Has anyone NOT consumed any pharmaceutical products in the last year?

[Verily1]

DP and I were discussing painkiller use to alleviate pain during exercise.

He said that as a society we are becoming very dependent on medicines. So we both tried to think of people we know and what meds they are on. Then we thought of all the meds we have taken over the years.

We couldnt think of anyone who has probably ever gone a year without using some form of pharmaceutical product.

If you include asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure pills to painkillers, anti histamines, contraceptives, lemsip, gaviscon, canestan, anti depressants and anti anxiety meds as well as anti biotics and any dental pain relief it seems hard to escape not using anything in a given year.

Are there such healthy people on mumsnet?

Or do I just know unhealthy people?

[coconuttelegraph]

I haven't heard of taking pain killers during exercise, that doesn't sound like a healthy thing to be doing.

In the past year I've only taken ibuprofen for headaches, I had antibiotics for an infection about 3 years ago but can't think of anything else

[Abraid2]

Antihistamines and paracetamol were the only thing I had taken this year until I started HRT six weeks ago.

I haven’t had antibiotics for over 21 years.

[BertieBotts]

I would have been able to answer yes until yesterday! I took some paracetamol for a headache. And in fact only because DH gave them to me, as I hadn't thought about it. I'm fairly certain that's right as I don't think I've taken any medication since DS2 was born (and very little during pregnancy, just vitamins) and he's 13 months old now.

[BertieBotts]

Oh no actually never mind totally forgot about some medication I was taking

[RiddleyW]

I think maybe nothing for a year before I got a terrible infection and had a week on IV antibiotics.

[JulietTango]

I take thyroxin and two types of corticosteroids. These keep me alive though and i would have died 20 years ago if i didn't take them.

As for over the counter medication probably twice in the last year and that was paracetamol

[Purpleartichoke]

I’ve got two conditions that without meds I would die. Probably somewhere between 1-6 weeks. I’m a big fan of pharmaceuticals.

[ClientListQueen]

This year alone
Decongestant
Paracetamol
Naproxen
Dihydrocodine
Ranitidine
Fexofenadine
Cetirizine
Piriton
GCSF
Antibiotics
Thrush treatment

[Gwenhwyfar]

I must be riddled with drugs. Anti-histamine EVERY day - I seem to be allergic to something in all seasons, for the last few months antacids and sinus medication. Paracetamol when I have a headache and ibuprofen for period pain.

[Bucatini]

I take paracetamol when I get a headache - maybe two or three times a year.

Otherwise nothing. Can't remember the last time I had antibiotics.

[yearinyearout]

I take asthma meds, antihistamines for hay fever and the odd paracetamol for pain. I don't consider myself "unhealthy" though.

[Rotolla]

I don’t feel at all dependent. I’ve used paracetamol and ibuprofen a few times, that’s hardly dependent. I made a practical choice so I could carry on with my day instead of going for a lie down.

I’m fortunate obviously, but I don’t think we can say as society we are dependent because some people are now alive who in the past would’ve died. Yes for example we have type 1 diabetics now living, they are dependent obviously for example, it doesn’t equate to a societal social dependence does it?

[Dowser]

A few years back I went 7 years without anything but a tooth extraction had me on the ceiling when the pain was off the scale.
Now I probably take about 6-10 painkillers a year, buscopan occasionally and movicol regularly.
Still not bad for an old lass of 67

[HigherFurtherFasterBaby]

I take several meds for MH issues, but in terms of physical health, the last time (and only the third time) I had antibiotics was in 2013 when I had a severe tooth infection.

[Dowser]

I thought ranitidine had been withdrawn as they think some of the ingredients might be cancer causing

[YaySeptember]

On a daily basis I take ramipril for high b.p. and cetirizine for allergies.

When I need them I take paracetamol for aches and pains and a blue inhaler for when I get wheezy.

I don't like taking medicines but don't avoid it if I need them.

[PickAChew]

The last time Ds2 took any medication was about 4 years ago when he had horrendous hay-fever and prickly heat. We had to grind up tablets and hide them in yoghurt. He'd smell the syrup and clamp shut.

[trilbydoll]

I usually have lemsip type stuff when I get my annual cold / sore throat that makes me lose my voice. I get the same thing every January! That's all tho, I'm lucky enough not to suffer many ailments.

DH takes Syndol for headaches but I find them incredibly strong, very rarely I will have half a tablet and go straight to bed and it knocks me out for 8 hours!

[SimonJT]

I’m a type one diabetic, so I barely make a few hours without using a pharmaceutical product!

[Bumfuzzled]

We don’t take much medication in our house. I would have said my DH and DD haven’t taken anything for over a year. They are weirdly healthy, germs just don’t touch them! Their clean track record was ruined a few weeks ago though as my DS (4) was complaining of an itchy bum - so we all had to take a dose of threadworm medication 🤮

None of us takes regular medication, long may it last!

[AllFourOfThem]

DH won’t have taken anything. He always appears to be completely immune to all the bugs and illnesses the children bring home.

I’ve had loads. Even without pregnancy and a c section earlier this year, I still would have taken my fair share of a variety of medicines. I have arthritis and a few other conditions so whilst none are life threatening, medications make things much easier for me.

[Sparrowsinthehedge]

I take lots of medication including controlled drugs, without them my pain would be unbearable.

[simbobs]

I can't remember the last time I took anything other than a vitamin tab, but I don't judge anyone who needs meds. DH has some stuff he relies on to stay alive.

[lljkk]

I guess what I don't like in OP is hint that being "dependent" on meds has made people un"healthy". We all have ancestors who had no 'pharmaceuticals' so obviously we're all made of very tough genetics that led to our existence. But that doesn't mean we should suffer like our antecedents did. If they got sick they either died or got better. It wasn't a healthy way to live at all.

Drugs are wonderful.

[Trewser]

I take HRT. I'm not unhealthy.