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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to consider doing a medical trial?

30 replies

mrsfindlay · 13/07/2023 20:17

Has anyone ever done / considered this ?

I'm basically in a stuation where I can just about afford to live and pay my bills every month but I'm unable to save and I feel like the chances of me ever owning a property are getting smaller every day. Theres a website I found that offer "compensation" for taking part in their medical trials (mainly trying new medications) some offer 5K. Am I foolish to consider this ?

OP posts:
Zepherine · 13/07/2023 20:21

I know someone who has done a fair few and it doesn’t seem to have done him much harm as far as I know. They do have to stay in a hospital setting for about 10 days for some of the trials (it varies) and it can be very boring, apparently. Food isn’t great either. I wouldn’t do it as my tolerance for boredom is low.

Asdf12345 · 13/07/2023 20:24

Go for it. Low pay (tends to work out around minimum wage), and fewer options for women, but it can be a useful way to make a few quid. You will be limited in how many trials you can do a year so it’s hard to make a living out of nothing but trials, but if you have suitably flexible/remote work it can be combined with other work.

WimbledonPimms · 13/07/2023 20:29

As long as it's not for TGN1412 you'll probably be ok.

WhateverHappenedToMe · 13/07/2023 20:29

The trials offering £5k are the ones that will expect you to stay in their facility for two weeks or so undergoing various treatments and/or tests. If you can take yourself out of circulation for that time, go ahead. They may well be testing a new drug, but will have strict safety protocols in place; the famous Northwick Park tragedy a few years ago showed what could go wrong when protocols aren't followed and there's not a researcher in the UK who would let that happen again.

Clinical trials that are less disruptive to your life pay less. The last time I looked at it, you would receive about £150 per 4-hour hospital visit.

Bear in mind it's only commercial trials that pay. Those run in the NHS don't pay participants, other than the occasional draw to win a shopping voucher of some kind.

Idrankyourbananamilk · 13/07/2023 20:31

I did this. I did a vaccine trial about 10 years ago and got 4k towards a house deposit. Worth every penny. I was lucky enough to have a flexible job that accommodated the 4 or 5 days off I had to have.

Wildspace · 13/07/2023 20:32

If you can, do it! Really vital for medical advances. Thank you for considering it.

zerored · 13/07/2023 20:32

I wouldn't gamble your health

Unicorn2022 · 13/07/2023 20:35

I wouldn't do it in a million years. Money will come and go throughout your life but you can't put a price on your health. Whenever I think about drug trials I remember the awful elephant man drug a few years back.

Generally if it seems like something is paying a lot of money for what it is, in reality it's probably paying nowhere near enough.

AlligatorPsychopath · 13/07/2023 20:44

Unicorn2022 · 13/07/2023 20:35

I wouldn't do it in a million years. Money will come and go throughout your life but you can't put a price on your health. Whenever I think about drug trials I remember the awful elephant man drug a few years back.

Generally if it seems like something is paying a lot of money for what it is, in reality it's probably paying nowhere near enough.

It was seventeen years ago, and Phase I trial protocols were tightened significantly in response. It was (rightly) regarded as a catastrophe, and steps were taken to try and prevent it ever happening again. These trials take place constantly; you remember that one precisely because it's so rare for them to go disastrously wrong.

There's always some degree of risk, obviously, but most people routinely do things that probably risk their health more than drug trials. Like drink alcohol, and carry extra weight, and drive.

Annaishere · 13/07/2023 20:47

Could be a good idea. I’ve seen flu trials for 2k

Fruitloopcowabunga · 13/07/2023 20:51

If you live near a tertiary (specialist) dermatology hospital, they are always looking for research volunteers. You'll get left with little scars where they take the samples of skin but easier than having to spend 10 days in closed conditions.

Handsnotwands · 13/07/2023 21:16

I’d be so up for this. Where do you find out about them?

