Medical Trials... official MoneySavingExpert.com ...

[MSE Lawrence]

This is a special discussion as part of the

Boost Your Income

article, all about

Taking part in medical trials

which is part of the Work, work, work section

Please feel free to add your comments, suggestions or questions

Just click reply

[indierocker85]

After them people had a trial done and there heads doubled in size, I'd rather be skint

[crazyangel]

I'm looking to up my income and have considered Drug trials but a bit scared of ending up with my head as big as a pumpkin.
Anyone tried them or do you think they are far too risky?:confused:

[lifebegins]

Choose them carefully: you will receive plenty of information when you go to "sign up": do not EVER do a "first in man" trial:it's exactly what it says, never been given to a human. It was this kind of trial which nearly killed 4 people in Harrow a couple of years ago (it was all over the news), although it's really rare, I wouldn't take the risk.

Other trials where they have already some data in man (the more the better)are usually a much better bet. Remember you are paid for the inconvenience and procedures you have to undergo, not degree of risk!

[woohoo_postingid]

I know somebody who used to do these at a large parmaceutical company. He said it was the easiest money he ever earne, sitting round watching tv, playing playstations etc etc and only taking a couple of pills per day.

There's very little risk of harm but I would still consider this carefully before making a decision.

[talana]

Hi,
I've taken part in trials before and would have no hesitation doing so again.
Apart from the regular medical monitoring, you are basically just relaxing. I spent my time reading, listening to music, watching TV, catching up on a bit of work even! And you're paid pretty well for your inconvenience.

Everyone always quotes the one trial where their heads "swelled up like pumpkins". Of course this made the news because it was exceptional, nobody ever quotes the thousands of trials carried out every year with no safety issues at all!
By the same rationale, if you see a major plane crash in the news would you decide never to fly again? Probably not, as you know how uncommon accidents like that are. In short, you weigh the risk. We do this in everyday life all the time.

Personally, I'd happily take part in first-in-man trials as well. Not for everyone perhaps, but they make sure you're fully informed of what you're signing up to and it's down to everyone to make their own INFORMED decision.

If you're thinking about drug trials, I'd suggest registering with an appropriate company anyway. Then go along to a registration day and talk to them. Hopefully they can allay your concerns and if not then you've lost maybe an hour of your time tops.
At a registration you'll generally have a medical (so a free medical checkup even if you decide not to sign up!) and then they'll contact your GP for a report. Only if you're fully fit and healthy anyway will they take it further.

Then each study that comes along, you'll be sent the full briefing information if you're eligible and meet the criteria. There's certainly no obligation to choose the first study that comes your way or any other one (chuck the briefing away if you're not interested).

If you have any other questions about trials, feel free to ask.

[froggy_girl128]

Can you recommend a company?

[talana]

Originally Posted by froggy_girl128

Can you recommend a company?

Hi,
It all depends very much on where you live of course.
I'm in the East Midlands, and I would recommend Astra Zeneca who have a drug trials suite at the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham. They have a centre in Manchester too.

Their website will at least give you an idea what's involved.
http://www.healthyvolunteers.com/default.asp

[dfub]

I know there have been threads about this before, but i am currently doing (at this very minute) a medical trial at Covance in Leeds. I checked in on Tuesday afternoon and have had a great time. They will only be giving us the drug tomorrow so for one and a half days i will have watched DVD's, used the internet, played video games, read the paper etc.

I was really apprehensive to start with but everyone is so friendly. It is 4 nights now, then 3 in March and 3 in April and for that i get over £1500. It's money for old rope.

Just thougth this might help someone to decide if they were in two minds about signing up.

[V Chic Chick]

Anyone the remember North Park (?) hospital medical trials fiasco? No thanks.

[MORPH3US]

Should be an interesting discussion...

I looked at these for ages and actually went for the pre trial medical for one, but no matter what picture they paint in the brochure, I can't help but think the place looked like a nut house.....

