Don't Swallow EVERYTHING You Hear About Women's Health

FACT: Women are prescribed significantly more medications and take more over-the-counter medications than men.

Some medications are life-saving treatments for women and girls with serious or chronic health conditions. But some medications may not be necessary or may be inappropriate, and may cause more harm than good.

HERE'S WHAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER:

Women's health is big business

Women are often the target audience for prescription drug advertisements now common on TV, in magazines, newspapers and on the Internet. Prescription drugs have an important place in the health of Canadian women. But drug ads often overstate health benefits and rarely highlight potential health risks.

Newer medications are not always better

Older medications have often been tested more thoroughly and for longer periods of time, which means that there is more information available about their safety and effectiveness. And they are usually more affordable and more likely to be covered by public and private drug plans.

Men and women's bodies respond differently to drugs

Until recently, most drug research was conducted on men and it was assumed that the results could be applied equally to women. But women often have different body sizes from men, and women's bodies react differently to some drugs. This means that the same drug treatment and dosage may not be appropriate for both men and women.

Women's cycles are not illnesses

Menstruation, menopause and other natural life events have often been treated as health problems that require drug treatments. For most women these are healthy processes that do not require medication.

Pharmaceutical drugs cannot cure problems that are social, cultural and environmental

Women are more likely to live in poverty and have less financial security than men. Women are more likely to experience violence in the home, and sexual harassment in the workplace. Women often have more caregiving responsibilities than men, and report higher rates of work-home life imbalance. Women are also more likely to be worried about their weight and body image.

These, and many other factors may affect women and men differently, and may contribute to higher rates of stress, anxiety and depression for women. Drug treatments to address these life stresses may only provide temporary relief, and do not offer a solution.

Talk to your health provider about all of your options

What to ask your health provider before starting a drug treatment:

Are there non-drug alternatives available that should be considered first?
How long do I need to be on this medication (long or short-term)?
What are the potential side-effects and health risks associated with this medication?
Could I become addicted to this drug?
How long has this drug been on the market, and are there long-term studies available to determine if it is safe and effective?
Has this drug been tested on people like me (my age, sex, ethnic group)?
Are there other medications that could be considered that would have similar results (and may be cheaper or have more extensive testing)?
Can I take this medicine with the other prescription and over-the-counter and herbal products that I may be taking?

All medications have health risks and benefits. Know all the facts before you make your decision.