Original poster
mrsfindlay · 13/07/2023 21:36

Handsnotwands · 13/07/2023 21:16

I’d be so up for this. Where do you find out about them?

www.trials4us.co.uk/ongoing-clinical-trials

This is the website I've been looking at. I think they are all based at London Bridge

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsfindlay · 13/07/2023 21:36

Fruitloopcowabunga · 13/07/2023 20:51

If you live near a tertiary (specialist) dermatology hospital, they are always looking for research volunteers. You'll get left with little scars where they take the samples of skin but easier than having to spend 10 days in closed conditions.

Ohh that's something to consider, thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsfindlay · 13/07/2023 21:39

Zepherine · 13/07/2023 20:21

I know someone who has done a fair few and it doesn’t seem to have done him much harm as far as I know. They do have to stay in a hospital setting for about 10 days for some of the trials (it varies) and it can be very boring, apparently. Food isn’t great either. I wouldn’t do it as my tolerance for boredom is low.

Yeah a lot of the trials I've seen include a hospital stay for this length of time. Plus additional visits afterwards. I wonder of you are allowed to leave the facility at all?

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsfindlay · 13/07/2023 21:56

Asdf12345 · 13/07/2023 20:24

Go for it. Low pay (tends to work out around minimum wage), and fewer options for women, but it can be a useful way to make a few quid. You will be limited in how many trials you can do a year so it’s hard to make a living out of nothing but trials, but if you have suitably flexible/remote work it can be combined with other work.

My work is remote luckily so I might be able to make it work. Doing the odd couple might give me a bit of a boost towards a house deposit

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsfindlay · 13/07/2023 21:57

Annaishere · 13/07/2023 20:47

Could be a good idea. I’ve seen flu trials for 2k

Do you remember where you've seen these ?

OP posts:
miniegg3 · 13/07/2023 22:07

I looked into it in the past but all London based so no good for me. I'd probably have given it a go though

miniegg3 · 13/07/2023 22:07

mrsfindlay · 13/07/2023 21:57

Do you remember where you've seen these ?

Show quote history

Try looking at flu Camp,I know that's one

StillWantingADog · 13/07/2023 22:10

I would as long as you ask as many questions as you need to to fully understand the risks

I was a Guinea pig for one of the covid vaccines. That was run by the nhs so unpaid.

an ex did the type where you stay in a hospital for 2 weeks. He was bored shitless but came out the other end with £2k (this was a very long time ago) and no side effects whatsoever

Original poster
mrsfindlay · 13/07/2023 22:12

Fruitloopcowabunga · 13/07/2023 20:51

If you live near a tertiary (specialist) dermatology hospital, they are always looking for research volunteers. You'll get left with little scars where they take the samples of skin but easier than having to spend 10 days in closed conditions.

Do you know any more about this) (location of the hospitals/ how to apply for the trials) I've just spent a while googling and can't seem to find much?

OP posts:
WTFAreYouForReal · 13/07/2023 22:12

No way on earth would I do this.

Remember that trial where all those mens heads swelled up and they died or something?

Fuck that.

Original poster
mrsfindlay · 13/07/2023 22:16

StillWantingADog · 13/07/2023 22:10

I would as long as you ask as many questions as you need to to fully understand the risks

I was a Guinea pig for one of the covid vaccines. That was run by the nhs so unpaid.

an ex did the type where you stay in a hospital for 2 weeks. He was bored shitless but came out the other end with £2k (this was a very long time ago) and no side effects whatsoever

Howblong did you trial last ? 2 weeks does sound off putting but I guess you could try and put a positive spin on it and try to make the best of it (get on top of life admin, read, start a craft, binge a few netflix shows)

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsfindlay · 13/07/2023 22:17

WTFAreYouForReal · 13/07/2023 22:12

No way on earth would I do this.

Remember that trial where all those mens heads swelled up and they died or something?

Fuck that.

I know, the risk is what has put me off in the past

OP posts:
StillWantingADog · 13/07/2023 22:18

The vaccine trial lasted about 6 months I think we had a visit for blood tests once a month or so. It wasn’t particularly onerous for me as I didn’t work during the pandemic but the participants found it a bit of a pita as every time we were there for 1-2 hours