Drug Ads - Do they encourage you?

[Athena]

This week, news sources have announced that over HALF of insured Americans are on chronic medication (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080514/ap_on_re_us/medication_nation&printer=1). This isn't antibiotics, folks - this is medication an individual takes for extended periods of time and, perhaps, permanently. Chronic medication would include high blood pressure medication, anti-depressants or anxiety meds, or perhaps sleep inducers. Just to give you an idea (from the article):

Medication use for chronic problems was seen in all demographic groups:

• Almost two-thirds of women 20 and older.

• One in four children and teenagers.

• 52 percent of adult men.

• Three out of four people 65 or older.

Among seniors, 28 percent of women and nearly 22 percent of men take five or more medicines regularly.

Now, what causes this? Is it the fact that good medicine is available? Certainly. Is it because Americans seem to live particularly hedonistic lifestyles, resulting in more necessity? I'm sure of it. Lastly, might it be those fantastic ads we're bombarded with daily?

http://www.dynamictruth.com/lunesta/lunesta2.jpg

...tell me you haven't seen the glowing, green butterfly, heard the soft, peaceful voice and music, and wished you were there. Sure, they list the dangers and potential side effects. When I see ANY medicine commercial, I think, "Hell, with drugs like that, who needs diseases?" But, do those warnings overpower them images of a restful sleep? Not for some.

But, there's hope on the horizon. Matthew Perrone, an AP business writer asks, "Would consumers get the same warm, fuzzy message from a drug advertisement that promised to lift their mood if it also urged them to report side effects like suicidal thoughts and diarrhea?"

Good question, Matt.

He continues on ( http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/drug_advertisements_side_effects;_ylt=ArDM.unCBXQ1 oZyQQ6ggQ.0DW7oF) to suggest that, regulators are to review a proposal which would mandate that these ads implore the audience to report to the government side effects that they are experiencing. Apparently, only about 35% of Americans realize that they can, in fact, report these side effects to the government.

I wonder, though...If you were not only told the side effects by these commercials, but you were asked to report these side effects, might it lower the unusually (and, perhaps, unnecessarily) high rate of medication in this country?

[CPL CHUD]

Maybe, could be, probably. The real question would be by what percent.

[Athena]

But, CHUD, if it saves one life...

Heh. Not gonna be that guy. Still, while "by what percentage" may be the question, I kind of interested in people's more immediate response. I mean, I'm pretty well anti-drug. If a condition of mine isn't causing me to not function, I won't likely medicate it. But, I know it's not like that for a lot of people.

I'd like folks to consider to what extent they've influenced by drug ads.

[Lizard]

I became of aware of [DRUG CLASS X] through commercials, yeah. But I also researched [DRUG CLASS X] myself and talked to my doctor about it. Been on it for years now, and glad for it. Am I a good example? Eh, prolly not.

[Athena]

I don't mean to insinuate that people who take drugs that they learn about via TV ads are a bunch of hypochondriacs. It's a legitimate source of information.

But, let's be real, here...The U.S. has a MUCH higher rate of people on chronic medicine, per capita, than other countries of similar standing. A friend of mine traveled here from Australia, a while back, and was floored by the number of drug ads on TV. There are a lot of people in this country who want to have something. I know that's difficult for us sane folk to wrap our heads around, but I know people who will actually develop symptoms upon deciding they've got condition X. That's weird shit.

Do you think it's a bad thing to make drug companies actually highlight side effects during these commercials, rather than list them as a brief afterthought at the end?

[CPL CHUD]

Do you think it's a bad thing to make drug companies actually highlight side effects during these commercials, rather than list them as a brief afterthought at the end?
Usually I laugh when they mention the list of reported side effects at the end of the commercial. They'll promise to make you happy, remove your genital warts, or cure your allergies at the possible cost of losing your bowels, your hair falling out, or becoming blind. Great stuff. It wouldn't be funny if it wasn't true.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

I have never understood drug ads. Half the time the commercial doesn't even say what it is supposed to treat. Bad enough that doctors tell you about the latest new fangled whatever they have samples of.

Any doctor worth a grain of salt is not going to prescribe a medication just because you want it and he wants you off his back or a drug company touted it up to him. If I thought my doctor was doing that, I would dropkick him to the next exam room.

Unthinking blissfully unaware twits want an instant and easy fix. Many doctors are happy to oblige these folks and keep up their image as a gift to humanity. I am not anti-drug or anti-doctors. I take a couple meds and will for life and have found a great doctor after many encounters with godwannabe doctors.

If you read the drug info sheet that is supposed to come with the Rx fill, you would never take any drug. But every one knows that there are ones that work for who and as intended. A lifesaver for those folks where the cost out weighs the risk. And the lucky ones who never get any of the horrid things mentioned.

My favorite ads were the old Viagra ads. "If you have an erection lasting more than 4 hours, seek medical help" YEAH - like any guy thought that was bad! Now they added "to avoid long term complications"... so probably every guy that takes it sets an alarm for 4 hours so he doesn't go over.

[celtic friend]

I think that in the U.S. our view is not on preventive medicine. I also think that we feel a pill can fix all of our problems, we like quick fixes.
I think some drugs get passed too quickly, and it is in the end all about money.

[Raq me darkly]

I do not particularly care for the drug ads (except, maybe for the very long Celebrex (http://www.youtube.com/v/7GvYI4VdVEI&hl=en&rel=0) ad which cracks me up).

I find the ones that do not even state what they treat to be a waste of my time (I understand that by not stating the purpose, they are increasing the interest).

It bothers me that all the money they waste on TV/Radio advertising they could be spending on research and testing. Interesting, maybe if they did more testing they would realize that their drug does not work before it goes on the market and ends up costing them millions in lawsuits.