We almost never run randomized controlled trials in the clinic where the control arm is actually 'no treatment'--that is, the patient doesn't undergo any exposure to a
sugar pill, a positive discussion with the provider, nothing.
Synthetic Control Arms: In clinical trials, they don't always capture the most important dimensions
Food and Drug Administration approved only 19 first-of their-kind drugs--the fewest since 1983--because the others weren't capable of beating the combined power of
sugar pills and the human brain.
You need a placebo--not a cure
By using
sugar pills, saline injections, or even sham surgery, placebo research isolates provision of care from the direct effects of genuine medications or procedures.
Inside the Placebo Effect
Most often, they'll compare the drug against something called a placebo or a
sugar pill. It's basically something that doesn't have a medical effect.
The FDA exposed: an interview with Dr. David Graham, the Vioxx[R] whistleblower: reprinted with permission
Studies show that a
sugar pill relieves arthritis pain in up to 60 percent of patients.
Do arthritis supplements work? Don't bet your joints on it
Twenty-four percent of physicians (160 of the 654 who answered) said it was very likely they'd use the
sugar pill; 34% (221 of 654) said it was moderately likely But 31% (205) said it was unlikely and 10% (68) said definitely not.
Survey shows wide use of active placebos
Twenty-four percent of physicians (160 of the 654 who answered these questions) said it was very likely they'd use the
sugar pill; 34% (221 of 654) said it was moderately likely.
Physician survey shows widespread use of active placebos; AMA policy murky
These were followed by a study in which 421 seriously behaviorally disturbed patients were assigned to receive either atypical antipsychotic drugs or a placebo (
sugar pill) over an eight-week period.
Antipsychotics for dementia: examining the controversy: understanding the benefits and side effects of these medications can help you weigh treatment options
Placebo: a pill or substance that has no effect on the body, such as a
sugar pill. It is often compared to a real medication to see what the real effect of the medication might be.
Definition
They emphasize that, with the exception of one study in which new cancer diagnoses were more frequent on pravastatin than on a
sugar pill, all large prospective randomized statin trials have shown no difference in the risk of cancer among people taking statins versus those taking a
sugar pill.
Lower not necessarily better
In clinical trials, the approved doses of Tekturna were generally well tolerated and the most common side effect experienced by more patients taking Tektuma than patients taking a
sugar pill was diarrhea.
Tekturna[R] receives its first approval in the US
For depressed people with bipolar disorder who are taking a mood stabilizer, adding an antidepressant medication is no more effective than a placebo (
sugar pill), according to results published online on March 28, 2007 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Study Sheds Light on Medication Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder - March 28, 2007
The diminutive, white
sugar pill is easy to feed--just a quick drop from the vial cap into his mouth and first aid is done.
Don't leave home without it: Arnica is fantastic for treating activity- related strains and bruises
In each study, patients were assigned at random to receive either Zelnorm[R] or a
sugar pill (placebo).
Zelnorm[R]
Schering-Plough had been touting the safety of Claritin for years; the company's ads explicitly state that the side effects are those of a
sugar pill. Robert Seidman, WellPoint's chief pharmaceutical officer, reasoned, "If they're marketing these like candy, then they should be sold like candy."
Locking up life-saving drugs: prescription laws make us sicker and poorer