Drug Ads

Ken Anderson

Ken Anderson

Greeter
Staff member
I don't have a particular ad in mind, but I am pretty much sick of being presented with endless drug ads. Although I admittedly try not to pay close attention, skipping the ad as soon as I am allowed to, sometimes I think they don't even tell you what the drug is for.
  • "I want to lie around in a meadow filled with wildflowers. I should take that drug."
  • "They look like they're having a good time; I should take that.
  • "It might cause suicidal tendencies, cancer, or sudden death, but hey, if it gets rid of my acne, it will all be worth it."
 
Lord I love all you people! These discussions we have about the pill pushing, Continuous tests as we age, etc...
it is nice so many of us think along the same lines.
Only doing the necessary things,, the eye surgery being one, as my eyes have grown worse and I still need them while I am here.
Also, we still mute commercials! Unless things have changed in Europe they were not allowed to have ads promoting medicines,at one time
 
The ads for drugs that are meant to remediate the side effects from taking anti-depressants are sort of depressing.

I've often wondered why there has yet to be a dating site that connects people with complementary ailments/drug side-effects. People who get diarrhea from their acne meds could be matched with people who get acne from their diarrhea meds. It seems so symbiotic.
 
Last time I checked, the U.S. was the only 1st world nation to allow prescription drug ads. It only makes sense that they shouldn't be allowed to advertise things you cannot got someplace and purchase on your own. AI says it started under Clinton's FDA and that is what I remember as well. It likely was payback for campaign contributions. Bill was good at that.

I like to watch the ads for the fine print. I just saw some Hot Flash remedy advertised on TV that said a one-day study (extensive work) showed that 62% of women reported reduced hot flash symptoms. The fine print said that 42% of women on placebos reported reduced symptoms, and then they listed all the side effects including heart attacks and kidney failure. I don't think the ones taking the sugar pills got any on those. If you watch the fine print sometimes those cancer treatments only extend the average lifespan by a month or two, but again, the side effects.
 
John Brunner said:
The ads for drugs that are meant to remediate the side effects from taking anti-depressants are sort of depressing.

I've often wondered why there has yet to be a dating site that connects people with complementary ailments/drug side-effects. People who get diarrhea from their acne meds could be matched with people who get acne from their diarrhea meds. It seems so symbiotic.
Click to expand...
Now that is a business idea.
 
Cody Fousnough said:
Every time we see one of these drug ads, we just say, "you have to be kidding me" concerning all of the side-effects of any certain drug. What we often wonder is, just how many people ask their PCP about any of these advertised drugs and what a PCP tells them.
Click to expand...
I forget where I read that doctors (at least, non-specialists) do not have time to stay on top of all the new stuff that gets manufactured, and that sometimes there is a benefit to a patient bringing in these things to talk about.

I've not seen an ad for anything that I might need, so can't imagine that a large percentage of patients encounter a new drug that might address their maladies. As others have pointed out, maybe all these advertising dollars are cheap insurance (or bribes) to make sure that the networks don't broadcast negative news stories about the pharmaceutical companies, who might pull their advertising in retaliation. Maybe these ads aren't intended to target any potential patients.
 
Cody Fousnough said:
Every time we see one of these drug ads, we just say, "you have to be kidding me" concerning all of the side-effects of any certain drug. What we often wonder is, just how many people ask their PCP about any of these advertised drugs and what a PCP tells them.
Click to expand...
Their doctors usually say something like, "Oh, those are rare.....they are legally required to mention them.....The benefits outweigh the risks......."
 
"Doctor, I think you should prescribe this drug for me because I've seen the ads, and people who take it get to do cool things with their children, and I'd like to have children again and be able to do that stuff."
 
The ones that disturb me sell drugs that mask HIV symptoms from testing. Still contagious but it frees them to superspread the death. Disgusting. How is this NOT criminal?
 
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