Pharmaceutical T.V. Ads

saltydog

saltydog

New Member
Location
Northern California
The FDA first allowed the practice of direct- to- customer advertising in 1997, and since then, the number of TV commercials for prescription drugs has skyrocketed. I only watch 2 shows on television each week and they are riddled with these drug commercials. It seems the side effects are usually worse than the condition the drug was made for. Only the U.S. and New Zealand allow this type of advertising.
Do these ads bother anyone else?
 

Yes, they bother me especially seeing the side effects. Just too many of them being advertised. Most insurance companies expect people to go for the generic brand of drugs. The ones advertised are name brand.
 
Though I have only seen a few of these since we rarely watch commercial TV, I am left with the distinct impression that these drug companies are using the same ploy that toy companies use on kids during the holiday season.

The toy companies address kids in their commercials because kids can be much more persuasive on parents to loosen the old wallet than the toy companies ever could by addressing parents in the commercials.

What I saw was the same ploy by drug companies. Instead of trying to sell doctors on the drugs, sell the patients, who then can go in to the doctor and demand the drug that the patient is led to believe will solve all their problems and make life good again.

The points made about the side effects is spot on - it does seem weird that a given drug may make your heart work again or make your headaches magically disappear, but your arm may fall off in the process if you don't die first.

But then, my Baby Boomer generation grew up in the 60s, when we bought into the idea of better living through chemistry. Instead of "no hope without dope", we now have the polished big ad company version of the medicine wagon of days of yore. :ROFLMAO:

Tony
 

tbeltrans said:
Though I have only seen a few of these since we rarely watch commercial TV, I am left with the distinct impression that these drug companies are using the same ploy that toy companies use on kids during the holiday season.

The toy companies address kids in their commercials because kids can be much more persuasive on parents to loosen the old wallet than the toy companies ever could by addressing parents in the commercials.

What I saw was the same ploy by drug companies. Instead of trying to sell doctors on the drugs, sell the patients, who then can go in to the doctor and demand the drug that the patient is led to believe will solve all their problems and make life good again.

The points made about the side effects is spot on - it does seem weird that a given drug may make your heart work again or make your headaches magically disappear, but your arm may fall off in the process if you don't die first.

But then, my Baby Boomer generation grew up in the 60s, when we bought into the idea of better living through chemistry. Instead of "no hope without dope", we now have the polished big ad company version of the medicine wagon of days of yore. :ROFLMAO:

Tony
Click to expand...
"The medicine wagon of days of yore." I find that very insightful, and relevant.
Although, I feel the LSD enthusiasts and pot smokers in the 60's weren’t trying to manipulate Americans out of billions of dollars by advertising designer drugs, that may or may not, improve disorders from a disease that no one knew existed a month prior, as well as contribute to the high price of prescription drugs.
I enjoyed reading your reply. Thank you.........
 
saltydog said:
"The medicine wagon of days of yore." I find that very insightful, and relevant.
Although, I feel the LSD enthusiasts and pot smokers in the 60's weren’t trying to manipulate Americans out of billions of dollars by advertising designer drugs, that may or may not, improve disorders from a disease that no one knew existed a month prior, as well as contribute to the high price of prescription drugs.
I enjoyed reading your reply. Thank you.........
Click to expand...
Thanks Saltydog. What I meant by reference to growing up in the 60s was not at all that anyone was trying to bilk Americans out of billions of dollars with the use of pot or LSD as "designer drugs", but instead that because we were experimenting with drugs back then, we were fertile ground for the ad agencies today since we were already acclimated to the use of drugs on a day to day basis already. Now, as we age and experience the aches and pains and issues of aging, it seems a natural thing to address these issues with still more drugs, though now it IS about selling Americans on the newest wonder drug, which is quite different from the drug experiences of the 60s. The commonality between the two eras is the use of drugs. Aside from that, the two eras are vastly different.

Tony
 
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According to the latest numbers I've found, Drug Advertising costs over 30 billion dollar/yr.....and, you can guess who ultimately pays for that.

https://apnews.com/article/f44a7baa710d458ca50edd66affc1b91

If there was ever a Serious attempt to control our health care expenses, stopping this TV advertising would be a real good place to start. However, given that our Health Care Industry, especially the drug companies, rank right near the top of the list in terms of political campaign contributions, I doubt that we will ever see that happen.

So, If you are taking any prescription drugs, enjoy the "Ask Your Doctor" commercials....you are helping to pay for them.
 
To me it is interesting that there will be an ad campaign for some new wonder drug and then a year or so later, the lawyers take to the TV ad campaign in a class action lawsuit against the drug company due to problems patients experience from have used that drug. It all seems to be a racket. It would be interesting to get a glimpse of the behind the scenes activity in all this.

So now we are left to wonder when the lawsuits regarding the COVID-19 vaccines will start. :unsure:

Tony
 
What I don't like about drug ads is what is not said. If you need a medication that only a physician can prescribe, then you are not in a healthy state, But when was the last time, you saw an unhealthy person in a drug ad? Everybody is skiing down mountains, climbing mountains, riding horses, hiking, dancing, sailing, etc. I like the ad for one of those oxygen machines. The woman is seen riding a bike. Do you really think someone, who can't get breath, and then puts on a 2% oxygen catheter, now is able to ride a bike? It's the unsaid message that this drug/device will cure whatever. It's a subtle con job .
 
saltydog said:
The FDA first allowed the practice of direct- to- customer advertising in 1997, and since then, the number of TV commercials for prescription drugs has skyrocketed. I only watch 2 shows on television each week and they are riddled with these drug commercials. It seems the side effects are usually worse than the condition the drug was made for. Only the U.S. and New Zealand allow this type of advertising.
Do these ads bother anyone else?
Click to expand...
I can't stand them, seems like they come with a new drug/new name every single day. And you're right, some of the side effects are very serious, all the way up to death. Give me the darn condition and keep your prescription drugs. Funny how they have all that money to run these commercials constantly, but still have to price those drugs at disgustingly inflated prices. The whole thing sickens me.

They say to ask your doctor about one of these drugs, all he knows is what's on the brochure the dealer threw on his counter. I'm not a fan of any commercials, but some are a little bit fun with good music, like the Geiko commercial....but the drug ads, no way!

 
Also, what about the drug that is supposed to help with the side effects of the pill you're already taking? So for your illness, the first pill is making you sicker, but the second one you take in conjunction with the first will make everything much better, all rainbows from then on. :)
 
I want to have the bladder as portrayed in the Myrbetriq ads as a pet. He's as cute as the dickens and looks like an apple with large, expressive eyes. Besides, it would be nice to have an auxiliary bladder with you so you wouldn't have to go nearly as often...
image.jpeg
 
Sometimes, the ads are poorly timed.
There was an ad for a Testosterone supplement that will make you lose weight, gain muscle & energy & "She will like it too."
Right after that ad, was an ad for attorneys who will take your case if you took a testosterone supplement & were later diagnosed with cancer.
 
All your comments have been great.
Like I said in my original post, with the little time I spend watching T.V., I only see the ads occasionally now, but I still know this enormous cost of advertising is being passed on to the consumers, and I can't stop believing we're all paying the price.
 
Can you imagine what would happen if everyone in the TV audience really followed all that advice to "call you doctor" to ask about a particular drug? As it is, the phone lines are often so busy that you have long waits before even connecting with anybody, usually an appointment scheduler or a nurse. And if you want to discuss this drug with your doctor in person, probably the next appointment you could get would be about six months away.

I suspect that the "call your doctor" business was added by the lawyers, for the protection of the pharmaceutical company. They don't really expect anyone to do it.
 

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