By Robert R. Beltran, MD, PharmD, FACS
Founder, Recomnd Nutrition
The Pharmaceutical Industry is Compromised: TRT; Adderall; Antidepressants, Mood Stabilizers and Sedatives; MTHFR and DNA Analysis
I have doctorate degrees in both pharmacy and medicine from the University of California at San Francisco. I have witnessed first hand how the relationship between pharmaceutical companies, major university medical centers and congressional leaders has compromised the integrity, validity and reliability of far too many pharmaceutical drugs that have become mainstream.
The pharmaceutical industry was never altruistic or charitable as it pertains to the well being of patients or the public health. They have always been a profit driven industry. The pharmaceutical industry has often been criticized for prioritizing profits over patient care. This is because of high prices, aggressive marketing strategies, and a focus on developing medications that are profitable over those that are most needed. There have always been ethical concerns regarding the industry’s practices, including issues relating to clinical trials, transparency and the influence of pharmaceutical companies on medical center research and healthcare providers.
As it pertains to major medical centers with research facilities, the pharmaceutical companies for a long time have directly funded research of renown clinicians and/ or medical scientists, especially those involved in research for conditions that can yield higher financial returns rather than focusing on neglected diseases or public health needs.
Long are the days when they used to provide healthcare practitioners in various targeted specialties or family practitioners with bustling practices with every perk known to man: 3 day trips to Las Vegas, golf outings to the most prominent courses, 5 star restaurants with no budget restrictions, his and her outings to the most prominent spas, all expenses paid trip to a major medical conference where one of the medical researchers would be presenting biased and distorted data from studies on a new hot drug entering the market, etc etc. But they still have very creative ways of providing “compensation’ in some manner for targeted physicians. They also make major contributions to the campaigns of targeted and prominent congressional leaders, senators and cabinet members. These are all well known facts. None of it is conjecture. But it has and does raise ethical concerns and questions about the integrity and credibility of data that emanates from their research and shared with the public.
Let’s take a closer look at specific concerns regarding areas where the pharmaceutical industry is making immense profit at the expense of compromised health and longevity for the public at large. Something I want to be very clear about, the more money a pharmaceutical company makes for a given drug or category of drugs, the greater the distortion of the facts and realities become over time. Now of course they target and hire prominent influencers who pretty much can say anything they want and not be responsible for any scrutiny or liability. A classic example of this was the GLP-1 inhibitors where the benefits were greatly overhyped and the side effects of dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, pancreatitis, thyroid disorders, muscle wasting of the extremities and fat wasting and premature aging of the face- were trivialized.
All the pharmaceutical companies have well documented histories of overhyping the benefits and understating and minimizing the side effects. Besides distorted and compromised information from prominent researchers they support, they also utilize meta-analysis, which is a statistical technique used to combine and analyze data from multiple studies. The problem is meta-analysis is not without bias for many reasons, especially in regards to selection of studies. Of course as it pertains to pharmaceutical companies, they stuff the ballot with studies involving researchers whose research they support.
-TRT: An epidemic amongst men of all ages that is raking in billions for the pharmaceutical industry. Testosterone is a very powerful hormone that effects every cell in our bodies. It does have amazing benefits, especially initially. The therapeutic levels of testosterone in our blood is between 400 to 800 ng/dl. It is well known in medical circles that to avoid the myriad of complications that WILL occur, the level should always stay below 600 ng/dl to be safe. When prolonged therapy, greater than 12 to 18 months, it is almost impossible to keep levels in this safe range. The pharmaceutical companies have a responsibility to list all the side effects whey they send it out via whatever format, oral, injectable, transdermal or intradermal pellets. This is done via what is called a “package insert”. This insert lists every known complication and side effect that has occurred from a specific pharmaceutical. But once the synthetic TRT reaches a TRT clinic or doctor’s office, that package insert does not have to be shared with the public and is nowhere to be found.
