Some of my pills…
One huge difference between Russia and the USA, is what I am thinking about today. This difference is really huge and is really important in the world of pharmaceuticals. It is not the fact that I buy (what you call prescription drugs) in Russia, the same drug as in America, at a minuscule cost compared to the American counterpart. It is the fact that all my so called prescription drugs in America are not prescription drugs in Russia. That is a huge difference…
I am told what to use by a doctor and unless what they prescribe is a narcotic such as morphine, then I just walk to the nearest drugstore and buy what I need. No prescription, no hassle and no games. They can prescribe morphine and it would have to be bought at a special place and with a prescription. So not all drugs are prescription-less, just very deadly addictive ones…
Now this is leading me to explain something and if you get bored easily, then it is time to go. For now I will explain why what I said above is important to me and should be to you…
In America it is common place to go to the doctor and if you need a drug to get better, he writes a prescription and almost all drugs fall under this category. At least drugs that can do any good to help you. There is a huge business in America that caters to placebo cures and Russia is no different than that. I am not talking about over the counter drugs, such as NyQuil and such…
Example: I took 15 pills this morning for my heart condition, diabetes and other issues. All but maybe two of those pills are prescription in America. The two that are not, are a vitamin and a liver helper pill (Sveta thinks that I should take those to make things better and I do not argue.) In America I would have to have a little piece of official paper that would be verified and re-verified to make sure that I was not some type of terrorist and getting drugs to end the world or something stupid like that, to even get all these drugs…
Now that is the dollar and the ease of how it is better in Russia than America with prescription drugs, but there is a real reason that this is much better, the way it is done here in Russia…
In Russia people know what they are taking and they know what they take it for. People in Russia study the drugs and there side effects and other things before they go and start taking a bunch of pills. Other words, they know what they put in their mouth before they put it in their mouth and swallow it. They are not a bunch of dumb blind sheep (Like I was!) as they are in the western world over prescription drugs and such…
I use to blindly take my prescription and walk into the drugstore and walk out and never know what I took. I took it because I have been told by a doctor to take it and that is that. That is wrong…
Sveta taught me something and I have watched many Russians do it since she taught me. I do it now also. We research the drug before we use it…
Sveta studies what the drugs are that I am suppose to take. She looks them up on the internet, she talks to the pharmacist, she asks people on forums and if she is happy that I should take them. Then she helps me get the right pills. Then we read about the dosage requirements (Never trust any doctor on dosage!) and find that usually we need to adjust what the doctor said…
Oh – I know that sounds sacrilegious to an American, but I am here to tell you that doctors are human and humans make mistakes. I make mistakes and we all make mistakes. If I am taking pills, then I want to know what I take, why I take it and I do not want to take more than what I need. I was not always this way and believe you me, it is better for you…
So to tell you what is a good example of one thing I am taking is this: Vessel Due-F (Sulodexide) – I am taking 20 days of injections and then around 30 days of pills. I will do this twice a year from now on and as long as I live. We studied the drug and studied some more. Now I am taking it. It will help me, but never cure me. The best I can do in my life is to extend my life functions a little longer and this drug may help in that aspect… (Cost is negligible for this treatment! $25 dollars for whole treatment!)
I walk into the drug store and tell the nice lady behind the counter that I need Vessel Due-F ampules and she knows just what I mean. I buy needles and the ampules and am on my way, maybe not happy at the thought of sticking a needle in my leg 20 times, but I am happy…
Never once do I need a prescription and if the nice lady pharmacist thought that I should be careful with this drug, she would speak up immediately and make it clear that I should maybe do this or this or this and she would not hesitate. For that is her job…
I am a hundreds times more informed about what I am taking in Russia, than I was in America. This is all due to how different the system is and what responsibilities lie with who. In America, people never take responsibility for anything, but in Russia there is no one else to blame it on, as the system does not coddle people…
I have learned that I should be informed and that I should know what I am taking. Even if I do not like taking it, I should have the knowledge and I have a sweet Russian woman that has taught me that is important… 🙂
Oh and (Western) prescription drugs in Russia! Cheap, available in generics, no hassles and informative…
That is why I love Russia…
Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…