Drug Research
Association between competing interests and authors’ conclusions – (08-12-02)
Association between competing interests and authors’ conclusions
This isn’t “beat up on the pharmaceuticals” week, but when they make such a juicy target its very hard to resist. Basically, this article supports what we all already know–money talks and can influence research. Remember this next time your doctor wants to give you a “new” drug that is supposed to be more effective. The “free samples” are always a clue… To further confound the issue or faulty data, the “placebos” that are used in many of these trials are not “sugar pills” as they so lightly mention in the commercials. When was the last time you sucked down a sugar packet and experience nausea, vomiting, headache and diarrhea?? Many times the placebos are actually compounds known to contain substances that mimic the side effects of the testing medication. Starting to wonder what you can believe??
bmj.com Abstracts: Kjaergard and Als-Nielsen 325 (7358): 249
