Isn't this kind of self-defeating

[cynara_linnaea]

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/03/prweb737384.htm

If everyone knows the brand name, won't they recognize it, thus removing all benefits?

Comments

[midnight_sidhe]

Maybe they're assuming that the person taking the pill isn't the one buying it? If a mother gave it to her child and the child didn't know what it was, or was too young to know about placebo effects, they wouldn't be influenced. That's the only way I could see it working.

[masteraleph]

The release seems to imply that this is something to give to young children rather than giving them real medication.

[mbarr]

Exactly. It's to be bought by the parental type, to be given to the smaller types.

*they* won't know it's a placebo..

[goldfish8282]

Given the big, blue quote on the right, the 'inventor' seems to think that Obecalp can be given to anyone of any age. I can see a parent giving it to his/her child (it's like Timothy giving Dumbo a magic feather), but I think I'd throw a fit if a doctor ever tried to prescribe something called 'obecalp' to me rather than being honest.

[desh]

The placebo effect is surprisingly resilient. I bet they're not at all worried about "word getting around".

[shirei_shibolim]

If the goal is for parents to give it to small children, I still have a problem with it. Wouldn't this just teach kids that drugs are the answer to everything, and lead to a generation of compulsive self-medicators?

[neuromancerzss]

If they think drugs are the answer to everything, the placebo will have even greater effectiveness!

[levana_b]

I think the assumption is that everyone already thinks that drugs are the answer to everything. The problem is that it is very possible we are overmedicating. So, on the one hand, you want to give a child something to make them feel better but, on the other hand, you don't want to give them medication if they don't really need it. Answer - you give them fake medication and let psychology do the work.

MY issue with this is how do you decide what gets antibiotics and what gets the placebo? I mean, an ear infection in a five-year-old is not something you ignore...so what exactly are we talking about here? Strep? The common cold, which has no real treatment other than tylenol and chicken soup?
I mean, her point is that the drugs don't work and are over-prescribed. And yes, the placebo effect is quite effective. But drug efficacy differs from person to person and how exactly does a doctor decide that something is medicine worthy without requiring medicine? What does that even mean?

[debka_notion]

I presume that we are talking about the common cold and other viruses for which there is no real medication besides fluid and rest. Strep is nothing to laugh at- whenever I've had it, I've invariably been out for a whole week, even with medication. Perhaps that which is medication worthy but doesn't require medicine is that which is unpleasant enough to "deserve" medication, but for which we have no medicine?