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?

[AliceLittle]

Other than the mirena I don't think I have. I have taken many other non pharmaceutical drugs in that time though.

[NigesFakeWalkingStick]

I take a daily dose of antidepressants and have done since my teens.

I also get chronic migraines. Apart from that though, no antibiotics etc for years. And only then because I had my son by c section and got a UTI. I didn't like the oramorph they gave me so I asked to switched to paracetamol. I do take a rather regular dose of paracemtol though.

[Waxonwaxoff0]

I take the mini pill daily for contraception.

Took ibuprofen a couple of months back for a while as I broke my ankle.

Occasionally take paracetamol when I have a bad headache.

That's it for me.

[Kez200]

I dont think I have. I cant remember doing so and, if I did, it would only have been one ibuprofen for a headache that wouldnt go away (i normally live with them for 12 hours first and drink plenty).

[Oblomov19]

Pharmaceutical firms are getting a lot of flack recently.

It's all over my Facebook!

I've just started a job for a pharmaceutical firm.

I occasionally/rarely use paracemetol/Anadin/etc.
But I've used insulin daily since aged 1.

So what are you actually really asking OP?

[BlueCornsihPixie]

The only thing I ever really take is painkillers. And I have a contraceptive inplant.

I've had 2 courses of antibiotics my entire life and that's all really.

I don't think though 100 years ago I'd have felt 'healthy' without them, i'd have felt shit with a headache, period pains etc. And probably be pregnant. Realistically I could probably deal with not taking painkillers if I needed to but at the same time why the fuck would I when I can take an ibuprofen and carry on with my day

It's not like we've evolved to need them, pre medication people just felt shite and died

[BlueCornsihPixie]

It annoys me when people come to me and say "Im in pain, help me"

Have you taken painkillers?

No, I don't like taking them

Your in pain so take painkillers fgs. There's nothing wrong with taking medication needed

[wonkylegs]

My brother and his partner don't use any drugs and preach to the world that it's soooooo much better and they are healthier because of it.
But what they really are is bloody lucky
I actually take very little OTC meds but I am reliant on my arthritis drugs which give me a functioning body rather than one damaged and broken by the disease. The progress in arthritis drugs means that I will be medicated for life but previous generations with the same diagnosis would be severely disabled, unable to work, have kids or do very much before they died early so yes I am medicated more than previous generations but for very good reason as I'm a functioning member of society with a family, job etc

[MontBlancHonk]

I haven't. Only occasionally take ibuprofen for period pain but not this year.

Previously I've taken meds as and when needed. I generally try to avoid but take antibiotics and anything required if prescribed.

I've just had a lucky year I guess.

[ClientListQueen]

@BlueCornsihPixie one of the paramedics used to be "no, a pain score of 10/10 wouldn't make me take painkillers either" whilst doing face

[CherryPlum]

You are implying that taking medication is unhealthy. I am on various medications for chronic conditions, I didn't realise people judge me for it and consider me 'unhealthy'.

[CakeNinja]

Well I hadn’t for years - because I genuinely didn’t get Poorly, infections, just not someone who gets ill.
Hadn’t been to the doctors in years until last year when I slipped 2 discs in my back. My gp told me I was officially a ‘ghost patient’. Was on an impressive cocktail of drugs for quite some time! Don’t take them anymore but just this last week developed a double ear infection, sinusitis and a migraine so have been taking various medications again.
I do prefer to ride out the minor aches, pains and niggles whereas others prefer to take some tablets to relieve their symptoms.
But in general, no. Neither dp, myself nor my children use much if anything in the way of medication.

[CactusAndCacti]

only if the alternative is hacking off his head with a hatchet because of the pain.

I have lots of headaches like that - though I want to stab a knife through my head in the hope it relieves some of the pain and pressure (not sure how that would actually work in practice)

I tend not to take anything when I wish to cut my toes off with a blunt knife though, as nothing helps.

