Lifestyle drugs

Abstract

"The past few years have witnessed the release of a number of highly publicized “lifestyle” drugs, such as sildenafil for male erectile dysfunction and orlistat for obesity. Other products have had their indications extended to include situations that usually come under the rubric “lifestyle”; for example, finasteride may now be prescribed for male pattern baldness. The appearance of these new products and the new uses for established drugs have raised a series of issues for physicians, for the health care system in terms of priorities for drug expenditures and for society in general."