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A member asked:
In drug trials, is a placebo used to avoid harming some of the volunteers?
3 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A placebo: Is a preparation made as much as possible just like the drug under test except missing the ingredient being tested. Ideally neither the patient nor the doctor knows which each patient is given. After a period of time, the results are evaluated to see if the drug group got a significant improvement over the control (placebo) group. Hopefully neither group is harmed.
Answered 6/3/2017
671 views
Not really: It is used more as a scientific baseline. One can not know if a drug works unless you have something to compare it to. There is often what is called the "placebo effect" in that patients may show improvements because they "believe" they are being treated, even if they are not. As such, when a drug is tested, it is often compared to a placebo to better judge the impacts of the drug itself.
Answered 6/5/2017
669 views
Related Questions
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Why should I trust prescription drugs? And how does placebo testing tie into the answer to that question?
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I have fatty liver disease & its enlarged asked to do the placebo controlld trial evaluatin the safety & efficacy of GS-6624. Whats the pros & cons?
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I have cirrhosis & fatty liver disease been askd 2 do a study called placebo controlled trial evaluating the safety of GS-6624.should l try it or not?
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I participated in the Covid-19 Vaccine Trial on Tues. 24 hrs later, I had a low fever that lasted 1 day, & fatigue. Seems I didn't get the placebo. I felt normal yesterday & tried doing cardio. Fatigued again today, no fever. Why? What should I do?
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Possible that gf's 2mg clonazepam dosage for sleep could be having her feeling less anxious during day, or placebo? Already understands risks of benzodiazepines for sleep, so please avoid such warnings
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