Ban Prescription Drug advertising!

Does anyone notice, in prescription drug advertisements, how there is obvious brainwashing going on?

These drugs are one of the biggest killers in America.

I know many others have thought of this before, but how can they get away with it? Why are cigarette commercials banned from TV? Oh, because cigarettes are "bad" for you? Marijuana is medicinal in many states, why don't they advertise that? It's the same thing, right?

Prescription drug advertising should be banned. If anyone thinks it's a limit on free speech, what about tobacco advertising, or Medicinal Marijuana advertising?

Oh, but prescription drugs are good for you? Let the patient and the doctor talk about it privately. Is it really necessary to have so many prescription drug advertisements? Most of them are not needed anyway, and the side-effects are worse than tobacco.

[edit on 24-9-2009 by bettermakings]

[edit on 24-9-2009 by bettermakings]

[edit on 24-9-2009 by bettermakings]

Agree 100 percent. And i would go even further - ban OTC commercials too. Commercials never say the truth, this is not their purpose. And i do not know about doctors and how it works with prescription drugs since it is not allowed here, but with OTC alone there are enough mix-ups. And i can see how sales rise and fall according to commercial campaigns. All this to medication with known side effects that should be taken only if really needed.

reply to post by bettermakings


Agree. Oh, an FYI. . . the woman in the pack of smokes? Mary Tyler Moore.

S&F


edit to add; sorry, shes in the "dancing pack of smokes", sorry.


[edit on 24-9-2009 by mikerussellus]

I totally agree, drug commercials should be banned. What really bothers me is falling asleep with my television on and having a penis enlargement infomercial filling my dreams with images of insecurity... I don't mean to get off topic but all the penis enlargement commercials have to be doing some serious damage to a certain segment of society. Before I started having sex I was very insecure that I was to small, luckily Ive since been told otherwise.

whats the point of perscription commercials? its not like i can walk into a store a say 'IM depressed today im going to buy some zoloft' or 'im going to suprise my wife and get some viagra'

I also agree with you. I've never understood the need to advertise a drug/product that you have no control over whether or not you are permitted to use it anyway.

I'd be willing to bet people start to convince themselves they have a medical condition that needs to be addressed with medication.

It's like, how many people get heartburn? Most have it more consistently because of a bad diet. Then they see these commercials and say OMG! I have that problem and wonder if they need the drug. It probably takes a few times of seeing the commercial before they convince themselves they have a chronic problem.

Then there's the commercials for knee replacements. Why in the heck do they need to advertise those? You either need one or you don't. You don't go shopping for a knee replacement or consider getting one and the doctor knows the best way to address the problem. How many people go to their doctor and say, "Hey doc, I think I need that knee thingymajig I saw on TV the other day."?

The other day, I heard my boss say, "So I went home and took a Zanax. I didn't really need it but..." and I drowned out the rest. It was all I needed to hear. I've heard her talking about taking a Zanax before or heard her say "I really need a Zanax".

I find it very disturbing. How many moms find pot in their kids' bedroom, flip out thinking their a druggy, ground them or something then go to their room and pop a Valium or Zanax before going to bed.

reply to post by bettermakings


I personally think companies should be able to advertise whatever they want to spend money advertising. It is not like a commercial makes you do anything, unless you are too stupid to realize they are trying to sell you something.

Plus, what if someone has a problem and never went to the doctor because they didnt think there was a solution? Now they see a commercial that says there may be and they get the help they would have missed otherwise.

I am sooooo sick of the victim mentality in this country. Now you are a victim of your television. Unbelievable.

[edit on 24-9-2009 by HotDogNoBun]

reply to post by HotDogNoBun


exactly. but we can't advertise tobacco, so it's a double-standard.

reply to post by bettermakings


haha reminds me of a good song
"You know we have more prescription drugs now.
Every commercial that comes on TV is a prescription drug ad.
I can't watch TV for four minutes without thinking I have five serious diseases.
Like: "Do you ever wake up tired in the morning?"
Oh my god I have this, write this down. Whatever it is, I have it.
Half the time I don't even know what the commercial is:
people running in fields or flying kites or swimming in the ocean.
I'm like that is the greatest disease ever. How do you get that?
That disease comes with a hot chick and a puppy."
www.youtube.com...

reply to post by bettermakings


Well I think they should be able to advertise tobacco too, but unfortunately I dont make the laws.