But physician offices, TRT clinics and online sales do not have that responsibility. The result is patients are over hyped on the benefits and they are told the side effects are negligible. They are also misled by comments that suggest all testosterone is “natural, organic and bio identical”. The proper term is bio identical. It is made from soy and wild yam. There is bio-synthesis that is involved. But less than 10% of the testosterone in circulation is bio-identical, and some synthesis in a lab is required. The human body has a long history with digesting, metabolizing, processing and utilizing synthetic products in a predictable, physiological and healthy manner.
This is what you call misleading, deceptive and false information. The data from unbiased, uncompromised and factual studies demonstrate the followings it pertains to TRT: 70% will have untoward side effects, 50% will have compromising side effects, 30% will have dangerous side effects including early onset cardiovascular disease with increased risk of heart attack, stroke and deep vein thrombosis. But there are so many studies from researchers that are tainted and biased because the research is funded by the pharmaceutical companies themselves. In addition, the Pharmaceutical Industry supports the TRT clinics with creative funding and non- stop and ongoing “literature” highlighting the benefits and “safety” of the various testosterone products.
Testosterone is a powerful and dangerous hormone and should only be prescribed by physicians who clearly understand the effects and monitor the patients closely.
Side effects include the following. 1. premature aging-receding hairline, thinning of hair, rounding of face because of fluid retention and enlargement of the facial muscles, ruddy complexion, vein protrusion of the face and neck, deep forehead wrinkles; 2. compromise of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis resulting in inability of testicles to produce testosterone with paradoxical compromise of libido and inability to enjoy the fulfillment and pleasures of intimacy; 3. compromise of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis with adrenal gland dysfunction with altered stress response resulting in irritability, anger, aggression, anger, and rage. This has resulted in many men having compromising issues in theur their personal, professional or legal status ; 3. propensity for liver dysfunction; 4. As already mentioned, significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease. I want to touch on the anger, aggression and rage aspect of increased levels of testosterone. It is creating a culture of men in our society who have this “warrior mentality” and tend to interact in an aggressive and confrontational manner. It is becoming more and more of a problematic issue in our society and is much more common in certain industries. But as TRT continues to propagate in an epidemic and ubiquitous manner, expect to see this “issue- concern” to become more and more problematic.
These are serious issues and it is negligent and criminal that these side effects have been minimized to the public. This is especially true in consideration of the fact that there are now natural supplement products that can achieve 95% of the benefits testosterone offers without the side effects. These benefits occur because these products increase the production of free or active testosterone in our circulation in a healthy, physiological and optimal manner. In fact, there are products, that in the realm of improving libido and the benefits, fulfillment and pleasures of intimacy, offer more significant and profound results and benefits than synthetic testosterone supplied by TRT clinics. The intensity and duration of the male climax is unmatched.
-Adderall: This and other amphetamine stimulants are being prescribed by licensed practitioners or sold online, also in epidemic numbers. They definitely increase energy, alertness, focus and clarity. But they also have disastrous side effects that, of course, are trivialized to the public.
They cause wide swings in heart rate, heart contractility and blood pressure. The net effect on short term are cardiac arrhythmias or abnormal heart rhythms which can result in stroke or heart attack. Long term use will result in cardiomegaly or heart enlargement and arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. This will result in early onset cardiovascular disease and increased risk of heart attack, stroke and deep vein thrombosis or blood clot. They also cause depletion and compromise of brain neurotransmitters. This can ultimately result in lethargy, “brain fog”, depression, delusions and psychoses of one extent or another. This category of drugs results in 35,000 to 45,000 deaths yearly from overstimulation. The medical community has also been complicit and negligent in the abuse of Adderall and other amphetamines because far too many unwarranted prescriptions are written for the sole purpose of increasing energy, focus, clarity and cognition. This was not the intended purpose initially and this negligent practice has created millions of “Adderall cripples!” Energy drinks add to this total to a significant degree. Definitely a dangerous category of drugs. There are now natural supplements that stimulate the brain to the same extent without compromising side effects, addiction or death. These natural products also do not cause the irritability, anxiety, jitters and nervousness associated with caffeine, energy drinks, Adderall and amphetamine variants.
