Story of the First Prescription drug Ad on TV- it was banned, I think they all should be.

Source

Within 48 hours of the ad’s airing, the federal government told the company to take it down. And more than 30 years later, the fight over marketing prescription drugs directly to the public is still raging.

Now, the American Medical Association, the largest doctors group in the United States, wants to stop direct-to-consumer advertising for prescription drugs in the belief that the ads encourage patients to seek medicines unnecessarily. But the effort to have drug ads banned alongside tobacco ads will face plenty of obstacles, none bigger than the First Amendment. Perhaps the most unusual thing about this decades-long saga is that it’s an issue at all.

Now, what we have is a mess of ads on TV that at the same time tell you how a drug may help you and how it may kill you.

We are all used to the side effects almost being yelled at the end of a commercial now. I saw one the other day that said "The first time you take it, it will be in a doctor's office with 3-6 hours of observation." I can't remember what it was. The point was to make sure that if it is going to kill you that you are near medical help.

I believe that some lead you to believe you may have something you don't and doctors are MORE than happy to hand out samples. Samples lead to more visits that lead to more money for them and more money for paid prescriptpions.

Chantix. Want to quit smoking? Good. but the medication may cause suicidal thoughts.



Chantix linked to more than 500 suicides

Is Chantix still sold? You betcha.

These ads should be banned, like cigarette ads are banned on TV.

The United States is one of only two countries in the world to allow these ads.

As a Brit we don't get these...well we get Anadin and cough medicine but not prescription ones.
I find it horrid tbh but I have seen drug reps try and sell their medicine but we don't get it on TV.
I must admit why would anyone take that drug after watching the ad?.

originally posted by: boymonkey74
As a Brit we don't get these...well we get Anadin and cough medicine but not prescription ones.
I find it horrid tbh but I have seen drug reps try and sell their medicine but we don't get it on TV.

They are on TV here maybe 1 out of 4 ads. Well, I haven't watched TV in awhile, only Walking Dead when it comes on TV or the Superbowl or an occasional Bills game, but it is about 1 in 4 ads.

Cougar Viagra ads during sat morn cartoons need to GO

Sign of sinister times, guess

a reply to: reldra

But, But, If they are not allowed to advertise these expensive drugs with side effects worse than what they treat, they would have to do something like cure cancer or aids!

We all know those "blue pills" are much more necessary than curing anything.


Whenever talking about the pharmaceutical industry... remember the motto: Treatment Not Cure.

I think of all the older people, sitting night after night in front of their tv's and the ads that fill up a good third of an hour program. All those ads aimed at old people telling them that each and every ache and pain, is gonna kill em unless they take this specific pill. I'm sure those ads are turning all our seniors into hypochondriacs. I tell ya, Big Pharma rules late night TV. You are going to die, take this pill and you will live. Bravo AMA.

a reply to: Plantagenet

Wait they have them during kids tv shows? we have laws to prevent certain items being sold on tv before a certain time.
The watershed.

a reply to: reldra
I used to clean doctor's offices. You could always tell when the drug reps came in. There was always catering and Starbucks (bribes) and also a ton of goodies (bribes) ranging from clocks to radios, flashlights, pens, stationary, and a slew of other things. It was nuts.

But the effort to have drug ads banned alongside tobacco ads will face plenty of obstacles, none bigger than the First Amendment. Perhaps the most unusual thing about this decades-long saga is that it’s an issue at all.

I got a chuckle out of this. Yeah, hiding behind the First Amendment. By that logic, they should bring back tobacco ads.

Ah, the joy of not dealing with commercials.

a reply to: reldra

LOL,

A minute and 20 second add in which a minute is a warning about all the bad # that can happen to you.

Who the hell would take this crap?

a reply to: Plantagenet

Cougar ads for sex pills. Have you seen those cougars? Man, any man who needs help from a pill with a woman who looks like those models should be in his grave.

a reply to: reldra

I just found the worst...

originally posted by: boymonkey74
a reply to: Plantagenet

Wait they have them during kids tv shows? we have laws to prevent certain items being sold on tv before a certain time.
The watershed.

