Vent: Prescription drug ads

[ChrisFL]

It's becoming pretty disturbing lately, how many ads are on constantly advertising for prescription medications....the kind consumers CAN'T buy anyway without a doctor's recommendation.

How many times do I have to listen to the possible side effects of these things? nausea, dizziness, breast swelling eek, diarrhea, liver damage, possible death, notify your doctor immediately if.......and you hear this all the time...

There's many problems with this...

First...consumers shouldn't be trying to influence their doctors on what drugs to use, and there's no reason for them to be pushing this on consumers

Second...the drug companies are clearly spending hundreds of millions of dollars on these things...couldn't they be using that money for better uses, like making better medications, and helping more people?

Third...it creates an aura that there are a lot of unsafe conditions and diseases out there and we are getting it jammed into our heads every time we turn on the TV

Fourth...some ads, like the ED ads, are not easy to explain to kids what they mean.

Thoughts?

 

[C.Ann]

Honestly? I find myself laughing at them.. When you listen to the possible side effects (and I know for most people they won't suffer from "all" of them), 9 times out of 10 the side effects are worse than the original problem!

Then you have the anti-depressant ads.. Don't quite feel like dancing around the room with a lamp shade on your head since starting your current anti-depressant? Well - let's add 2 or 3 more!!! That should do the trick..

But some of the absolute worst are the ones for dry eyes; wrinkles around your eyes; acne; routine hair loss; teeth whitening; etc.. Do the risks of those drugs (some which clearly state the side effects may be permanent - even after you discontinue the medication) make the "possible" benefits worth it?

No matter what your problem is, there is a "magic" pill for it now..

Maybe they could take some of those advertising dollars and use them for people who can't afford traditional, necessary drugs..

 

[OceanAnnie]

I agree. The commercials are a bit much. The people are dancing, hiking, doing all sorts of things while the side effects are being listed. Most of those side effects would not have one smiling, much less being active. I think the music and up beat activity glosses over the fasttalkingsideeffects at the end. Does make a person pause.

 

[RitaE]

My favorite is the guy with the reflection in the window is urging him to talk to his Doctor about "the problem."

We've had many a debate in this house over which is that poor guys biggest problem - his "dysfunction" or those darn pesky auditory and visual hallucinations.

Oh and btw, 4 hours isn't normal. Consult your Doctor.

 

[OceanAnnie]

My favorite is the guy with the reflection in the window is urging him to talk to his Doctor about "the problem."

We've had many a debate in this house over which is that poor guys biggest problem - his "dysfunction" or those darn pesky auditory and visual hallucinations.

Oh and btw, 4 hours isn't normal. Consult your Doctor.

OT somewhat- Yes. There was something in the news about that one. A fellow had that side effect from a medication and was permanently damaged. He's suing Wal-Mart I think for a bajillion dollars. That case will be interesting, because while the pharmacist didn't tell him about the side effects, there was I believe an insert that listed his particular side effect.

 

[ChrisFL]

My favorite is the guy with the reflection in the window is urging him to talk to his Doctor about "the problem."

We've had many a debate in this house over which is that poor guys biggest problem - his "dysfunction" or those darn pesky auditory and visual hallucinations.

Oh and btw, 4 hours isn't normal. Consult your Doctor.

He couldn't find the 2 bath tubs in the middle of the forest, or on a dock or in a field?

 

[Briarmom]

My new favorite is Aciphex. Did ANYONE say this word out loud before they put it on the market?

 

[bumbershoot]

I totally agree.

And of course since I'm already rather anti-drug use unless beyond necessary, you can imagine how passionate I am about it.


The one that's getting to me right now is Latisse. With that ridiculous woman who will hawk ANYTHING (sigh, I miss her Blue Lagoon days).

I was hearing one thing, and I was joking about using it (joking b/c I have pretty good lashes already...and joking b/c what on EARTH is that spokesperson needing LONGER and thicker lashes to begin with, she's doing fine in that area already!), and hubby said "but I don't want your eyes to change color."

I said "what????"

And it turns out that what I was hearing wrong, he was hearing correctly...."LATISSE™ use may also cause increased brown pigmentation of the colored part of the eye which is likely to be permanent. "

What??????

 

[landshark]

I'm also anti-drug unless absolutely necessary so it seems excessive that they're pushing the idea of "anything can be remedied with a prescription medication".

Even scarier is that a lot of times it really does seem like the side effects are worse than what the drug treats. Yes, the more extreme ones are highly unlikely, but it's worrisome to think that you have to take that risk of pain, permanent damage or death.

