Wise up. Prescription drugs are not really about 'medical science' these days.
Anytime you get a product with hugely expensive advertising campaigns, like pharmaceuticals have, there is a really fat profit margin in place. They have ads that refer you to other ads. This is necessary, of course, because they have to disclose some stuff. 2 pages, it turns out, worth of medical terminology and excuses that basically say this stuff may not work or could cause you way more harm than good.
So, before deciding if you need to ask your doctor about todays' purple pill and if it's right for you, consider that your doctor probably already knows if it is. And that marketing it by colour rather than expected result suggests the expected result is not the prime goal of the pill.

I take the purple pill and it works. I am inclined to believe that America is overmedicated but thankfully the problem lies with everyone else and not me.

Welcome to reality, Marjorie. Welcome to an immensely overpriced medical system. Welcome to a population with toxic bodies from the chemical medications and chemical foods they keep stuffing in their mouths. People freak out about toxic dump sites and demand superfund cleanup while they willingly pour toxins into their bodies. The US medical profession is excellent at surgery, the carpenter work of medicince. Yes, your uncle is right, aspirin is just as effective as the most expensive pain pill and has the added benefit of being a blood tonic. Some aches and pains go away by themselves, others can be alleviated by yoga, chiropractors, massage and monthly or annual cleanses, (think fasts, prescribed to the peoples by their prophets). Many modern diseases can be attributed to personal toxic living. Other than that we are a nation of crybabies. You better be thinking for yourself when a doctor gives you a presciption, read the list of side affects, you may decide you don't need it.

Ok, I am the Anonymous of the last posting, left off my handle, not to be confused with the regular Anonymous with the Rush OHanity complex.

The number one concern for the Drug Manufacturing Corporations is their bottom line profits.

The greatest profits will come from the good, effective and least harmful drugs that they produce.

However, even the best drugs must get to the market as soon as possible to be profitable. Thus the testing and research may be shortchanged to accomplish the movement to the market.

It is our hope that the the government regulatory process will protect us from the ulterior motives of the Corporations. However certain forces in our society fight government regulation.

With out regulations, our second hope is to be able to punish Corporation misdeeds by civil lawsuits. Certain forces in our society also seeks to remove this remedy.

Without any control over the corporations what will we do?

Isn't it sad to see our conservative brothers and sisters so thorougly duped by these drug-addicted political pundits like Rush Limbaugh? What was it this so-called conservative guru likes to pop?
OxyContin, wasn't it?
Birds of a feather I guess.
You know the type, you know the individual.
I just wish there was something I could do for these types. But all they want to do is fight with people.

I have reached the age where the term "better living through chemistry" has taken on a whole new meaning. To those who fear the power of the evil corporations the answer is simple, don't buy their products! The consumer has the ultimate power. They can simply say no. I take a number of prescription medications. A list of drugs that my Doctor and I have consulted about. I don't add or subtract a medication based on commercial advertisments or the latest scary report of side effects. Because of the medications I take, I can work, play with my grandchildren, hike, bike and enjoy numerous other activities that I would not be able to without medications. The reality is that we as individuals must take responsibility for the state of our health and for whatever substances we put in our bodies. The reality is we are living longer and enjoying it more through advances of technology that give us vast options to manage our health for which we should all be grateful.

Sadly, our conservative-types always rely on the external. You know, God is "out-there" somewhere. Or if take an external thing (drugs, alcohol, food, sex, etc.)I will feel better.
Always looking for the answer outside of themselves. Never thinking for a moment to go within.
And there really is nothing you can do to assist them. They will just end up fighting with you feeling smaller than they already are.
Very sad indeed.

It is far better for a person to start that inward journey (no matter how difficult it might seem at first) than to view all things and solutions as external.

Lets not let journalistic intregrity get in the way of a juicy story.

"Presently, the FDA is investigating a possible connection between the allergy drug Singulair and suicide."

Post marketing data reporting demands that adverse events be reported. A look back at a study involving singulair versus inhaled corticosteroids revealed three attempted suicides in the corticosteriod group versus suicidal ideation (suicidal thoughts, not an attempt) in one patient on the singulair side. This was a large study involving hundreds of patients. Much of what you hear regarding medications is media hype. Did you know that common NSAIDs such as motrin may also increase heart risk? no one has done such a study in these OTC meds. Many patients who benefited from vioxx such as rheumatoid arthritis patients would still take it were it available even knowing the risk. Other treatments that maintain there availability are far more toxic and life threatening, yet not pulled. The media (and sadly this newspaper) are not interested in facts, just hype. Now I will have to explain to asthma patients next week why it would be a good idea to continue their singulair and not discontinue out of fear, risking an ED visit.

When you find yourself relying on an action, substance, belief, etc. that is externally-driven (to "correct your problems") you will always find yourself enslaved to something in one form or another.
Best to get free.