It sounds crazy, but the idea is that to be an effective placebo, a pill has to ... | Hacker News

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snowwrestler on Oct 7, 2014 | parent | context | favorite | on: The Placebo Effect Doesn’t Apply Just to Pills

It sounds crazy, but the idea is that to be an effective placebo, a pill has to produce known side effects of the real drug. So if the real drug is known to produce dry mouth, the placebo will not be simple salt or sugar, it will be a substance that produces dry mouth.

taeric on Oct 7, 2014 [–]

Isn't too crazy. Is also there to keep everyone blind as to whether they are taking the real thing. Not just those that have no information.

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