Add to that the trial that (very publically) went wrong and I just wouldn't risk my health for £100 a night...

If you can bear to do it though, like you said £100 a night for sitting around watching films / surfing MSE...

[Hermia]

I got offered £1500 to do a medical trial a few years back 'cause I am asthmatic. I took one look at the booklet and said no way! There were loads of tests involved. I am not needle-phobic, but they did state that some of the tests would involve 'discomfort' (I know what doctors mean when they say something will involve 'discomfort' - the lying **********!). They were then going to make you inhale a substance that would bring on an asthma attack. Asthma attacks are very frightening indeed and not always easy to control (the last time I got rushed to A&E it took them half an hour to sort out my breathing) and you feel very rough afterwards. I just didn't want to put myself through that.

[emweaver]

Personally I dont think any amount of money you could earn is worth risking your health and possible your life

[talana]

I've taken part in a couple of trials before and would have no hesitation doing so again.

It's up to everyone to make their own INFORMED decision, weigh the risks properly and then decide.

As for not risking your life and your health, we do so every day.
Do you drink alcohol? (risking life and health)
Do you smoke? (ditto)
Do you fly places? (ditto, planes occasionally crash)
Do you drive a car? (ditto)

Weigh the risks of drug trials against these everyday things, and see how they compare. Many people quote the North Park fiasco of course, but how many also quote the hundreds, if not thousands, of trials every year that are completed without safety problems?

[Fliss_Harper]

Originally Posted by talana

I've taken part in a couple of trials before and would have no hesitation doing so again.

It's up to everyone to make their own INFORMED decision, weigh the risks properly and then decide.

As for not risking your life and your health, we do so every day.
Do you drink alcohol? (risking life and health)
Do you smoke? (ditto)
Do you fly places? (ditto, planes occasionally crash)
Do you drive a car? (ditto)

Weigh the risks of drug trials against these everyday things, and see how they compare. Many people quote the North Park fiasco of course, but how many also quote the hundreds, if not thousands, of trials every year that are completed without safety problems?

I agree with you, I was about to say that, but you hit the nail on the head.

[burf16]

I agree as well. Weight up the risks to what the benefit is going to be. All medicines have to go through medical trials. Someone is going to have to do it.

[dfub]

Personally I dont think any amount of money you could earn is worth risking your health and possible your life

I know what you mean but for my mind it is no more risky than eating fast or processed food nowadsya what with all the trans-fats etc.


The list of tests i've had to do is:
Give blood, Have an ECG, Blood pressure, wear a heart monitor for 4 hours and collect all my pee into a jar. Must dash now, it's lunch time!

p.s. also, you might be given a placebo not the active drug itself.

[indierocker85]

Couple of friends used to do this to handle student expenses To me it wouldn't just be the public trial that went wrong that would put me off, but nobody knows the long term effects of said drugs etc. You really don't know what you are doing to or putting into your body. Big no no in my eye I'm afraid.

[talana]

but nobody knows the long term effects of said drugs etc.

OK, fair point perhaps. But isn't that then an argument for more or at least longer-term medical trials? That would be the only way to investigate long-term effects.

And as burf16 has mentioned, all medicines that you see in use at a hospital or that you buy at a pharmacy these days have had to go through this trial process. It HAS to be done and therefore someone has to volunteer to do it.

What's the alternative? Dispose of healthy volunteer trials and give medicines directly to patients with no prior testing?

[dfub]

The other advantage of this is that someone you know or love could suffer from a disease or afflication. If your partner had cancer, wouldn't you feel great in the knowledge that you had potentially helped to bring an anti-cancer drug to the market? Or parkinsons, alzheimers, rheumatoid arthritis etc etc this list goes on.
Obviously the main reason is for the money, but there are other altruistic (sp?) reasons to it. It makes me kinda warm and fuzzy instead (since one of my relatives does suffer from rheumatism, and the drug i'm testing is a pain relief drug for that.