"In clinical studies, 86% of men with your symptoms improved their erections with VIAGRA (versus 32% of men taking a sugar pill)."Almost a one in three chance that a placebo will get you as hard as viagra itself? If it wouldn't negate the effects, it'd be tempting to ask your doctor for a sugar pill instead to see if that did the trick! Sex is too important to be left to chance though right?
Wednesday 29 October 2008
VIAGRA or PLACEBO?
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I'm not surprised at all - I'm sure there's a huge psychological element involved. Even if not to begin with, having problems a few times is obviously enough to really affect someone's confidence, which I'm sure is enough to perpetuate the problems.
ReplyDeleteEither that, or some men are just massively turned on by just the thought that they're taking Viagra.
I think what was surprising was that the company that produces it used this statistic as a marketing device. It's got me once again wondering about the whole ethical reasoning behind placebos. I think doctors should be allowed to prescribe placebos as long as no harm can come of it and perhaps one or two other doctors or consultants sign off on it at the time.
ReplyDeleteOh, I seeee. I didn't realise that statement came from the company itself.
ReplyDeleteThat article I read a while ago in New Scientist about the placebo effect was fascinating, and discussed how we should really be making more of this because obviously if people can get better without drugs, or with less drugs, that can only be a good thing... Of course drug companies make lots of money and then give lots of money to governments. So I'm not sure there's much incentive there to fund placebo research.