Anorex and Other Fun Drugs

Anorex is definitely a bad choice of names for the drug. I can't think of worse. Anorexia is a very serious, life-threatening medical condition and shouldn't be promoted in this manner. What's disturbing is that we already have a nation of people who want magic pills for everything, and too many parents want to give their kids magic pills for everything from daydreaming to a runny nose that may or may not be a serious condition. What does this say to our kids? That we can't accept any conditions in our lives less than 100% perfect without trying to treat them with a magic pill? I'm not against medicine for serious medical conditions, but when parents can't accept & love children who are, in their eyes, less than perfect, and try to force their kids to be perfect (in this case, thin), that's not right.

Calling a drug Anorex is beyond belief. Anorexia is a very serious illness that KILLS. Anorexia survivors can also suffer permanent damage to their bodies such as osteoporosis and wasted muscles. In extreme cases this leads to heart disease as the heart muscle itself is damaged. I can't begin to imagine how offensive the use of the name 'Anorex' is for the families of anorexia patients. The use of the drug for kids reminded me of the drug (can't remember the name) given to unruly kids to calm them down. This is nonsense. Children - or anyone else - shouldn't take medicines unless they need them to treat an illness. Giving kids drugs to alter their appearance or behaviour is insane. I would even go as far as suggesting it is a violation of their human rights.

The ad content for PediaLean (the pill for children) is appalling: "Yet as difficult as being overweight is for your child, parents are an equal victim. Why? Because nobody blames a child for being overweight ñ they blame youÖ the parent. Regardless of how cruel, unfair, or misplaced the blame may be, parents of overweight children are judged harshly (although always in the quietest of whispers) by their friends, neighbors, and relatives. Somehow, itís always your fault." Here they play on paranoia -- the quietest of whispers -- basically telling parents that if you (the parent) are worried about your child's weight (and in this fat-phobic society this is all to common), it's likely that people are judging you for being a bad parent. You may not hear them, but they are judging you "harshly." Thent his: "We all know this cruel perception isnít true ñ but it still hurts, and your quality of life suffers along with your childís. Thatís why PediaLeanô is so important. PediaLeanô will not only help your child lose weight, but it will also change your life for the better." In other words, the old saw about how your life will be perfect if you just lose weight is now stretchd to say that *your* life will be perfect if your *child* will just lose weight!!! I hope this is the last I see of PediaLean. I'm angry already for the children who will be subjected to this quacker for their *parents'* benefit!!!!

I'm appalled too. That ad is pandering to the worst kind of selfish, shallow parent. What's next? Pills to make your kid cuter? more tanned? "Cuz you know what the neighbors are saying, don't you?? It's YOUR fault that the kid got bad genes and hasn't had a caribbean cruise lately."

I'm speechless...

The fine print at the bottom warns you not to take it if you are sensitive to ephedra or psuedophedrine. So it clearly contains these amphetamine-like stimulants. It also says not to take it if you sensitive to asprin. So apparently it also has high-dose acid. This will wrack up your stomach, so that will probably make you lose at least a little weight.

notice the HARSH price tag. $153 a month? that's more than my heat bill in the New England winter. and people are probably paying it - "warnings" such as : this is only for hardcore serious fat people! not for vanity dieters (although that is most likely about 50% of the business) - the ad execs hired for this product are geniuses. riots, not diets!

I'm speechless. (sorry, did someone else say that? I guess it's a common reaction....) Horrendous. I'm certain if this was around twenty-five years ago my mom would have had me on it in a heartbeat-- the "people are judging you" approach is perfect- right up her alley. Thank gods it wasn't around then.... but how do we stop it from being used now??? Dang... :(

I think its a great name. Many people don't have what it takes for anorexia the old fashion way and if they need a little chemical support I say more power to 'em. Let's face facts. Drug companies don't make money off healthy people and no one who is fat is likely to start exercising more and eating well. By cashing in on a compulsive eating disorder they maximize profits while feeding the insane American fat -a-phobia. With any luck they will have the next booze, tabacco or prozac and make billions.

The drug is called Anorex because it is an "anorectic" or appetite supressant. It is unfortunate that the word shares it root with the disease of anorexia.

I think the drug "Anorex" is being judged a little to harshly. There are worse ways to lose weight. Millions of people are having their stomachs cut in half or removed all together and replaced with a little "tube". I'd rather pay $153 a month for a pill! At worst, Anorex will turn out to be the same as all the other weight loss drugs. If it will help to boost a little self esteem, then it may be worth it. After all, Anorex might really work!

"Because nobody blames a child for being overweight" Oh, they do, no question about it. I was there. I know. They blame both the child and the parents. And oh, the guilt of hearing your parents quarrel about who's to blame of the two of them because you're overweight. It makes you wish you didn't exist.