Tuesday, February 10, 2009

AD CAMPAIGN


Federal regulators in America allow the advertising of prescription drugs on television.

This is a bad idea for public policy.

It is a good idea for people who hold shares in Big Pharma and for Comedy.

Take "Abilify," please.

Which, let's admit up front, sounds remarkable like "vilify."

Here's the essential Abilify message:

"Hey Stupid, Desperate Person! If your anti-depressant isn't enough...take a second anti-depressant as well!"

Not much different from saying, "If banging your head into a cement wall doesn't hurt enough, try banging your head into a cement wall and then dropping a piano on your head."

Then, bringing up the rear...

"Levitra" is a poison from the viagra, cialis family.

Here's the message that you get for this elixir on TV:

"Levitra is great...unless you get an erection that won't go away after 4 hours, and by the way, you could turn blind and deaf using this crap. But, hey, you'll be a man again, Arthur!"

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have use for many pharmaceuticals that have been developed over the years (I work in a long term care home where, as a team, we strive to use the MINIMUM amount of drugs to optimize each Resident's health/wellbeing while keeping side effects to a minimum).

However, the problem that I have with those drug ads is that they intended for people who want to play doctor. Yes, the ads tell us to "speak to our doctor about ..." - but in reality, most people will assume the drug suits them and will FIND a doctor who will prescribe same.

A much better approach for managing health is to speak to ones doctor about health concerns and THEN together find appropriate management for those concerns (appropriate management might be a combination of diet, excercise, lifestyle changes, and appropriately prescribed and MONITORED medication).

Big Pharma drug ads create desire. That's what marketing is all about. It is unhealthy to "desire" a need for drugs. The would be "desiring" ill health. This is poor health management.

Linda Yuill, LPN

Anonymous said...

"A much better approach for managing health is to speak to ones doctor about health concerns and THEN together find appropriate management for those concerns (appropriate management might be a combination of diet, excercise, lifestyle changes, and appropriately prescribed and MONITORED medication)."

Sounds great doesn't it? Been to your GP lately? - that is if you've been able to find one who is taking patients - or taking patients with your particular chronic health condition... Most GPs, if not all allow 10 minutes per visit (bottom line computations), have not studied diet in med school and rarely discuss the matter - but usually have their prescription pads at the ready - and often their hand on the doorknob. In fact, some will become downright angry if a patient refuses to take the various and sundry drugs prescribed. Time to quit blaming the patient. Many of us research medical conditions and prescription drugs - and refuse to take them.

One of the first courses of action which often takes place when a senior is admitted to hospital is to take them off the often over prescribed meds and begin again.....

Anonymous said...

A note to Anonymous -

I actually wasn't "blaming" the patient - I was suggesting a better way to manage health. Naturallly, this would include the GP's and other health care professionals be proactive as well.

Linda

Anonymous said...

" - but in reality, most people will assume the drug suits them and will FIND a doctor who will prescribe same."


"most people" = patients = blaming the patient.