[YouSirOweMeOneNewHat]

I take lots of daily medication (mainly strong pain relief), including oxycodone and co-codamol 4 times a day, every day.

Aside from that I've also recently had to take stuff for sinus issues, allergies/itching, indigestion and constipation (due to opiate drugs.)

My dad, on the other hand, hasn't taken any type of medicine for at least 5 years (apart from topical creams for his skin condition.)
He hates pharmaceuticals of any kind.

[YouSirOweMeOneNewHat]

Posted too soon..

I think that the word 'dependent' is so often linked to addiction that, when saying someone is dependent on meds, it's almost an implication that they're not in pain, they just need the drugs.

Realistically, who likes having to take meds?
I will be on my medication for the rest of my life I imagine.
When people here that I take multiple doses of opioids on a daily basis I get the look.
Immediately the mind goes to addict. Not 'women in so much pain she needs strong meds just to exist.'

Dependent is almost always linked to painkillers too.
You'd never say someone was dependent on their inhaler, or their insulin.
Again, stirs up a link to the person taking the med being weak - when, in reality, they just don't want to be in pain.

[YouSirOweMeOneNewHat]

*woman

[EmilyStar]

I’ve not had any pharmaceuticals in the last year. Unless you’re counting vitamins.

But that’s really down to luck.

I know plenty of people who have a healthier lifestyle than me who need medication.

[wonkylegs]

Technically I'm healthier on my chronic condition meds than not on them as they adjust my faulty immune system to a more normal one

[Verily1]

It was dp who used the word ‘dependent’ not me btw! I think there’s a big jump from musing on a trend in society where I think it’s appropriate to use that terminology to name calling individuals who happen to use a product.

From these replies, which seem generally quite defensive in tone, I think there’s a lot of undercounting.

Eg dentistry- 95 % of the population get gum disease at some point. The treatment is often medicated mouthwash ie a pharmaceutical product.

There’s also all the topical treatments eg steroid cream, cold sore cream, nit treatment, eye drops, medicated spot creams.

And I don’t think any child has never had anything.

We weren’t saying it’s not been good, these treatments have obviously improved our quality of life substantially but it’s ok to recognise how almost universal consumption of pharmaceutical products is surely?

[Oliversmumsarmy]

I don’t think I consumed anything up to me having to buy a bottle of cough medicine at the end of September.

I have never had a headache

[SpuriouserAndSpuriouser]

but it’s ok to recognise how almost universal consumption of pharmaceutical products is surely?

Well yes, but you keep phrasing it as if it were a negative, when surely the availability of safe and reliable healthcare is a good thing? We're so privileged in this country to have that, it's not a given in some parts of the world, so it just seems odd to question it.
Yes, most people in this country probably don't go a whole year without using some form of medication/pharmaceutical product, but that shouldn't be the goal, and it doesn't mean (as you insinuated in the OP) that someone who uses medication is inherently unhealthy.

[AmIThough]

The only medication I've taken have been pregnancy related.
Anti-sickness meds, folic acid, iron and codeine (early labour).

I rarely take other meds but know people who pop cocodamol daily.

[MoreSchnitzelPlease]

Congratulations to anyone who hasn't taken pharmaceutical products. Your medal is in the post.

Seriously though, before such products people still took home remedies or tinctures/salves/etc from medical professionals. It's not as if medications appeared out of nowhere.

[stayathomegardener]

It's an interesting topic.
I could be classified as quite unwell, I have CFS.
However I actively try not to take any meds as they can mask important symptoms that I can probably resolve naturally if caught very quickly.

In the last year I've taken a week of painkillers to reduce inflammation with a physical back injury. Obviously should I need medication I would take it but I do actively avoid.
It's important for me personally to be in tune with my body as much as possible.

[thenightfury]

I have my pill, that's the only thing I've had a prescription for in over a year.
Last prescription I had was for a an antibiotic cream and antibiotics for an infection in my c-section wound.