Is There Such A Thing As An Anti-Placebo Effect?

[bednobs]

I was prescribed ibuprofen gel last weekend. I strongly believe that that medicine does not work. Lo and behold, it didn't. It got me thinking ... Is the reason it didn't work connected to the fact I didn't think it was going to? On the same note I was also prescribed morphine and thought "I hope it doesn't make me sick". And then guess what? It did.

[jim360]

Yes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocebo

[Khandro]

That stuff does work, my wife uses it for neck pain and swears by it, and I have used it with success for ankle pain.
So bear that in mind and try again. It has been manufactured for a while and if it didn't have the properties claimed, they wouldn't last long.

[Sqad]

"mind over matter" bednobs.

Pharmcological activity is only one part of the therapeutic effect, true, the major part but the psychology also plays a part.

We have sen this in the past, with anti-depressants, antibiotics, analgesics, change their name, alter the colour of the tablet or shape of the tablet and some people claim that it reduces or abolishes the effect.
They have confidence in what works and what doesn't and higher echelons of the brain will support them in that thought.

[Old_Geezer]

Surely it's what the subconscious makes of it rather than the conscious mind ? Placebos will posdibly work even when the patient is told what they are.

[Old_Geezer]

POSSIBLY
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >:-(

[vetuste_ennemi]

//On the same note I was also prescribed morphine and thought "I hope it doesn't make me sick". And then guess what? It did.//

It made my first wife sick, Bednobs. Part of the cocktail of drugs she took was one called maxolan which I think helped counteract that side-effect.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Maxquote[a]lon.

[vetuste_ennemi]

I'll try again: Maxquote[a]lon.

[vetuste_ennemi]

OK, Maxalon with an A.

[Scarlett]

I've never found it to work either; I think any improvement comes from massaging and generally paying attention to the area. My physio does the same thing with Pernaton gel and it works great.