Pharmaceutical advertising should be taken off the air

[Renew Deal]

Ads for drugs do not belong on mainstream television. It should not be up to consumers to decide what medications they're on. That's a doctors job. The ads generally come with disturbing disclaimers like "consult you're doctor if you are suicidal or have a history of explosive D." It's just disgusting and does not need to be in my face with a vision of running puppies and smiling children to soften the blow.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. As someone who was in for Pharma for 25 years, I completely agree -

when our company started doing it, most of the employees were outraged....just pissing money away (well, the money that they didn't give to the VPs and CEOs and all for their obscene salaries and bonuses).

Makes watching the major network news impossible - 15 minutes of fluff/propaganda surrounded by bathtubs, erection problems, incontinence, depression, shaking legs, leaky bladders......

[maddezmom]

2. some of them are just freaky like the Lunesta bird

I'm not against pharma in anyway but this commercial with all the side effects is more than 1/2 of the ad.

&feature=related

[Renew Deal]

6. That's exactly what I'm talking about.

That's scary.

[NRaleighLiberal]

13. I tried Lunesta once (free sample) - not as effective as Ambien and had a funny taste in my mouth.

HATE the ads!

[i was a cathar]

40. Why would you even think about taking Ambien?

That stuff is scary! How would you like to wake up behind the wheel of your car like some people?

[NRaleighLiberal]

41. Not scary at all. I take it, helps me sleep, never one of those listed side effects.

It can be helpful when you just can't sleep - we found it really helpful when one of our girls was having serious issues.....we take it very rarely, but it is actually a good medicine - as long as you are not one prone to its side effects, clearly.

[i was a cathar]

42. How often do you find it hard to sleep?

Have you ever tried two tea bags of chamomile steeped for ten minutes?

[NRaleighLiberal]

43. only once every three weeks or so - thanks for the suggestion!

I tend to keep very mentally busy until bed time - work on my projects on the laptop, which doesn't help!

[HuckleB]

57. Yeah, if one gets off the screens and turns down the lights, sleep onset tends to improve.

Well, at least that what's more than one study indicates.

Alas, I'm not the best at listening to my own advice.

[Logical]

44. Does this work? Where can you get it?

[HuckleB]

50. Yikes.

I really don't miss television at all.

[Pacafishmate]

59. Lunesta puts you to sleep...... FOREVER!

That ad is hilarious. " In rare cases throat or tongue swelling may occur... and may be fatal."

[NC_Nurse]

3. I agree completely. It's ridiculous.

[SixthSense]

4. Literal drug commercial

[Renew Deal]

7. That's a perfect parody

[Systematic Chaos]

12. Oh yes, they NAILED it!!

My wife wants to box my ears every time I see one of those ads that goes:

gray, muted puke green, drab!! frumpy shade of blue, gray, gray!! boring, dismal, **yawn**! Hi I'm depressed and my life sucks! Drab, frown, gray, raining outside!!!! I feel like drowning in the kitchen sink somebody me....

but then my doctor and I discussed GOOBAFWIP (tm)!!!

happy! happy!!! I SAID HAPPY MOTHERFUCKER!!!!! Cheerful reds and pinks and bright pastels! Everything is so great! Donuts and roses and nyan cats everywhere!! more bright colors, happyhappyHAPPYYYYY!!!! and no you didn't just hear that long list of horrible and debilitating side effects because you are too FULL OF FUCKING JOY!!!!

big huge logo, fade to black

[REP]

19. This one's pretty good

Terrible quality video, but the only kind I could find:

[handmade34]

5. that and

all advertising geared towards children should be banned... corporate marketing is out of control!

[Joe Shlabotnik]

21. +1 !

[Nevernose]

8. As the late, great George Carlin said...

Ask your doctor for this drug? Shouldn't the doctor be the one making that decision? At that point, isn't your doctor just a drug dealer?

[BadgerKid]

9. Yes, but it's effective advertising nonethess.

Another way to stave off consideration of generics, I suppose.

[rexcat]

10. It was Gingrich and Clinton...

who orchestrated this around 1994-5. Prior to that it was advertising to the public was not allowed. I work on the research side in Pharma and 1/2 of the cost to bring a drug to market is marketing costs.

[liberalmuse]

11. I was just thinking this...

And completely agree. I'm trying to '48 Hours'. I don't watch a lot of tv, but am stunned at the sheer number of drug commercials. They are annoying and you know the pharma industry has the millions to pump into this BS - they look like something out of those sci fi movies from the 70's.

