Last week I saw an advertisement on TV for Latisse, a prescription drug to make womens eyelashes grow longer.
What the fuck is going on here?*
How about a cure for AIDS, Parkinson's, diabetes, or any one of the many cancers out there? Just pick one, any of them, to start with.
But no, you cure those and the pharmaceuticals will lose money because the disease will be gone.
No money to be made there.
It's interesting to me how AIDS no longer seems to kill people as quickly as it used too.
But the people who live with HIV have a huge list of expensive medications they must take to stay alive. The cynic in me can't help but believe the cure has already been found, but is being kept locked away where no one will know, so the fat cat drug companies can keep getting fatter off the treatment costs.
I also have heard that great changes are coming for the people with diabetes too, with drugs that you'll take only once a week, or even once a month to maintain your blood sugar levels. But the talk of a cure is still a long ways off according the the researchers...
But hey, in the mean time we can make your lashes grow longer and fuller, guys can get erections anytime they want, and I'll bet soon I'll even be able to grow a full head of hair again...
*read the first comment from Deb for an answer I didn't know about.
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Latisse wasn't a drug designed to make eyelashes grow, it just happens to be a side effect. Lumigan is the name of the original drug and it's used to control glaucoma. The only reason I know is because my mum uses this drug, in one eye. She has beautiful, long, thick eyelashes on her right eye and almost none on her left eye. Looks funny but it works, keeps her pressure down.
I know for certain that diseases like diabetes are being studied, because my best friend is doing just that for her post-doctorate at Harvard. She does the research that informs the drug companies so they know the science of where to begin, or what needs to happen to happen for people to have an improvement in their health.
But the thing is, many diseases can't be "cured". Medical science isn't perfect. I choose to see the fact that HIV is no longer a death sentence as a great medical achievement. The V in HIV stands for virus, and basic science states that viruses aren't curable like bacteria-based diseases.
So don't be too cynical. Viagra's use, like Latisse's, was discovered as a side-effect. Neither of these drugs was created for this purpose.
Thanks Deb, I didn't know that. Glad to hear it's a "side effect" drug, and that it's helping your mom too.
Hi Lea, I guess I have become rather cynical in my view of some things, esp the older I get, and I never knew about HIV being a virus (medicine is not something I pay a lot of attention to). I guess I just kept hearing about finding a cure for AIDS and carried that thought forward.
I know there are many good people working on diabetes research (and other diseases), I just worry that the RX companies will take that knowledge only so far (yeah, cynical me again). Thanks for writing.
It is my understanding that what Deb describes is more often the case in drug development. And sometimes doctors prescribe drugs for "off label" treatments. That is, for something other than what they are intended for.
I happen to agree with you, John, with regard to your initial cynicsm. I think it has a lot of accuarcy to it.
I went in for abreast thermogram the other day. The doctor took a total of 12 images, both in color, as well as black&white.
He said that if thermograms were given the FDA stamp of approval and widely used, it would do away with 80% of the biposies done currently.
He also said thermograms can detect possible metastises far in advance of what shows up on a mammogram.
But hey, the medicial community wouldn't have a s much breast cancer revenues if they did away with mammograms and benign biopsies, now would they ???
fusion: I saw on television where they expect a cure for parkinsons's, diabbetes within 10 years. Ideas from cell research. And what ever happened to nano engines that ouwld kill cancer cells in the body...etc.
later honey.
I am taking a drug for leukemia. It also has the side effect of easing the pain of my rheumatoid arthritis. So, I am essentially killing two birds with one stone. Of course, another side effect is terrible leg cramps...that one is not so fun.
I was going to say the same thing Deb did. It was definitely a side effect that they decided to start marketing. Kinda like Viagra wasn't for ED to begin with, either, but that's it's main market now.
I just heard a report on HIV patients coming up with new syndromes/affects. Since it's a new disease, and this is the first generation to have it, they don't know if the memory loss, early signs of dementia, neuropathy and other things are from the drugs or the disease. I found the article quite fascinating, especially since I talked to someone who has been on the cocktails now for about fifteen years and was experiencing all that this author had found in his research.
As for the hair...try Mesotherapy ;).
Thing is..I think the the minute we come up with cures for this stuff, other stuff will show up. Nature of the beast.
Funny you just posted this. My eye dr just put me on a drug that does the same thing. It isn't this particular one but another and is for eye pressure. He was pointing out the "silver lining" to using it. He had said people that do get the Latisse for the lash purpose have to pay big bucks for it but since I medically need it it's covered by insurance. Gee, yay for me. Some people win the lottery :-)
Maria I'm no doctor in fact I drive a taxi but my physio put me on magnesium tablets to stop cramps and it really worked. DON'T take my word for it ask a natropath and/or your doctor
If they give you the green light I hope it works for you.
XL: Yes, I've heard that too, cross using drugs for other treatments. What gets me is when they have to prescribe additional drugs to counteract side effects of the first drug.
Hello Annie! I've missed you! And this is SO true, and why better treatments take so long to come, until the drug companies can figure out a way to make as much money from the new procedures. I firmly believe the reason the urology group that wanted to administer a $1200 prostate biopsy to me (that my new doctor and the tests I had said I didn't need) had more to due with money than my health. Makes me very leary.
Spiky: No money in curing cancer. At least that what my cynical side says...
Maria: So would they be giving you the same drug for just the rheumatoid arthritis then? Check out the suggestion Becker has for the leg cramps below, if you haven't already.
Thanks Gillette, As Lea pointed out, I didn't know HIV was virus based. So, there will never be a cure for it? And thanks for the suggestion, but I'm perfectly happy as a "baldy" ;)
JAG: watch that eye pressure, my sister almost lost her sight because of it. Glad you get a nice side effect though!
Thanks Becker, I hope Maria looks into it.
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