Must read for all:

[doctorcoug]

This is a very serious issue in healthcare. We are brewing weapons of mass destruction in our own bodies. It is very worrisome.

Luckily levaquin resistance hasn't hit my area.

Don't demand antibiotics. I'm not saying, don't go to the doctor, just don't get upset if you are told nasal lavage, symptomatic decongestant, tylenol for pain relief, and warm salt water gargles.

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/11/...regulated.html

[Drunk Tank]

This is funny. My wife took my son to the Dr. last week because he had a viral infection (cough/cold/sneezing). She was upset that the Dr. didnt prescribe any medications. I just laughed at my wife. Now a week later, he is just fine. Go figure.

[Jacob]

I don't know about levaquin resistance, but that drug has cause my dad a lot more problems than it helped.

I hope it doesn't catch up to me as I used it quite a bit several years ago.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Doctors and the fine people at Johnson & Johnson should provide a pill with a fancy name that consists of acetaminophen, maybe a bit of benadryl and/or some other relatively benign if feel good drug, then market it as "New and more effective than previous drugs against viral infections!" Then docs could prescribe that instead of all the worthless, and ultimately harmful, antibiotics.

Can one sell a drug like what I described by prescription, even if the FDA wouldn't require it to be? Making it a prescription drug is essential to keep the ignorant patients happy. They could even jack up the price to really impress those patients, with J&J rebating back much of it to whatever insurance company was involved.

I'm sure no one else has thought of this clever idea.

[wuapinmon]

Doctors and the fine people at Johnson & Johnson should provide a pill with a fancy name that consists of acetaminophen, maybe a bit of benadryl and/or some other relatively benign if feel good drug, then market it as "New and more effective than previous drugs against viral infections!" Then docs could prescribe that instead of all the worthless, and ultimately harmful, antibiotics.

Can one sell a drug like what I described by prescription, even if the FDA wouldn't require it to be? Making it a prescription drug is essential to keep the ignorant patients happy. They could even jack up the price to really impress those patients, with J&J rebating back much of it to whatever insurance company was involved.

I'm sure no one else has thought of this clever idea.

If it weren't for ethics....

[Uncle Ted]

Doctors and the fine people at Johnson & Johnson should provide a pill with a fancy name that consists of acetaminophen, maybe a bit of benadryl and/or some other relatively benign if feel good drug, then market it as "New and more effective than previous drugs against viral infections!" Then docs could prescribe that instead of all the worthless, and ultimately harmful, antibiotics.

Can one sell a drug like what I described by prescription, even if the FDA wouldn't require it to be? Making it a prescription drug is essential to keep the ignorant patients happy. They could even jack up the price to really impress those patients, with J&J rebating back much of it to whatever insurance company was involved.

I'm sure no one else has thought of this clever idea.

Of course, if J&J made such a drug the government would provide subsidies to those who don't have insurance so they can afford the magic drug as well and spend billions on foreign aid so the poor in the 3rd world can have it for free. J&J would make contributions to the reelection campaigns of all the law makers that voted to make this happen and Nancy Pelosi would then get to serve yet another term.

[New Mexican Disaster]

Of course, if J&J made such a drug the government would provide subsidies to those who don't have insurance so they can afford the magic drug as well and spend billions on foreign aid so the poor in the 3rd world can have it for free. J&J would make contributions to the reelection campaigns of all the law makers that voted to make this happen and Nancy Pelosi would then get to serve yet another term.

Stick to football in the state of Texas.

[il Padrino Ute]

Of course, if J&J made such a drug the government would provide subsidies to those who don't have insurance so they can afford the magic drug as well and spend billions on foreign aid so the poor in the 3rd world can have it for free. J&J would make contributions to the reelection campaigns of all the law makers that voted to make this happen and Nancy Pelosi would then get to serve yet another term.

No doubt it would happen, though it may take a good 30 or 40 years before the FDA approved it.