[rhett o rick]

14. Doesnt the Constitution afford them (Corp-America) freedom of speech?

Of course it doesnt. Muzzle the bastards.

[Fire Walk With Me]

15. Even doctors just throw pills at people these days. Sickening. nt

[X_Digger]

16. So doctors (and their pharmaceutical reps who service them) go back to being the source of..

.. information about what you should take?

(Hint, back in the old days, doctors pimped what their reps 'encouraged' them to- with free golf trips, "conferences", etc.)

Not to mention, by what authority would you have them restricted?

[Odin2005]

17. These ads have made us a nation of hypochondriacs.

[HuckleB]

54. I think 24-hour news channels have done more toward that aim, but your point is valid.

[KT2000]

18. Most doctors

would agree with you.
It is not allowed in other countries. It shouldn't be here either.

[On the Road]

20. Information on Drugs Should be Freely Available

but it should not be right in everyone's face on TV. That would be a very sensible regulation and probably improve health as well as reduce medical costs.

I was about to say it would be difficult to do over the objections of the pharma industry, but there are a lot of other groups that would benefit significantly -- medical insurers and any corporation that has a perscription drug benefit.

[csziggy]

46. The information on drugs is readily available

http://www.pdr.net/ is the internet version of the Physician's Desk Reference and has the information from the package inserts on current drugs on the market in the US. Their statement about themselves: "PDR Network, the leading distributor of drug labeling information, product safety Alerts, and REMS programs includes the Physicians' Desk Reference® (PDR®), the most trusted and commonly used drug information reference, PDR.net®, mobilePDR®, and PDR Drug Alerts, the only service providing electronic delivery of mandated safety Alerts to physicians and other prescribers. PDR now integrates a broad suite of services into Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and includes the RxEvent.org adverse event reporting service." http://www.pdr.net/webpages/aboutus.aspx

Even if you don't keep that site bookmarked, it will be in a search of any medication name - and there are numerous other sites with the same information that will come up.

[Shankapotomus]

22. I would include ads for ED too

Ads for ED should not be on in the daytime. There are children watching tv and a parent shouldn't have to explain to their child what an "erection" is because some commercial brings it up every 10 minutes.

And that's coming from a non parent.

[Luminous Animal]

23. I say leave them. It's not everyday I get to hear the words "anal leakage".

[Sirveri]

27. You obviously aren't watching the right channel.

[Ron Obvious]

56. Anal Leakage

If I ever start a Punk Rock band, it shall be called "Anal Leakage"

[Owlet]

24. Pharma spends more on marketing than on research

This study is from 2000, but I'm sure the percentages haven't changed much.

http://www.actupny.org/reports/drugcosts.html#chart_one

[maggiesfarmer]

48. very interesting, I'd like to see more data on this, including

-more years than 1
-more recent than 11 years ago
-more columns of expenditures than just profit/marketing/r&d
//that being said, i'm too lazy research right now


pharm companies do have some very legitimate costly expenses. FDA regs require follow up research on long term effects for years (on timescales equivalent to patent life) -- this is a GOOD thing; FDA regs require extensive testing and documentation by doctors, researchers and engineers, all whose time comes at a premium; calibrated, maintained and certified test equipment is ridiculously expensive to buy and maintain.

executive salaries in the EIGHT figure range are not one of them -- no argument there

[quinnox]

25. I hate those ads

The funny part is the disclaimers at the end when they have to admit all the possible and ominous side effects which makes it sound like these drugs are really snake oil. Which they probably are in many cases.

[Magoo48]

26. We live in a retirement community, and that's almost all we get. It's insulting.

[PA Democrat]

28. The US and New Zealand are the ONLY 2 countries in the developed world who allow this.

[newspeak]

39. when pharma got to ply their wares on the media

it's been like a flood of commercials. My MIL and I like to hear the possible side affects at the end of the commercial. I hate the commercials and am quite disturbed about one commercial they have on now about a drug that can be used with your child's ADHD drug. It's like, "my god, we are fekkin drugging our children, and now, they even have anti-depressants for children, not to be used, I believe, under the age of two. Pharma has gone over the fekkin cliff.

I laugh at the "restless leg syndrome" ad. When I'm sitting down or laying in bed, I move my leg. I figure I'm burning more calories; of course, hubby hates it if I rub up against his shin. Am I going to take a fekkin drug for it? Hell no!!!!!

