of hurting the kids feelings. The teacher recommended one of my daughters go on Ritalin...the teacher even recommended a doctor. When we talked to our daughter, there was a legitimate reason for her acting in class...a prankster was sitting behind her and she neither wanted to tattle, or make a scene. Problem solved, move seats... I could go on and on with examples, but I do agree, most medicines are way over prescribed. People want a quick fix, doctors cant do much with managed care, and people are too afraid to do things on there own. Yes, there are life saving medicines and conditions that require/demand medicines, but those situations should be handled differently.
@wolves69 (755)
• United States
3 May 07
Thanks for the best response!
@xbrendax (2662)
• United States
28 Apr 07
I'm like you, I never believed in popping pills for whatever ails you, however, for years I've been suffering with horrable heartburn, till someone mentioned, (Pepcid) and I avoided buying any for a long time, then one day I did and WOW, the change in me is amazing! I haven't had any heartburn since taking Pepcid and I feel wonderful! Even water would cause heartburn but now, I can eat and drink anything! That's one little pill I'd reccomend!
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Apr 07
My belief is that medication is necessary in some cases and hey better living through chemistry. But people are being led to believe that medications are the only solution to every problem.
• Nigeria
29 Apr 07
i do not like pills at all because i believe with a lil bit of rest and good medication with regular checkup, you could actually live a pill-free life as its not all pills that work. Though some pills are neccessary when it comes to certain illness but in most cases they can be done without.
@scapula (760)
• Jordan
29 Apr 07
Yeah, when I've headache I hurry to my panadol pills to calm the great pain in my head, but I don't take too much, I like herpes and non-chemical therapies more, so If I know that tea is good for sore throat I would take it rather than antibody, but If my conditions worsen I have to take medicine.
@34momma (13882)
• United States
29 Apr 07
you are so right. it is funny that i came across this post because i was just talking about this with my brother. i don't believe that taking a pill for every little thing is the cure. i was telling my brother today that folks are so ready to take a pill when they have a headache when they don't understand that most headaches come from not drinking enough water. we can do a lot of things to keep ourselves healthy, that don't require us popping pills.
@gemini1960 (1161)
• Philippines
29 Apr 07
No i dont take pills just to be relieve on any anxiety or any minor disorders in our mental health, im too notin favor of that, we must take control of ourselves, since we are the ones who are the superior here.
@aprilgrl (4460)
• United States
29 Apr 07
I only take allergy pills which I buy over the counter or asprins thta is the only pills I take unless there's a medication.
• Singapore
28 Apr 07
The short answer is I don't. The longer answer (lol) is that I try to avoid medicine where possible. Who knows what side effect it might have on my body. I rather resort to more natural form of healing.
1 person likes this
• China
28 Apr 07
Maybe,i think.If one is much too depressed and lose heart in life,he can take a pill to end this painful life.That means suiside.The pill he takes must be extremly poisonous. But actually,i don't agree with such a way to end pains in life.There must be other ways better than this one.
• United States
28 Apr 07
hugh !
@icequeen (2840)
• Canada
28 Apr 07
Unfortunately...I do take pills...but don't like it. I try not to take too many pills unless I need them for pain etc. I do agree with you...and I am hoping I can get off the pills I have to take one day...
@magica (3707)
• Bulgaria
28 Apr 07
Well...the panacea pill was not yet created! We all prefer the easy way.But this is just a passing effect.Aurveda teaches that the radiant health is a combination between diet,exercises, moral values, meditations...and NO PILLS.Just natural herbal remedies.
• India
28 Apr 07
I cant reallly understand why people dont see beyond medicines... There are so many ways of cure... Meditation , Yoga , Walk ,, no end to it.... If one feel depresses, sit in a calm place for 5 minutes and keep thinking of something which you like ,, the essentaility behind is Try to CONCETRATE on something... I feel people must realise that there are much more and much better ways of cure other than pills... Pills have a lot of sideeffct is the long run.... According to a recent survey Pills has reduced the average life expectancy by 2.5 % So try to aviod pills.... Health is Weatlh !!!!!
@RobinJ (2501)
• Canada
29 Apr 07
I take it you have never had a life altering illness, or you wouldn't believe what you wrote. If there was any way i could keep my dementia at bay with exercises. I would be joining every marathon going. but it just doesn't work that way Part of the dementia is visible by my anger/rage behavior that is very destructive, Now this might help in those marathons as any one that gets in my way I would just as soon kick to the ground and stomp on, but I wouldn't' be appreciated by the other participants. I believe you thought are a bit ultra realistic as a cure all for the ails that plague man. And yes to an extent pills do solve my problems to the end that I can function in society and not in a lock padded room where I would live if it weren't for those pills. I am grateful to the pharmaceutical community for having developed some thing that gives me a life out side of he//. But to each his own and I wouldn't say you are wrong, I just do not believe that you are fully informed.
• India
28 Apr 07
These days you get pills for most of the problems we may have. There are ways to decrease problems naturally, and one of the best ways is to practice yoga. But ofcourse you'l have to find a good yoga teacher first.
@leeesa (884)
• United States
28 Apr 07
My thyroid gland doesn't work so I have to take pills for that. If I don't I become very ill. As for anxiety and depression, I believe that some people can overcome it without the use of pills through diet, exercise, light therapy, etc. But, there is nothing wrong with taking medication either. I just think medication should be a temporary solution and be used along with other methods and then gradually wean off the meds. I had post partum depression and was on meds for 3 months. It helped and was probably necessary in the beginning, but I chose not to rely on them forever and have found other ways to get through bouts of depression now.