Placebos are “fake drugs” that are made to look like real drugs. This drug is often used as a comparison to test the effectiveness of a drug in clinical trials. Even though they don't contain any drugs, placebos can have a pseudo-effect that makes the user feel better.
Placebos are often referred to as empty drugs, because they contain no active ingredients that affect health at all. The placebo form can be in the form of tablets, capsules, or injectable liquids. However, it will only contain flour, sugar, or a salt solution, maybe even just plain water.
The Use of Placebos in Drug Research
Placebos are often used in clinical trials of drugs or vaccines to help researchers better understand and evaluate the effectiveness of the drug or vaccine being studied.
For example, in the study of a new drug to lower cholesterol, there were two groups of volunteers. One group was given a placebo, while the other group received the drug being tested. However, neither of them knew which medicine they had received.
The researchers then compared the effects of the drug and placebo in the two groups. That way, researchers can determine the efficacy of a new drug and see if there are any side effects from the drug.
Although it does not contain the active ingredients, some volunteers who take the placebo may feel that their illness or symptoms are improving. This phenomenon is called placebo effect or the placebo effect.
Placebo Effect and the Trigger
Several studies show that about 21–40% of clinical drug research participants experience placebo effect. This effect can be reflected in various parameters, such as changes in heart rate, blood pressure, psychological condition, pain intensity, or even brain activity.
The reason why the placebo effect occurs is still not known for certain. However, there are several factors that are known to play a role in causing this phenomenon, namely:
1. Hormone reactions
When given a placebo, the brain will assume that the drug can work to treat certain diseases or complaints. This is why a person can feel improvement in symptoms, such as less pain, headaches, or feeling calmer.
Research suggests that this effect is thought to be because the placebo can stimulate the brain to produce various chemicals, such as endorphins, dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin, which can have a pain-relieving and calming effect.
2. Coincidence
Symptoms of certain diseases or conditions may appear and go away on their own without treatment.
This effect can also occur at the same time as the placebo is given, so that the person feels that the placebo is given to relieve symptoms. This happens quite often in certain drug research participants.
3. Suggestion
Suggestions of thoughts or psychological support also play a role in the emergence of the placebo effect. Among study participants, placebo reactions are more likely to occur if they believe that the "medicine" given can relieve symptoms or treat the disease.
Conversely, when they are skeptical or unsure of the effect of the drug given, the placebo effect will be more difficult to appear.
4. Placebo type
Generally, volunteers who receive a placebo in the form of an injection, will experience placebo effect which is stronger than people taking placebo pills or capsules. This may be related to the perception of someone who thinks that injectable drugs can work better and faster than oral drugs.
5. Doctor-patient relationship
The tone of voice, choice of words, body language, and eye contact with a doctor can make a person believe and believe in the efficacy of the placebo drug he is taking.
This is thought to be related to the suggestive effect of a placebo that can make volunteers feel certain effects, even though they don't get the original drug.
Although it can affect the condition of a person receiving the drug, placebo effect considered as a sign of treatment failure.
If the original drug and placebo give the same result, either positive or negative, then the drug is considered ineffective. Researchers will find it difficult to distinguish between the placebo effect and the actual drug effect during the study.
In certain cases, placebo can also be used as a form of therapy to relieve the symptoms that the patient complains of.
Some research shows that the placebo effect can even be almost the same as the effect of the original drug in relieving pain, reducing anxiety, relieving depression, and overcoming symptoms of psychosomatic disorders. However, this still needs to be investigated further.
Placebos can make a person feel healthier, but they are not real drugs. If you are suffering from an illness, it is advisable to go to the doctor to get the right treatment.