What I see is a nation dependent on drugs as a mood modifier and behavioral control. I mean there are some drugs that are needed, but I think it's gone over the top.

[Blue_Tires]

29. But I want an erection lasting longer than four hours!!

[Puzzledtraveller]

30. One of my first clients

Was a pharm sales rep. Where they would traditionally promote new drugs directly to medical professionals and practices all they have to do now is blanket the tv with ads and tell the patient to do it for them. The doc still gets the kick back though.

[HuckleB]

52. "The doc still gets the kick back though."

Say what?

[Jester Messiah]

31. Pushers around schools = bad; pushers on TV = good.

[hack89]

32. Where else would my kids learn about 4 hour erections? nt

[Hell Hath No Fury]

33. Allowing them to air happening during Clinton --

It was a HUGE mistake -- the industry spends tens of billions a year to advertise and WE pay for it with increased drug prices.

[hifiguy]

34. Agreed.

Make information available on the web, where it has to be sought out, but get it the hell off television. These are decisions for doctors to make.

[MineralMan]

35. Bring Back Smiling Bob!

You don't need no pharmaseeyouticles. We've got the good stuff, and you don't even have to tell your doctor you're impotent.

[HuckleB]

51. +1

[redqueen]

36. Hear, hear!

[librechik]

37. Wholeheartedly Agree! This is one reason HC costs have skyrocketed

self serving, venal, and frankly destructive if not actually deadly to people.

[benld74]

38. Remember HOW LONG it took to get cigarette commercials off the air?????

[maggiesfarmer]

45. gosh, I'm willing to consider freedom of speech and all here

and honestly a little surprised i'm not seeing like comments.

Caveat Emptor: I haven't researched this, this is off the top of my head thoughts.

we have gov't bodies in place to regulate pharm advertising, development and distribution. the ad regs involve requiring disclaimers as mentioned above. i'm not saying that current reg's are perfect, but I'm willing to suggest that through tweaking the system we might be able to resolve some of the bigger issues.

If a bio-chemical engineer creates a start up company and puts her life and career into researching and finding a new drug to treat XYZ, I would have no problem with them advertising that drug against what's currently on the market. advertising directly to the end market and getting them to make requests of doctors is a valid strategy against the routine the doctors have in prescribing the current market leader.

everyone hates big pharm, but I can't come up with a reason why the same rights shouldn't extend to them.

I am willing to listen, however.

[MFrohike]

49. Counterpoint

As the federal government owns the airwaves and only licenses them to various companies, the government has the explicit right to do what it pleases with its property. That's an extremely strong practical argument, but maybe not the best political argument. That being said, Congress banned tobacco advertising in TV in 1970 and that ban still holds.

A better argument would be that commercial speech has always had less protection than political speech because it is deemed less important to the preservation of fundamental liberties. Government has a legitimate, and historic, interest in regulating commercial speech because of potential harm to the public (general welfare) and potential damage to economic transactions (consumer confidence that everything isn't snake oil is pretty important). Government has a legitimate interest in both providing that drugs that are sold aren't unreasonably dangerous in terms of health and, given the reality of a strong state interest in providing medical care, are not dangerous to its budgets, either. If the cost of drugs is being driven by the cost of advertising, it could be reasonable for the government to take steps to slow the rise in prices, or wipe it out, by either mandating advertising at lower rates or to completely ban advertising. Normally, this could be a potentially dangerous problem constitutionally, but given that Congress owns the underlying medium and has a huge amount of authority to regulate it, the problem is probably moot.

[maggiesfarmer]

55. so, you've convinced me this isn't an easy issue

it's friday night and i'm already pretty relaxed. I PROMISE I will give this more thought

[csziggy]

47. Those commercials convince me NOT to take most of those drugs!

They spend 20 seconds telling you the advantages, then 30-40 seconds telling you the side effects. That's enough to make me decide that no matter what good that drug might do, I don't want the unintended consequences.

[HuckleB]

53. Yes, it is long overdue.

[undeterred]

58. The cost of tv advertising should not be something that you and I are paying for.

Why the hell is the price of drugs being driven up by something that only should be advertised to doctors?

[Justice wanted]

60. I've been saying that for years. We are the only country that allow it.

[Initech]

61. Advertising is one of the reasons health care costs are so high.

I agree - it should go!