Are you taking too many pills?

We get sick, the first thing we think of is going to the doctor. Not what am I doing wrong to make myself sick and change my behaviour to resolve the problem without medical intervention.

Have you thought about why you have a back pain or why you keep getting a cold again and again. Of course there may be an underlying problem that needs help, medicines and more. I'm not saying never but rather not first.

For example if I have a head ache I don't immediately take a pain killer, instead I think about why I might have a head ache, often I simply drink a glass or 2 of water (500ml each) and the pain miraculously goes away. I've found as I get older I am more susceptible to dehydration.

I think about what might be causing my pain. I check my water log (on my fitbit app) and if I can see I am below 1.5 litres I drink enough to reach 2 litres total. Now its not just water, I drink structured water, something I have learned only recently. A couple of options I use are freshly squeezed lemon and high quality Himalayan salt, just a pinch mind. Try it you will feel the difference.

I am a Qualified Person, I have been working in the Pharmaceutical Industry full time and more since July 1986. I have been learning by applying my skills and knowledge for over 60,000 hours in the field. I understand medicines, drugs, pills, potions, lotions, creams, gels, aerosols, injections, herbal remedies and more. With this experience and my pre-occupation with scientific experiments I rarely take a pill. This often surprises people I meet until they get to know me and understand my philosophy.

As part of my role I have to learn about medicinal products, drugs, their formulation, what could cause them to lose their efficacy (not work). I was Head of Quality for a site with 1800 products for a couple of years and used to proof read the leaflets too. With the knowledge of which product to use when, surely then I have a medicine cabinet full of a wide range of pills to treat all ailments. Actually no.

I have learned about the side effects of intervention, physical surgery and the treatments or pills we take. Clozapine is one product that really struck home for me. Its an anti psychotic with a known side effect of sudden death, but the health authority asked the manufacturer to place it on the market as its benefit is more than the risk. If you ask my family you will know the first thing I look at for any drug is the side effects.

I do more than just read though I consider the pharmacological impact of taking any product whether its a medicine, a food supplement or a cosmetic. When this enters my body what will it do? Is there an issue with bioavailability which means the manufacturer had to increase the dose to make it get to the target organ? Is my liver being compromised by the high dosing and increasing my risk of psoriasis? The list goes on ...

Next time you think you need to visit the doctor think about why you are going, don't rush to ask for antibiotics to treat a condition that they will not help with at all - a cold. The same goes for your kids don't give them Paracetamol repeatedly to increase their risk of asthma. Think first then act.

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