Do you know where your meds come from? Disturbing, if true:

coloCan
coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
edited January 2012 in Colorectal Cancer #1
ironmagazine.com/blog/2012/fact-80-percent-of-u-s-pharmaceuticals-made-with-overseas-ingredients/


How can you confirm the "purity" of your meds or supplements? I had read some time ago how much of our vitamins comes from China already and quality control there is rather lax, to say the least (not that matters are that much better elsewhere, including USA considering FDA approval of GMO etc).......

steve

Comments

  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    To Serve Man
    Like the Twilight Zone episode or Soylent Green...
    It's PEOPLE!!!
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    My heparin was recalled twice
    while I was on chemo. Chinese heparin with many problems. It was very scary, knowing I needed the heparin, but having no trust in the source. It's the last reference in the article.
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    PhillieG said:

    To Serve Man
    Like the Twilight Zone episode or Soylent Green...
    It's PEOPLE!!!

    To Serve Man...
    Great episode...sure is a flashback....I happened to catch that episode again over New Year's...there was a marathon and that was one of them....along with many other great classics...

    And Soylent Green...you're dating yourself, Phil:)

    I believe that was circa 1973...I liked Edward G. Robinson in that movie....a great actor, who was outstanding in that movie.

    I also liked his portrayal of a professional gambler in "The Cincinatti Kid", which is one of my favorite movies and Edward G. Robinson's role as the savvy professional gambler is a true cinematic classic and is one of my favorite Robinson's portrayals.

    In Soylent Green, his decision to have "assisted suicide" was heavy back then - and I think more relevant today, though many will not know this movie. Though the world was overcrowded and people could voluntarily die on their own at the "assisted center", it makes me think if we will one day see that type of choice being offered to the terminally ill.

    If one is suffering so much that life becomes not worth living...it would be interesting if one could take matters into their own hands and choose their own destiny, instead of suffering endlessly as some of us do, prior to passing.

    That movie was way ahead of its time - then and now....very relevant I think.

    See you, Phil...

    -Craig
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    abrub said:

    My heparin was recalled twice
    while I was on chemo. Chinese heparin with many problems. It was very scary, knowing I needed the heparin, but having no trust in the source. It's the last reference in the article.

    Imports

    American companies move their manufacturing to places like
    China to raise their profit margin. They set up the manufacturing
    plant, and are licensed by the Chinese government to operate
    a business.

    Since these USA based companies are not required to adhere to
    US regulations while operating in another country, they can
    save money.

    It isn't the Chinese that are failing us, it is the Greedy American
    corporations that are failing us.

    (just sayin')

    Stay well, in spite of the conditions...

    John
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    While I agree this
    Is a subject to be concerned about, the hyperbole is a bit over the top.

    My favorite sentence:

    "The acid reflux drug Prilosec (omeprazole), is also manufactured primarily in Puerto Rico and India.".

    Umm, while not a state, the PR is a US territory.
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    Buckwirth said:

    While I agree this
    Is a subject to be concerned about, the hyperbole is a bit over the top.

    My favorite sentence:

    "The acid reflux drug Prilosec (omeprazole), is also manufactured primarily in Puerto Rico and India.".

    Umm, while not a state, the PR is a US territory.

    All i can say is: "Caveat Emptor"
    but these days, that applies to everything, regardless of country of origin .......

    (Hope you're feeling better)
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    My onc just shared with me about this...
    We were discussing the insurance companies contracting with the lowest bidder (she was not, but I switched groups to stay with her...). She said in many cases (not all *smile*) that the way they cut costs is to get their drugs from questionable sources. Many have also been caught watering their drugs down...

    It's a scary world, especially when the right drugs, at the right strengths, are absolutely necessary. I question my insurance company when something like this switch comes up, and even though it was a hassle (had to change my primary care and the hospital I go to), I trust my current oncologist with my life, and am willing to do whatever is necessary to feel secure.

    Dutch hugs, Kathi
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    KathiM said:

    My onc just shared with me about this...
    We were discussing the insurance companies contracting with the lowest bidder (she was not, but I switched groups to stay with her...). She said in many cases (not all *smile*) that the way they cut costs is to get their drugs from questionable sources. Many have also been caught watering their drugs down...

    It's a scary world, especially when the right drugs, at the right strengths, are absolutely necessary. I question my insurance company when something like this switch comes up, and even though it was a hassle (had to change my primary care and the hospital I go to), I trust my current oncologist with my life, and am willing to do whatever is necessary to feel secure.

    Dutch hugs, Kathi

    Happens in the US too
    Story broke in 2001:

    Respected Laguna Beach AIDS Doc Goes To Jail


    And he gets 15 months?!?!?!