Economic Downturn = Fewer Medications = That’s a Good Thing
Pfizer, maker of Lipitor, the world’s most prescribed drug, says Lipitor sales are down 13%. Tough. Baby Boomers and others are taking a hard look at drugs they take and asking if there are more natural alternatives.
Part of Pfizer’s problem was an ad campaign featuring noted heart specialist Robert Jarvik (maker of artificial hearts). The Jarvik campaign was pulled in favor of one featuring an average Baby Boomer, back in September. But Lipitor is set to go “generic” in 2011; it will be interesting to see if Pfizer will come up with another drug in place of this one
People have always taken too many drugs, and now with the growth of drug ads everywhere in the media, people are taking WAY too many drugs. I am happy that the economic downturn is forcing people to look at their prescription drug expenditures and to cut back.
The flip side of this discussion, of course, is that some people won’t take medications they should take. Or they will take medications and not have enough money to eat. That’s sad and true, but it may also be possible that there are other more natural ways to get the same effect.
For example, a nutritionist told me that Red Yeast Rice has been shown to be effective in lowering cholesterol. Read the Mayo Clinic’s page detailing this supplement. They give it an “A” in lowering total cholesterol, LDL’s, and trigyceride levels. I don’t know the cost of the Red Yeast Rice, but I’m sure it isn’t as much as Lipitor.
Do you know of any other natural alternatives to high-priced medicines? Do you think we Baby Boomers should start considering natural healing, alternative medicine, to save money and be healthier?