Therapeutic alternatives

What are therapeutic alternatives?

Therapeutic alternatives are drugs that may have chemically different contents but are purported to have the same effect as other drugs for treating a condition.

Deeper definition

Most people think of therapeutic alternatives as just generic drugs. But that’s not the case. Therapeutic alternatives are often considered to be below Western standards when it comes to health care. A simple definition of alternative treatments is anything that replaces common and traditional medicine. However, the term also can include complementary treatments that are used in conjunction with approved medical practices.

More and more people are embracing therapeutic alternatives to treat all sorts of maladies. Therapeutic alternatives are diverse and can include hypnosis, changes in diet and exercise, acupuncture, chiropractic adjustment and other treatment options.

Therapeutic alternatives example

A number of herbal supplements are widely regarded as therapeutic alternatives to traditional prescription or over-the-counter drugs. For example, valerian is listed by WebMD as a top dietary supplement to treat insomnia.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), many of which can be bought over the counter, are therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of pain. They are considered to be one of the most effective therapeutic alternatives in modern medicine.

Pantoprazole is a generic drug that is a therapeutic alternative to Protonix, a prescription medicine used to treat stomach acid.

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