 

[DawnCt1]

Who are we to tell the drug companies what THEIR money should be better spent on. It their money. Obviously they feel that they get a bang for their buck by advertising.
Secondly, while patients shouldn't be telling their doctor what to order, asking about a specific drug; say one for depression, anxiety, GIRD, and yes, even ED, opens a dialog between the patient and physician. Perhaps the patient isn't comfortable saying, "I feel anxious, I feel depressed" but may feel more comfortable saying, "I saw an ad for this particular drug, and I think that it might help me, what do you think".
ED commercials should be after the "family hour", if there is one anymore. Personally, I don't want to see the government get involved in ONE MORE THING. I will put up with the inconvenience of drug ads instead.

 

[mefordis]

Yeah, bring back the cigarette ads, too!

Who are we to tell the drug companies what THEIR money should be better spent on. It their money. Obviously they feel that they get a bang for their buck by advertising.
Secondly, while patients shouldn't be telling their doctor what to order, asking about a specific drug; say one for depression, anxiety, GIRD, and yes, even ED, opens a dialog between the patient and physician. Perhaps the patient isn't comfortable saying, "I feel anxious, I feel depressed" but may feel more comfortable saying, "I saw an ad for this particular drug, and I think that it might help me, what do you think".
ED commercials should be after the "family hour", if there is one anymore. Personally, I don't want to see the government get involved in ONE MORE THING. I will put up with the inconvenience of drug ads instead.

 

[DawnCt1]

Yeah, bring back the cigarette ads, too!

Prescription drugs have a therapeutic/beneficial use for those who need them. Tell me what beneficial result comes from smoking cigarettes? None that I can think of; other than reducing the population, thus reducing the need for social security and medicare dollars. Perhaps you have a point. Cigarette ads could save the economy.

 

[mefordis]

Who are we to tell the tobacco companies what THEIR money should be spent on. It their money. I'm sure they would feel that they would get a bang for their buck by advertising.

Personally, I don't want to see the government get involved in ONE MORE THING. I would put up with the inconvenience of smoking ads instead.

Prescription drugs have a therapeutic/beneficial use for those who need them. Tell me what beneficial result comes from smoking cigarettes? None that I can think of; other than reducing the population, thus reducing the need for social security and medicare dollars. Perhaps you have a point. Cigarette ads could save the economy.

 

[Tink888]

My new favorite is Aciphex. Did ANYONE say this word out loud before they put it on the market?

MTE!!!!!

OP - I agree....way too many drug ads. I find it interesting that as a nation we're waging war against the illegal drug epidemic yet NO ONE seems to take issue with the fact that we are creating a nation of "legalized" drug addicts.

Oh and yes, I'd be more than happy to have spontaneous diarreha, shortness of breath, dry mouth and a third eyeball if I could feel more comfortable walking into a room full of strangers!!!

 

[PaddingtonBear]

He couldn't find the 2 bath tubs in the middle of the forest, or on a dock or in a field?

I can NEVER understand what the ad people were thinking with that one- those tubs aren't plumbed! What is sexy about sitting nekkid in a cold iron tub with no water in it while batting off mosquitos in the woods?

 

[DawnCt1]

Who are we to tell the tobacco companies what THEIR money should be spent on. It their money. I'm sure they would feel that they would get a bang for their buck by advertising.

Personally, I don't want to see the government get involved in ONE MORE THING. I would put up with the inconvenience of smoking ads instead.

On THAT I agree with you. I am just pointing out that there is a rationale for the banning of cigarette (and alcohol) commercials.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Who are we to tell the drug companies what THEIR money should be better spent on. It their money. Obviously they feel that they get a bang for their buck by advertising.
Secondly, while patients shouldn't be telling their doctor what to order, asking about a specific drug; say one for depression, anxiety, GIRD, and yes, even ED, opens a dialog between the patient and physician. Perhaps the patient isn't comfortable saying, "I feel anxious, I feel depressed" but may feel more comfortable saying, "I saw an ad for this particular drug, and I think that it might help me, what do you think".
ED commercials should be after the "family hour", if there is one anymore. Personally, I don't want to see the government get involved in ONE MORE THING. I will put up with the inconvenience of drug ads instead.

Agreed, especially the part that I bolded.

Who are we to tell the tobacco companies what THEIR money should be spent on. It their money. I'm sure they would feel that they would get a bang for their buck by advertising.

Personally, I don't want to see the government get involved in ONE MORE THING. I would put up with the inconvenience of smoking ads instead.

Meh. I can't honestly say it would bother me. It's not illegal to smoke.

 

[goofyernmost]

Four Hours???? The heck with calling a Doctor, I believe a call to the National Enquirer would be more like it.

 

[ericamanda01]

I have to admit that I love the hear the side effects. I swear they are worse than the disorder they are treating.

 

[AustinTink]

Do they have to put the anti-depressant ads on during the 7pm shows my son is watching with me? You know the ones that begin with "Are you depressed?" well, we are NOW! The music alone is enough to make you bonkers.