Placebo medication, is it still used?

[RATTER15]

Was it ever used, I know placebo's are often used in medical trials but are they or have they ever been used in mainstream medication.

[EDDIE51]

This link seems to say there is a legitimate medical use for Placebos
http://www.ama-assn.o...hics/opinion8083.page

[RATTER15]

Interesting, thank you.

[sunny-dave]

Apparently red pills work best (both for placebo and 'real' drugs) - not just for some mental illnesses but also for assorted physical conditions - proved by proper, controlled 'double blind' trials ...

[RATTER15]

sunny-dave, so why are so many tablets white?

[sunny-dave]

Dunno - perhaps so that when you get a red pill you will think "OOOH this must be a good one" :)

[daffy654]

Eddie, that link is to the American Medical Association, are the laws/rules here in the UK the same?

[Zacs-Master]

They are not used As this contradicts the NHSs policy of 'informed patient choice'

[EDDIE51]

My link says they can only be used if the patient is informed that Placebos will be used. They can (at least in the USA) be used to check if a patient has a reaction to a drug. The patient is given the real drug and the placebo at diffrent times , they do not know which is which (the placebo is made to look identical to the real drug) If the patient has the same reaction, or no reaction , to both the drug and the placebo then the doctors know it is a psychosomatic reaction and not caused by the drug.

[kariah]

Not in the UK, unless its a trial which you knowingly take part in X

[Carakeel]

That is what I thought, kariah.