Prescription fish oil? You have got to be kidding me!

Nurses General Nursing

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I thought this was a joke or some rouge gimmick company in an infomercial, but I just googled this and learned it's a real "drug" made by GlaskoSmithKline. This is "purified" fish oil that GSK claims lowers "very high cholesterol". I have fish oil in my refrigerator. This is what our drug companies are spending money on? We wonder why health care is in such shambles? We haven't found a cure for HIV in over 30 years but don't worry folks, we've created some nice purified fish oil for you!

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I saw a commercial to lengthen and thicken eyelashes. I stared at the tv and thought SERIOUSLY??? Although fish oil is found all over and I don't get the need for it to be by prescription (although the points about Ins. make sense), AT LEAST it has health benefits. But all the money and research spent to lengthen eyelashes?!?!?

I don't get it. Buy a tube of mascara, it works great. Thicker eyelashes isn't worth all the harm it does on your liver.

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For those of us that are unable to take statins this may be beneficial also. I cant take statins as end up so debilitated with muscle pain as a result. They have me on Niacin SR 500mg daily which is also by prescription. I take OTC fish oil, I control my diet and am far from being overweight and eat fish 3 x's a week. I eat no red meat, chicken or pork. Always have been athletic. My issue turned out more genetics then dietary, etc. I never heard of Rx fish oil until seeing this commercial the other day. Personally, if it works, insurance would cover and can use my medical savings account? I'm game.

inre: your intolerance for statins, look into CoQ10 ....

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I think maybe the OP meant they couldn't believe it needed a precription.

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Specializes in ER, OR, MICU.

It is probably a prescription because fish oils have anticoagulant properties so if the strength were high enough it would interfere or have a synergistic effect with other meds. Its not as benign as people think. I'm not a drug company supporter but this was a good call. Some people take many OTC meds and don't know the possible drug interactions and effects.

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The eyelash deal was a common S/E of a glaucoma medication now marketed also as an eyelash thingy... might change your eye color tho.

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.
I saw a commercial to lengthen and thicken eyelashes. I stared at the tv and thought SERIOUSLY??? Although fish oil is found all over and I don't get the need for it to be by prescription (although the points about Ins. make sense), AT LEAST it has health benefits. But all the money and research spent to lengthen eyelashes?!?!?

I don't get it. Buy a tube of mascara, it works great. Thicker eyelashes isn't worth all the harm it does on your liver.

The story of Latisse is interesting. The eyelash lengthening effect was an unexpected benefit from an opthalmic drop used for treatment of open angle glaucoma. The medications are the same, whether used for glaucoma or to increase the length of one's eyelashes but the strengths are different. This was a serendipitous discovery that came from research on a medication that has implications for a condition (open angle glaucoma) that certainly can impact one's quality of life.

It might seem ridiculous to spend money on treatments that are mostly cosmetic in their benefits, but there is a LOT of money for pharmaceutical companies and other manufacturers who develop different skin care treatments. It's part of the free market system---research follows profitability. It is a question of priorities, and not just in health care. Of course people are more willing to pay for luxuries than for necessities. It's more fun to spend $100 a month on Latisse than to spend $100 a month on, say, antibiotics or diuretics or antihypertensives. (On a related note, why are Americans so happy to drop hundreds of dollars on attending sporting events but they balk at paying that much for health care?)

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
The story of Latisse is interesting. The eyelash lengthening effect was an unexpected benefit from an opthalmic drop used for treatment of open angle glaucoma. The medications are the same, whether used for glaucoma or to increase the length of one's eyelashes but the strengths are different. This was a serendipitous discovery that came from research on a medication that has implications for a condition (open angle glaucoma) that certainly can impact one's quality of life.

It might seem ridiculous to spend money on treatments that are mostly cosmetic in their benefits, but there is a LOT of money for pharmaceutical companies and other manufacturers who develop different skin care treatments. It's part of the free market system---research follows profitability. It is a question of priorities, and not just in health care. Of course people are more willing to pay for luxuries than for necessities. It's more fun to spend $100 a month on Latisse than to spend $100 a month on, say, antibiotics or diuretics or antihypertensives. (On a related note, why are Americans so happy to drop hundreds of dollars on attending sporting events but they balk at paying that much for health care?)

I understand the reasoning behind it and stuff, I didn't hear that Latisse was found that way but I heard about the changing color, they have posters for it all over my dermatologists office and brouchers and I read on of those. I mean I pay money each month for clear skin, I kick myself for waiting until a few years ago to finally get into a dermatologist when the problem was getting worse. (I mean I am 30 I thought the acne days were over in teen years, which I actually didn't get to bad) my problem was also more deep not so much topical acne. Anyway, I have spent tons of money on cosmetic stuff, so I do get the need. But it still just seemed absurd to me. Like I know Rogaine, (to tired to try and spell name of it right now lol) was also found a similar way,and I can even understand that. Thinning hair is noticeable. Obviously at the end of the day it comes down to what makes a person feel beautiful, but for some reason, having medication for thicker fuller eyelashes that has some pretty harsh side effects (from I remember reading) seemed absurd to me. Like the pros don't outweigh the cons, I can not think of 1 time I have ever looked at someone and though, MAN she has some thin eyelashes, or short eyelashes. I have thought, MAN she needs some new mascara or lessons on applying it. LOL but that's it.

It's a personal choice and I respect that even if I might not agree with it.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

You guys realize a good many of our medicines come from extracted, purified, and concentrated natural sources, right?

And you understand the benefits of having that process regulated, right?

The two obvious examples are belladonna and foxglove. How DARE the companies try to make money off of mere plants! Why, I do believe we'd all be better off with unregulated and untested atropine and digoxin (respectively)!

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You guys realize a good many of our medicines come from extracted, purified, and concentrated natural sources, right?

And you understand the benefits of having that process regulated, right?

The two obvious examples are belladonna and foxglove. How DARE the companies try to make money off of mere plants! Why, I do believe we'd all be better off with unregulated and untested atropine and digoxin (respectively)!

actually on the dietary supplement aspect, i have reservations on too much refinement....and the major problem with contaminates is with fish LIVER oil i believe, not with fish oil.

In this case it really is MONEY.

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I take fish oil every day!! There's also shark cartilage that people take for various reason, whether it be for rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, psoriasis, etc.

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Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.
The story of Latisse is interesting. The eyelash lengthening effect was an unexpected benefit from an opthalmic drop used for treatment of open angle glaucoma. The medications are the same, whether used for glaucoma or to increase the length of one's eyelashes but the strengths are different. This was a serendipitous discovery that came from research on a medication that has implications for a condition (open angle glaucoma) that certainly can impact one's quality of life.

It might seem ridiculous to spend money on treatments that are mostly cosmetic in their benefits, but there is a LOT of money for pharmaceutical companies and other manufacturers who develop different skin care treatments. It's part of the free market system---research follows profitability. It is a question of priorities, and not just in health care. Of course people are more willing to pay for luxuries than for necessities. It's more fun to spend $100 a month on Latisse than to spend $100 a month on, say, antibiotics or diuretics or antihypertensives. (On a related note, why are Americans so happy to drop hundreds of dollars on attending sporting events but they balk at paying that much for health care?)

Ugh. Don't get me started. I had a pt the other night who was admitted for severe constipation (from narcs) who was uninsured. Complained of a rotten tooth and needed 2mg of IV dilaudid for this reason. Um nope, sorry that's not what we're treating you for. Explained that she couldn't get her tooth fixed because she didn't have dental insurance either but I noticed she had a fresh set of airbrushed acrylics.

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