By: W.J. BeerSlugger
You know, as far as I can tell, the United States is the only country in the world to allow direct marketing of prescription medicine to the general public through television, radio and print ad’s. You may have previously read my take on Cialis which takes on the advertising aspect in a funny way or Latisse which I think for 99% of cases is unnecessary but I think this article will take a more serious turn.
The fact that we spent 291 Billion dollars last year on prescription drugs says a lot about where we are as a nation. It’s big business, they have lobbyists like any other big business and they get away with a little more just like big business. Now I’m not here going all Scientology on you and telling you that prescription medications are bad and all you need is a good diet and exercise because there are a lot of great drugs out there that help people immensely, that are keeping people alive. I don’t have a problem with the Pharmaceutical Industry until I see a prescription medication commercial on my TV.
I really don’t care if it’s Ambien, Mucinex, Lunesta, Allegra, Viagra, Valtrex, Yaz, Zymbalta or whatever, I hate these commercials as much as I hate tampon commercials. Why? Because the symptoms of the ailment they describe are so broad, the side effects are listed quite graphically and is it really worth having a dry mouth, a decrease in semen and possible loss of continence just to curb your restless leg syndrome?
What really gets me is that these “Products” are being market to you and I like McDonald’s or Coca Cola when they are actually pretty serious business. “Ask you doctor about XYZ drug and see if it’s right for you”. I mean what’s wrong with that statement? Shouldn’t you intimate to your doctor what kind of symptoms you may be having and then the doctor make a recommendation, if applicable, for a prescription medicine? Isn’t that why the doctors went to medical school, to be able to figure this stuff out?
Instead you have patients going into examination rooms recommending the doctor put them on a medicine before the doctor even knows what’s wrong. Millions of patients playing armchair physician because a TV ad has them convinced they need such and such medication.
That’s what’s wrong with this situation. When you go out to eat you don’t tell the Chef how to cook, when you go to the mechanic you don’t tell the mechanic how to fix your car so why are people telling their doctors why they need certain medications without being a medical professional themselves?
It used to be that Prescription Medication commercials were allowed but you didn’t know what they were, now you know what they are, what they do,what the side effects are and why you shouldn’t take said medication if you have a history of liver or kidney disease, are pregnant or will become pregnant or have uncontrolled glaucoma. Drug companies are putting medication literature that used to be reserved for doctors into places like the Readers Digest and magazines. It seems the Pharmaceutical Industry wants you to make the choice instead of your doctor and why not?… you’re pretty smart right.
Drug Companies are aware of IQs and know that only a small percentage of the population are accepted into Med School. They understand that if they want to sell more of their product, they must advertise to create a new market. Millions of dollars go into research and development of these drugs and of course they want to make a profit, after all this is America.
If it were up to me, I’d take the drug commercials off TV and print ads and leave the doctoring up to the professionals. That’s not going to happen though, not while millions and millions of dollars are at stake for the Pharmaceutical Industry and not while they keep pouring money into Washington lobbyists.
I’m surprised I haven’t seen an ad for this yet but here’s my Ritalin commercial:
“Is your child a little too rambunctious, does he or she get easily distracted in school, have you noticed a change in grades or attitude, do they seem hyperactive at times? Ask your doctor if Ritalin can help.”
That commercial along with some vivid imagery of children behaving while still having fun would probably up the sales of Ritalin at least 25-30%.