Hacker News Reader

Comment by Broken_Hippo | Hacker News Reader

That was my first thought when I saw the headline. Water is a human need.

All that out, however, I do actually agree with some of what is being done. I'd seriously prefer to eat a gummy candy than swallow a pill - no matter how small a pill is, I can only swallow one at a time. Patients with dementia get crushed medicines mixed with jelly or another substance here - and a pre-mixed solution of some sort would be easier on everyone. It'd be a bonus if we can have the extended release stuff in edible form. Children wouldn't mind taking medicines so much.

I just wish it weren't what I consider evil people (from the water stuff) doing it.

View on HN

> Children wouldn't mind taking medicines so much.

This assumes children can only tolerate maximally-sweet foods like fruit juices, soda, cookies and candy. This fundamental assumption that kids won't eat healthy foods is very dangerous.

Not really. I'm assuming most children cannot swallow pills and that most chewables and liquids taste badly.

It is pretty easy to get children to eat healthily - my nieces and nephew does so. But if the medicine actually tastes of a strawberry or carrot or piece of bread rather than a weird chemical taste, some of the struggle would be over with.

People in the US already take about 10x too much medicine. Not sure making it easier is a good social goal.

Agreed. Some health problems are reversed by making healthy diet and lifestyle changes.

If your body is unhealthy because you eat too much sugar and refined carbs, and you take a pill for that, you now have two problems.

Like I said before - that is a different problem. People need to have enough money to eat well without sacrificing electricity. Plus they need transportation or nearby grocery stores with affordable prices... in addition to the time and ability to cook at home.

How, exactly, does making needed medications help with any of those issues?

I seriously don't think people that are sick need to suffer to take their medicines, especially since a good number of sicknesses are not because of an unhealthy lifestyle. In the case of children, they have no control over that in any case.

I'm not sure it is that high, but doctors do tend to prescribe more instead of saying "no, you can't have the antibiotic for your cold". Part of this is a regulatory issue as well - I walk into a pharmacy here in Norway and you have to ask for some of the medicines, even though they are available without prescription. In the states it was different - basically no regulation. On top of the fact that medicine in the states is most definitely a consumer good paid for by the individual... in universal coverage, it is a bonus not to over-prescribe medicines and to make sure that those that need medication take care of themselves as they should so that costs don't go up - and people don't need more medication.

Making medicines easier to take doesn't actually address any of this outside of making it slightly easier for those on medication to take it as they should so that their conditions don't get worse.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com