I have not seen them during kid's tv shows. The market wouldn't even make sense. But I can;t prove it hasn't happened.
Kid's tv shows are 24 hrs now. So, it could happen by accident.

yeah we here in NZ also get prescribed drug ads.......,chantix is marketed as champix down here,and after my doc wanting to put me on it,I read up a little,and it is apparently nasty stuff so ill continue to smoke and die slowly.......not after a 2wk course of champix thanks doc. He also didnt realise I cant go on it because of blood pressure meds im on....changed my doctor in the end.

originally posted by: boymonkey74
a reply to: reldra

I just found the worst...

LMAO!

I know that is a joke one, but not far from the truth.

I do take a couple of medications for anxiety. I am comfortable with the ones I have. My doctor always wants to 'try out' anti depressants "In order to reduce my dependence on anti-anxiety medication". So, add more meds to slightly reduce the dosage of the others. I do tend to look at him like he is nuts. Now I pull out my phone, look up the side effects of what he wants to give me...the most reported ones, not the ones rarely reported- and he is now used to me saying to him "You have got to be Fing kidding me." An older man with about 22 degrees is now used to me saying this and now his answer is "maybe we'll look at another next time. We won't go with this one." lol

a reply to: reldra

Hear hear! These Rx ads are highly predatory on largely weak-minded Americans. Aren't doctors supposed to be in charge of who needs medication? Every ad begs people to "Ask your doctor if (random pill) is right for you". Ban all of those commercials.

Also, I'm really tired of 4 or 5 auto insurance ads per commercial break. Toss those as well. That takes care of about 80% of ads. Good riddance.

a reply to: reldra

I agree they shouldn't be on TV in the amount that they are, simply because it seems to me that, these days, it's not about your Dr saying you need to take this to treat X but rather, Dr, I need to take this to treat X because I saw it on Tv for some new mystery condition that is probably not actually serious. Drugs=Money. legal or illegal.

Hence the power of corporations and money. They got the US Gov't to declare these types of ads "free speech," (and then they got corporations as people, see Citizens United) which is why they can air them (with legal disclaimers, of course, such as, we might cure your jock itch, but your semen might make your wife have a heart attack, after which you'll get leprosy and slowly die).

Not to mention the power of pharmaceutical companies in general, lobbying congress and giving kick backs to Drs to push these new drugs.

ETA:
7 years ago I used chantix to quit smoking. I didn't have very bad side effects. I tried cold turkey and the patch and couldn't do it. I figured, I can deal with a short term solution to a larger, longer problem that will significantly impact me far more negatively and it's worth it. And it was. If it were one of those things where you had to take it the rest of your life, no.

a reply to: reldra
Whenever I see one of those ads where they show people out hiking and otherwise being active and then listing diarrhea as one of the side effects, I think the people in the ads must be wearing these:

originally posted by: hiddenNZ
yeah we here in NZ also get prescribed drug ads.......,chantix is marketed as champix down here,and after my doc wanting to put me on it,I read up a little,and it is apparently nasty stuff so ill continue to smoke and die slowly.......not after a 2wk course of champix thanks doc. He also didnt realise I cant go on it because of blood pressure meds im on....changed my doctor in the end.

I changed to vaping 3 years ago. I am still addicted to nicotene, but at a much lower mg level. I also don't get the up to 3,000 chemicals in cigarettes (some of which are rumored to be not only toxic but addictive- thrown in for extra punch).
I don't get smoke (combustion). There are 4 ingredients in e cig juice, I can go with that over 3,000.

It took me less than 2 weeks to fully switch over, it is a question of getting the right equipment and knowledge and temprament. Some people take a little longer. But it is more than possible. I am much better health-wise now. Clear lung x ray. No morning cough.

And it tastes better. I have kickin cola by Steam junk right now. There are e cig juices available that taste like tobacco...can;t stand the taste now.

originally posted by: Urantia1111
a reply to: reldra

Hear hear! These Rx ads are highly predatory on largely weak-minded Americans. Aren't doctors supposed to be in charge of who needs medication? Every ad begs people to "Ask your doctor if (random pill) is right for you". Ban all of those commercials.

Also, I'm really tired of 4 or 5 auto insurance ads per commercial break. Toss those as well. That takes care of about 80% of ads. Good riddance.

One at a time lol. Some of the insurance ads are funny.