It is true that in all theses researches, the big drug companies are in fact searching for cures that will work on particular illnesses. However, they do realise that the genuine goldmine lies in finding a pill that will compensate for the 21st – century western lifestyle.
The question that arises in everyone’s mind is: are such wishes achievable in reality?
Lifestyle drugs have made their entry with much fanfare in the past. However, till now their record has been quite inconsistent. One of the most known is Viagra. This drug, which was made by Pfizer, was initially developed to control blood pressure. It was by an accident that it was discovered that it could enhance sexual performance in men who were suffering from a diverse range of conditions. As a result, there is nowadays a huge demand for it among men who are basically unfit, suffer from weight problems, stressed or merely too tired.
Unfortunately, Viagra can be the source of headaches that are serious enough to wipe out any thoughts of desire and passion. Richard Petty, who is a medical director of a private clinic, the WellMan Clinic, Harley Street, London, was among the first users of the Viagra. He confesses that the drug resulted in bulging his eyes and a whopping hangover that lasted for hours.
Other people have complained about having suffered from a blue tinge in their vision. In the worst scenarios, some men are known for having even suffered from a heart failure.
Procter & Gamble has not been deterred by these facts. The latter, which is best known for washing products than medicines, is going ahead with a testosterone patch in order to boost the female libido. The drug in supposed to become available in two years.
The human desire for always opting for a quick fix to solve lifestyle problems makes sure that there is constantly a demand for these drugs, regardless of the numerous drawbacks that they entail.
Melanotan is another such compound that is currently under development. This compound is designed to defend against disease such as skin cancer. However, this is not the sole reason for the attraction that it has initiated. Researchers are showing interest in it as it assists to increase libido and helps in weight loss. What’s more, you can get a suntan even without going outside as well. According to the Australian team that is developing it, there are, up to now, no severe side effects.
Even though there are no serious drawbacks, the positive effects of drugs are not always what the users expect. Take the Provigil drug for example. Provigil is a drug that was designed to fight against narcolepsy. However, it has caught the attention of a much wider market, including men who consider it as an addition to or a substitute for Viagra.
On the other hand, a patient of chronic fatigue syndrome who used the drug said that when his doctor asked him if the drug worked well for him, he answered that it was similar to the difference between a dead body lying down and a dead body standing up.
There may exist a comparable catch with RU-21, a drug that was launched in Britain this summer, which function is to act as an over-the-counter remedy for hangovers.
The drug breaks down acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is the toxic compound that materializes in the blood as derivative of consuming alcohol. Consuming it even one starts to drink is suppose to put-off nausea and throbbing head that usually follow after a night on the tiles.
The leading markets for lifestyle drugs are for those who can offer the hope of beauty and youth, more often than not, through weight loss. However, here too, troubles persist.
The principal anti-obesity product that is available on the market, Xenical, prevents the body to absorb fat. This may sound like an effortless solution. However, the downside of it is that if ever a person eats more than a very small quantity of fat, the drug will simply force it to go through the person’s body.
Mary Norman, who is from Aberdeen, fell from 14 stone to 10 stone with Xenical. She admits that she was aware whenever she went over her prescribed fat limit. Whenever this happened, she would experience a terrible churning feeling in her stomach. As a result, she would be hurrying to the loo within some hours – an urge that was hard to control.
She explains that the Xenical drug proves to be a wonder pill as long as the user does as he has been told. She has since then stopped using the drug and has recovered nearly all the weight that she had previously lost.
Read:
Part 1: Concentrating on The quest Towards the Miracle Pill
Part 3: Concentrating on The quest Towards the Miracle Pill
Source: Times Online
Anti Aging, Anti Aging Products, Anti Aging Supplements, Bioscience
Sun, May 30, 2010
Anti Aging, Anti Aging Products, Anti Aging Supplements, Bioscience