Microchip 'could do away with pills'

[cthrumatrix]

Microchip 'could do away with pills'

By Ania Lichtarowicz
BBC health reporter


Scientists in the United States have developed a new way of taking medicines which could improve the effectiveness of some treatments including HIV therapy.


Swallowing pills could become a thing of the past
Writing in the journal Nature Materials they describe a drug-containing microchip which can be implanted in the body.

This then releases the medication slowly so the patient no longer has to take any pills.

Most drugs are still taken orally - but this has drawbacks, the biggest one being human error.

snip

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3205800.stm

Do we really want microships in our body's....?

[Dookus]

1. I don't see why not....

if a microchip is better than the old way, I'm all for it!

[Liberal Veteran]

2. Sure. I have no problem with this.

The single greatest reason for anti-viral therapy failure (when the virus is no longer kept in check by antiviral medications) is non-adherence to the regimen. Antivirals are not forgiving and require an adherence rate of 90-95% to avoid viral rebound which ultimately results in resistant mutations.

This is a good thing if helps a person maintain adherence to their regimen.

[JewelDigger]

3. I'd rather take responsiblity for myself ....

...if that kind of strict adherence is required, 90-95% as one poster states, then once I am informed of the need for that strict adherence and WHY - I will faithfully do so. I don't need a microchip to do it for me.

on edit - was going to change 'then' to 'than', but decided it was correct as it stood.

[Liberal Veteran]

4. I would like the choice....

Go to www.thebody.com which has many forums where doctors who give advice about HIV treatment. You'll see many many many questions from people who are freaking out because they forgot to take their meds or some such. They have an entire forum devoted to simplifying treatment.

Some people just aren't equipped well for the rigidity of adhering to highly active anti-retroviral treament and others have difficulties such as work scheduling issues and other things that get in the way.

This is a good option for those who have such problems.

[Book Lover]

5. Depends on the meds and the purpose of administering them

For the folks who take the anti-viral therapies, yes, I can see this as a real boon. Also, hormonal birth control and insulin distribution are good applications of this tech. However, I feel the writer is disingenious when they put "...do away with pills" in the headline. No one is going to get a prophylactic chip put in them that always has asprin in it, just in case they get a headache at some future point... I mean, you couldn't sell that to people.

Overall, and to answer the final part of your post, no, in general, people do not want chips in their bodies that serve no immediate function. Of course I personally do not, and wouldn't let it happen to any kids I might have.

[FXDS]

6. Wow

Rush would love this approach!