ffectiveness Revealed
NNT means Number Needed to Treat. It is in that fine print sheet that comes with the drug your doctor prescribed and, if not, can be accessed on the manufacturer's web site.
The doc said the stuff would treat the particular condition that the patient was complaining about. But will it help YOU? How effective is it for that particular problem?
Drug companies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, sometimes millions, to develop a drug to alleviate certain symptoms. I said treat, not cure. Pharmaceutical companies don't want to cure; they want to treat so they can continue to sell their drugs. A cure would put them out of business. There are many cures for cancer, but none allowed in the U.S. A very damning statement that will not be pursued here.
NNT is the number of patients needed to be treated in order to prevent ONE additional bad outcome compared in a controlled clinical trial. The ideal NNT outcome of a trial is ONE where everyone improves from the drug. The higher the number the less effective is the drug.
Some of the trials may run for 5 years. The NNT can be time specific. The more people in the study adds to its validity as well as who does the study. It should be done by a group not connected to the manufacturing company. These facts cannot be determined by the general public. Two or more control tests by different groups is also advised.
If you have seen the movie "The Fugitive" it gives good idea why the manufacturer should not do the tests.
Some studies are done targeting a specific disease. During these the doctors sometimes find excellent side effects that the drug company can use. Viagra was found during a heart study. The higher the number the less effective the drug. Control studies of LIPITOR show it reduced the possibility of heart attack by ONE person in ONE HUNDRED.
The NNT for Lipitor is 100. Almost worthless. The true number according to Dr. Hoffman is closer to 250.
Drug companies are selling 99 or more useless prescriptions, but is does bring in a lot of money. Many doctors consider all statin drugs to be dangerous if taken for long periods of time.
How can anyone know if the drug they are taking is worthwhile? For those now taking any prescribed or even non-prescription medication it is a very good idea to go to the Internet and do a Google search. Type in the official name with the letters NNT and you can go one more step and search under "side effects". Most people will be shocked at how dangerous what they are taking can be.
Get those bottles out now to start the Internet search to see if what is being taken is really any good for that condition.
The doc said the stuff would treat the particular condition that the patient was complaining about. But will it help YOU? How effective is it for that particular problem?
Drug companies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, sometimes millions, to develop a drug to alleviate certain symptoms. I said treat, not cure. Pharmaceutical companies don't want to cure; they want to treat so they can continue to sell their drugs. A cure would put them out of business. There are many cures for cancer, but none allowed in the U.S. A very damning statement that will not be pursued here.
NNT is the number of patients needed to be treated in order to prevent ONE additional bad outcome compared in a controlled clinical trial. The ideal NNT outcome of a trial is ONE where everyone improves from the drug. The higher the number the less effective is the drug.
Some of the trials may run for 5 years. The NNT can be time specific. The more people in the study adds to its validity as well as who does the study. It should be done by a group not connected to the manufacturing company. These facts cannot be determined by the general public. Two or more control tests by different groups is also advised.
If you have seen the movie "The Fugitive" it gives good idea why the manufacturer should not do the tests.
Some studies are done targeting a specific disease. During these the doctors sometimes find excellent side effects that the drug company can use. Viagra was found during a heart study. The higher the number the less effective the drug. Control studies of LIPITOR show it reduced the possibility of heart attack by ONE person in ONE HUNDRED.
The NNT for Lipitor is 100. Almost worthless. The true number according to Dr. Hoffman is closer to 250.
Drug companies are selling 99 or more useless prescriptions, but is does bring in a lot of money. Many doctors consider all statin drugs to be dangerous if taken for long periods of time.
How can anyone know if the drug they are taking is worthwhile? For those now taking any prescribed or even non-prescription medication it is a very good idea to go to the Internet and do a Google search. Type in the official name with the letters NNT and you can go one more step and search under "side effects". Most people will be shocked at how dangerous what they are taking can be.
Get those bottles out now to start the Internet search to see if what is being taken is really any good for that condition.
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