When an Ex-Pharma Sales Rep Speaks Out: It’s time to Listen.
In the high-stakes world of pharmaceuticals, few voices carry as much weight and credibility as those who’ve witnessed the inner workings firsthand.
A fifteen-year-veteran pharmaceutical rep from 1985 – 2000, Gwen worked for McNeil Pharmaceutical, Syntex Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Abbott Labs and Forest Laboratories. She was a hospital rep and specialist rep for the majority of her career, educating residents in hospital teaching settings and selling prescription drugs to doctors in obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, cardiology, neurology, endocrinology and psychiatry.
Gwen has a unique industry insider’s perspective of the current U.S. healthcare dilemma and utilizes both her experience and the insight she received in her extensive sales training with Pharma to illuminate marketing trends and illustrate how current greed and conflicts of interest make the system itself the biggest health risk to American consumers.
A Turning Point from Profit to People
Gwen’s successful career in pharmaceutical sales was marked by increasing awareness of the dangers posed by the very products she was promoting. This realization wasn’t abstract; it became deeply personal after Gwen herself became both a victim and survivor of life-threatening adverse drug reactions. Her transition to the natural foods industry and her role as a writer, speaker, and natural health consultant marks a profound shift in her mission: to empower individuals with the knowledge to seek safer, more holistic health solutions.
The Stark Reality of American Healthcare
The statistics are alarming—America allocates over fifteen percent of its Gross National Product (GNP) to what is termed ‘health care’, yet, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, it ranks last among industrialized nations worldwide in healthcare effectiveness. Prescription drugs now stand as the third-leading cause of death in the US, trailing only behind heart disease and cancer.
This crisis is exacerbated by a pervasive lack of transparency and accountability. Many Americans trust their healthcare providers to inform them of potential risks associated with pharmaceuticals, unaware that these same providers may be incentivized by pharmaceutical companies to increase prescription volumes.
A System Compromised by Conflicts of Interest
The entanglement of government regulators with ‘Big Pharma’ represents a significant conflict of interest. The revolving door between regulatory roles and executive positions within pharmaceutical companies undermines the fundamental purpose of regulation—protecting the public. With the FDA’s loyalties increasingly questioned, the approval of new drugs often prioritizes corporate profit over public safety, leaving the unsuspecting public at risk.
In her book, Confessions of an RX Drug Pusher, Gwen Olsen is exposing Big Pharma. Olsen says that there is no such thing as a safe drug, and that she and other sales representatives were trained to misinform people, statements that are seemingly supported by whistleblower and product liability cases involving prescription drugs.
Clinical trials are often inadequate and as a result, Olsen says that we are unaware of half of the potential side effects of new drugs. For example, the diabetes drug Invokana only underwent a six-month clinical trial, but patients on the drug for a year or more experienced unanticipated side effects. Similarly, clinical trials for the blood pressure medication Benicar only ran for twelve weeks, and ten years later was linked to a life-threatening gastrointestinal disorder in users.
Gwen Olsen particularly focuses on psychoactive drugs, which she alleges are being overprescribed. In fact, prescriptions for psychoactive drugs have risen 500% over the past decade. Olsen’s interest in the over prescription of psychoactive drugs is personal, as her niece committed suicide after being prescribed Vicodin for an accident, followed by the stimulant ephedra when the Vicodin interfered with her concentration. The interaction between the two drugs led to emergency treatment. Her niece was then diagnosed with bipolar disorder and prescribed a number of psychotropic drugs, without even having her blood tested.
In fact, psychiatrists are not required to conduct blood tests or physical examinations to diagnose a mental illness and prescribe psychoactive drugs. “It’s an extremely lucrative alliance,” says Ms. Olson of the relationship between Big Pharma and psychiatric associations.
AlternaCare: A Beacon of Hope
In the face of these daunting challenges, AlternaCare emerges as a beacon of hope. By advocating for a shift towards preventive care, holistic health solutions, and transparency in healthcare, AlternaCare stands in stark contrast to the prevailing system. Our mission is not just to highlight the problems but to be an active part of the solution—through education, advocacy, and the promotion of natural, effective health alternatives.
Your Role in Catalyzing Change
The journey toward a healthier, more ethical healthcare system begins with each of us. By supporting AlternaCare, whether through membership, donations, or simply spreading the word, you contribute to a movement dedicated to real change. Gwen Olsen’s story is a powerful reminder of the stakes involved; it’s a call to action for all of us to support initiatives that prioritize health over profit, people over corporate interests.
Together, we can build a future where health care is truly about caring for health—a future where stories like Gwen’s are no longer the exception but the foundation of a new, more compassionate healthcare paradigm.
Support AlternaCare’s Mission Today: Be Part of the Solution.
