This post is a response to this article by Popular Science: http://www.popsci.com/article/science/get-rid-pills-happiness-could-trigger-dose-meds?dom=PSC&loc=recent&lnk=6&con=get-rid-of-pills-happiness-could-trigger-a-dose-of-meds
Remembering to take medicine is a constant struggle. People
that have to take a pill (or more!) every day have more than likely forgotten
on one occasion or another. What if this common problem could be solved
completely—no more pills, no more forgetting, no more mixing up which pill you
are actually supposed to take? Scientists are developing this very thing so we
don’t have to do the remembering anymore.
They are trying to create a cellular response that will
release the medication on its own. Basically, a cell that is typically
triggered by dopamine (a neurotransmitter that is released upon consumption of
food or other rewarding experiences) will release the medication into the
bloodstream. Neurotransmitters translate signals from a neuron across a synapse
on a nerve. They relay signals to the appropriate receiving cells, so messages
like “I’m hungry” don’t go to the wrong organs. Dopamine is released in
response to “rewarding experiences” such as food or sex.
So what could this mean for the future of drugs? Well, a
couple of things. No, pharmaceutical companies would not go away with the
abolition of pills (trust me, they will find a way to make money whether it is
through pills or neurotransmitters). It
would however change the way medicine is given. Do we simply have all of our
medication implanted at the doctor’s office? Would there be any need for
Walgreens or CVS without pharmacists needed to relay medicine between you and
your doctor?
It might even have an interesting impact on drug addiction.
The effects of dopamine are enhanced by many addictive drugs, which is part of
the reason they are sought after. Perhaps a drug that is released without your
physical control will curb addictions or take the work of breaking a habit away—there
is no choice but to take the appropriate amount. Of course, for this to work
scientists will have to find a way to keep medicine from being release every
time dopamine is released—it would not be good to have medicine released with
every meal, sexual encounter, or even
stressful situation (where dopamine is also released).
The future of medicine is extremely promising. Believe me, I
am all for taking the thought out of prescription medicine, and I’m sure many
other people are too. This could mean no more accidental overdoses, forgetting
medicine altogether, or mixing up your medications.
