Knowing information about the medicine you are taking and the alternatives to that medicine is important for people to choose the healthiest path. Additionally, when a doctor hands you a prescription, it's also important to think about his or her motivation for doing so. Is the doctor compensated financially or is this medicine actually the most effective way to get rid of my annoying ailment? We all want to live as long as possible and putting chemicals into our bodies will not always guarantee us a longer and healthier life.