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The placebo effect is well known. Taking anything, even a sugar pill, that you think may help can ease symptoms, often surprisingly well. That's why all new drugs must be studied in comparison to placebo, to see if they work any better. But what about adverse reactions to placebos in those trials? They often mimic the side effect profiles of the drugs being tested. Why? What are the implicatons?
Pomegranates are powerful. We discuss the latest research on this favorite food.
Guest: Jerry Avorn, M.D. is Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics in the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital. His article was published in Drug Safety, and his Web site is www.PowerfulMedicines.org
Did you enjoy this radio show? Average rating: 4.6/5 (25 votes)
What do you think? Click the stars to vote!
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Joe, speaking of fecal enemas. You may just not have heard about them for relief of diarrhea and the like, but in the 60's,70's and 80's and probably much earlier, these were indeed used to infuse good bacteria directly into the colon from a normal bowel movement. The fecal enema was very effective, even tho' today's medicine personnel would scoff at such an idea.
I was fascinated to hear of the carrot use for, as the speaker said, she thought she had gotten food poisoning. Now, I think she may have meant terrible cramps, diarrhea and/or vomiting for 2 days. Those old remedies are sometimes the best and least costliest.
Nancy
On the People's Pharmacy this morning, (it comes on here at 6 am on Sunday morning, January 17). Later in the program you discussed a diarrhea disease that seems to be very similar to one of our friends situation after being in the hospital a couple of times this fall. I cannot remember what it was called but it was ASD or something like that. If you could help, we would appreciate it as she is unable to leave the house with this problem.
Thank you
Larry
When they talk about the "Placebo effect" I often wonder if the placebo itself does have an effect? A sugar pill for a diabetic for instance, or the supposedly "inert ingredients" might themseles have an effect of their own! All this seems to me like a bunch of double talk, and not really scientific at all!
I think that I heard a comment on your show recently from a listener who had diarrhea, possibly from metoprol which I have been taking. My cardiologist said there is no mention in the literature on this problem, but it has been with me continuously for most or the time since I have been taking Metoprol.
Have you heard from others who have had diarrhea while taking metroprol?