Let's face it. Medicine does not have all the answers and every "body" can respond differently to the same medicine. What is important is that we have medications to use to help people. I am a physician, and yes, I have used many medications off label in an effort to provide my patients with an improved quality of life. In response to the post about pain: "regular pain meds" don't cut it with nerve pain and severe pain. We often have to add antidepressants (that help with chronic pain) and nerve meds (like neurontin) as well. It is all in an effort to find what will help that individual person. Unless a drug has been shown to be overtly toxic and too risky for use, we need to have a varied armament to use. If someone disagrees with this, then you have probably never suffered from a chronic, debilitating disease that keeps you from interacting with your family and friends and simply your life. And someday, you just might be ill enough that, after all the "usual things" fail, you are willing to try the latest "snake oil" in hopes of getting a little bit of relief.
People are sufering everyday from diseases and syndromes we don't understand. Let's not minimize their suffering.