-Antidepressants, Mood Stabilizers and Sedatives: All 3 categories of these drugs have been over prescribed for many, many years. If you go to your doctor complaining of being emotionally overwhelmed, are experiencing mental and or physical lethargy, despondent or depressed- there is a 95% chance you are going to be prescribed an antidepressant, mood stabilizer or both. If you complain of anxiety, nervousness or irritability you are going to be placed on a sedative. Numerous studies indicate that at least 70% of prescriptions in these categories are unnecessary because the symptoms are precipitated by “situational conditions”. These include disappointment, breakups, divorces, job loss, sickness or death of family members or close friends. But the majority of these cases are not what we call “ pathological”. There are much more effective and safer options that include exercise programs, meditation or mindfulness, improved lifestyle and natural supplements that are not addictive and stimulate brain health and brain neurotransmitters in a physiological and optimal manner, while also creating a sense of calm, relaxation and mood stability.
Why is this important? Because all the drugs in these 3 categories have unacceptable side effects that are compromising. They cause some degree of 1. Brain sedation. 2. Cognitive impairment. 3. Diminished motivation. 4. Altered personality. They all have the potential tocause dependency, addiction and death. When you have these kind of compromising “effects”, it is a 50-50 proposition at best of reward versus risk. These 3 categories of drugs are responsible for over 50,000 deaths per year. This is unacceptable considering it is preventable and unnecessary. Once again, the medical community is complicit.
-MTHFR and DNA Analysis: I have written a very extensive blog/ article regarding my concerns of this industry. This blog is on our website recomnd.com. In a nutshell, this is a very complicated bioscience where DNA analysis, genetic sequencing and genetic messaging are well understood by reputable and renown medical scientists. It is well understood by these same scientist entities that definitive clinical considerations and applications are few. The remainder are totally inconclusive for a myriad of reasons I have outlined in my blog. As a result the medical community does NOT support or recommend routine DNA analysis methylation testing.
The combination of less than ethical bio scientists and shrewd businessmen in conjunction with Bioscience companies that provide DNA analysis, essentially created their own industry. They accomplished this using social media and marketing techniques that are above the head of anyone except those who have a true understanding of this complicated science and the pharmaco-medical and clinical considerations and applications. They use celebrities from various industries whose approach is borderline condescending, confrontational and who totally overstate the benefits. It is a win-win because the Bioscience companies are performing millions of these DNA analysis tests and the companies who recruit their patients through social media and other means have a pipeline of patients who are sold unnecessary supplements and more concerning, are told they have hormonal imbalances that require various forms of hormonal replacement therapy, including TRT. As I previously stated, HRT, specifically TRT is fraught with understated and dangerous side effects and complications.
All of the studies I have researched that have favorable recommendations for DNA analysis testing come from researchers whose work is supported by the Bioscience companies that created and perform DNA analysis testing. This sort of relationship always raises questions of bias, ethics and quality and integrity of the data.
Social Media has created an environment and platform where non experts have become experts in the realm of Health and Wellness. This includes influencers, podcasters, celebrities, author-salespeople and insurance actuaries. Some of these “celebrity” influencers are literally walking-talking billboards of some of the side effects of TRT- the premature aging features and the aggressive, confrontational nature that defines one’s personality.
You are probably asking yourself, “well aren’t these pharmaceutical and bioscience companies policed by the FDA?” They are, but it is well known that the FDA is underfunded and understaffed, while the pharmaceutical companies hire top notch scientists and high end law firms that run circles around the FDA. This is even more so in today’s World where FDA staffing and funding has been reduced even more.
Health and Wellness should be the number 1 priority for everyone between 18-80. If you truly prioritize your health, I ask you to make a very important and serious consideration. Does this individual who is recommending this product, nutraceutical or hormone, truly understand the applicable biological science, human physiology, pharmacology and clinical medicine considerations, applications and side effects. If they do not, you should have concerns! If you, the individual decide to make these influencers and celebrities your experts, then you have to live with that decision regardless of the consequences. The test of time will clearly demonstrate that my intentions are honorable, credible, professional and honest. I feel very strongly that Social Media has created an unpoliced environment that is allowing the public to be misled and deceived with distorted facts that WILL ultimately compromise and shorten lives.
Robert R Beltran MD, Pharm D, FACS
American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
