I wasn't aware prior to reading this article that many of the medications we use are manufactured in part or in whole, outside of the United States. I grew up in a patriotic family, and although I wasn't brainwashed, we did tend to trust (way back then) that the government had our best interests at heart. I always thought the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulated the medications sold in the United States, and trusted that because of that, they were safe. However, with the seeming increase in reactions to medications, food and other items as well, and with more and more of our products (including some food items and apparently medications) being processed or assembled overseas, I don't necessarily trust the system (or the products) anymore.
@Diane Lane : Of course, trusting a system which is quasi-related to regulating safety issues, but exists on the other hand, to generate revenue, is a mistake, as money almost always takes "top priority". So, IMO, if one has the ability to study and understand whatever information may be available regarding medical products, one ought to try to "ferret out" as much as possible relating to the positive aspects (medically-effective) vs. possible adverse results, for any given product. Frank Edit: Si, mucho Dummy! I read the article you offered after posting. Not smart. It pointed out things of interest, for sure. Example: I buy medication on-line, made in India. It is packaged in sealed foil "wraps" bearing manufacturer name and location, specifics regarding dose size, dates of manufacture and expiration, just about all one might need. And, it's generic.
FDA approved U.S.A. pharmaceutical drugs are, indeed, manufactured from India, China and billions worth of drug imports come from Puerto Rico and South East Asia. How can we be guaranteed that these drugs aren't contaminated? Do U.S. consumers know that the Big Pharma drug monopoly engage in adulterated drug contamination fiasco made from China-- with some massive price-fixing by the FDA and Big Pharma in bed together? I think, drug profiteering is the lobbying call of this pharma culture at the expense of lives of the American people... and their pockets.
It took the FDA a long time before the pulled Vioxx It cost the lives of near ½ million people The list of bad drugs are getting even larger
When I lived in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, I would regularly cross the border into Mexico to fill a prescription. By shopping in Mexico, I could cut the costs from $30 to $2, and the medications seemed to do the job just fine.
Ken come on down to the D.R. where you can buy antibiotic and Viagra off a truck in the road without prescription and the drug store too.
If I were Ken, I would be mildly defensive, @Martin Alonzo , but I guess I could always sell the stuff.....Frank
We routinely drove from Phoenix to Algodones, border town in Mexico west of Yuma. I bought my B.P. med there for 6 cents a dose compared to half a buck back home, packaged in sealed containers identical to those sold to the pharmacies, labeled New Jersey.
Yes, this is why I give my doctor's the third degree about new medications they prescribe for me. I really don't like taking anything new because I never know what it will do to me. So, I am always asking questions before hand. Hey, I am someone who had a drug interaction and ended up with an allergic reaction as a result so I am always careful what I take.
@Ken Anderson I used to go across to buy most of my toiletries (and yes, liquor) back in the 80s. It was much cheaper to shop there. Many Texans, even as far north as Dallas and probably beyond, would travel to Mexico for dentistry, as well as prescription medications. I definitely wouldn't do it now, though. After the cadmium jewelry and tainted pet food scares, I've become much more leery of products made in certain areas. I do not like the idea of chicken or anything else being shipped out of the country, over to China for processing, then back here for consumption. The logistics seem stupid and questionable to me. I'd rather buy meat processed here, but sometimes it's difficult to tell the source of food, drugs, and other items.