What is a placebo tablet?

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Prescription drugs

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	What is a placebo tablet? By staffie Asked Jul 16 2007 4:18AM	5 Pts Rate Question

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by loveschimps on Jul 16, 2007 at 4:22 am Permalink

A sugar pill, they use these in studies to see how effective a drug is on individuals. Scientists compare a placebo to the drug they are doing research and development on before they can approve it by the FDA.

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Answer 2 out of 3

by MG1942 Has a Life Penguin on Jul 16, 2007 at 4:23 am Permalink

It is usually a sugar pill, given to half of the patients in a drug study, to see if the people who took the actual medication feel better than the ones who took the placebo. It's called a control. The doctors don't know at first who took them, and neither do the patients. It's called a double-blind test.

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staffie Jul, 16 2007 at 04:25 AM

thanks for clearing that up for me :)

MG1942 Has a Life Penguin Jul, 16 2007 at 04:26 AM

Np;)

MG1942 Has a Life Penguin Jul, 16 2007 at 04:28 AM

Another use for them is in birth control. the last 5 pills in the pack are usually placebos, to keep the user in the habit of taking the pills each day, even though they don't need them at "that time of the month".

Answer 3 out of 3

by VCS on Oct 22, 2009 at 1:04 pm Permalink

THis is an inert substancewhich is given in the garb of a medicine. It works by psychological rather than pharmacological means and often produces response similar to the active drug. They are used in 2 situations: 1. As a control device in clinical trial of drugs and 2. To treat a patient, who in the opinion of doctor, does not require an active drug.