I don't see how you would think it is brainwashing.

Its advertisement, just like any other product. Its like saying that Frosted Flakes brainwashes people when they claim that their product is "gggrreeaaattt!".

As long as they list the side effects then they aren't decieving anyone. Just like I have no problems with alcohol products advertised.

Originally posted by Djdoubt03
whats the point of perscription commercials? its not like i can walk into a store a say 'IM depressed today im going to buy some zoloft' or 'im going to suprise my wife and get some viagra'

In the Twilight Zone it goes like this.
Describe the symptoms in a broad wide ranging manner to a prospective client or Jim as we'll call him for this episode. Inform Jim that the product will fix what ever symptom rang a bell during the description. We then tell Jim to go see his doctor and request the product. The doctor has already been informed to expect Jim as he will repeat the key phrase. Jim has been prepped about the list of side effects and adverse reactions. Since we trivialized them during the initial presentation, Jim isn't really paying attention as he's heard it already and feels well educated and confident in making decisions. The doctor will ask some questions from a script, prepared by us, that will further convince Jim that he needs us. Upon enabling Jim and introducing him into the loop the doctor earns bonus points and we have yet another life long client.

Now a word from our sponsors....

[edit on 24-9-2009 by mantic]

I tend to agree there is entirely too much prescription and OTC drug advertising here in the US. One of my favorite lines in many of these advertisements is the admonishment for us to ask our doctor. Well, having worked as a purchasing clerk for a local hospital group, before I was laid off a few months ago, I placed many pharmaceutical orders for the doctor's offices, and I can tell you that is exactly what many people do. The really peculiar part is that too many times we have seen an advertisment for the drug before the doctor has even heard of it. Advertising does work.

reply to post by mxridr618


LMAO, I do see your point. Everytime I see that commercial for the Herpes drug it kinda makes me want to run out and get the herp so I can go kayaking with some hot chick.

Originally posted by bettermakings
reply to post by HotDogNoBun

 

exactly. but we can't advertise tobacco, so it's a double-standard.

I am in the healthcare field and advertising of drugs makes me sick also, the pharma sales people push these drugs on Doctors who in turn give them to their patients free, interesing to find out what incentive there is for the Doctors...maybe a little payola.

Completely agree.

It's funny though. These drugs are made to treat, for example, depression. Then it lists about ten other problems it could cause.

Guess I'll get my pill for my depression, another one for the diarrhea it causes, another for the hearburn that one causes.......

I think they do a service by saying the side-effects, which, I'm sure many people don't read when they get a prescription. The fact of the matter is, most prescriptions work for most people, or they wouldn't keep taking them.

reply to post by ZeroKnowledge


Isn't that the one where the commercial said "Side effects may include thoughts of suicide, or occasional suicide"

They say it so casually..

I never see it as brainwashing... specially since at the end of every last one of them, You have about 10 secs of hyperspeak saying everything from , this medcine may cause bleeding from the rectum, drymouth, weird or vivid dreams, lack of sleep, loss of weight, peeling of the skin and chemical castration.

ok maybe not all of that, but listen to em, i find them a source of entertainment, seeing how you'd have to be
A, really sick and of tried everything else
or
B, lacking the frontal lobe, or maybe you have 2 outta 4

[edit on 6-10-2009 by 10001011]

Originally posted by stevegmu
I think they do a service by saying the side-effects, which, I'm sure many people don't read when they get a prescription. The fact of the matter is, most prescriptions work for most people, or they wouldn't keep taking them.

Do you have any idea how many people die every year from medications, especially seniors, I know what they do, in many cases it doesn't help at all but sure keeps them in la la land or in danger of falling.