Pharmaceutical ads

[sle008]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi everyone!

For the past few years, I?ve seen a drastic increase in the number of pharmaceutical ads on television. I was wondering what all you future/current pharmacists thought about this. What kind of impact do you think this has on the medical and pharmaceutical profession? Are you in favor of these ads? btw, my favorite one is the Viagra commercial where all these men run out of their homes and are leaping into the air while in the background they?re playing ?We are the Champions?. Too bad William Hung wasn?t famous at the time or he could?ve done a live performance (of the song, not of the drug?s effectiveness).

I hope everyone is having a great summer.

 

[Longhorn23]

What I don't understand is how effective these ads are since they are prescription drugs. Doesn't the doctor have more discretion about choosing the brand rather than the patient? Suppose I have acid reflux- should I tell the doctor to prescribe me Prevacid (they say -ask your doctor abt prevacid)????
The money spent on ads could be better spent by lowering the drug prices instead

 

[MNnaloxone]

I think I've seen a lot more Toyota commercials, too. No offense, but it is easy to complain that drug prices are too high, and drug companies should bridle their advertisements. However, no company, Pfizer included, is in the business of charity. I know I wouldn't go to work solely because it makes me "feel good".

Just my opinion, I've been blasted for it before.

 

[Caverject]

I think I've seen a lot more Toyota commercials, too. No offense, but it is easy to complain that drug prices are too high, and drug companies should bridle their advertisements. However, no company, Pfizer included, is in the business of charity. I know I wouldn't go to work solely because it makes me "feel good".

Just my opinion, I've been blasted for it before.

I agree with that. Why not have commercials here on SDN?

Nausea, heartbun, indegestion, upset stomach, diarrhea. Hey Pepto Bismol!!!!!

 

[bananaface]

My personal opinion is that the ads themselves are good because they bring patients information which increases their chances of seeking treatment for conditions they would otherwise just live with. The ads definitely influence which drugs get the most sales.

Here is a report put out in 2000 by the National Institute of Healthcare Management on the topic of DTC advertising. It requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

If you want to talk about wasteful advertising jacking up the cost of prescription drugs, think about all the freebies that drug companies give out. Pharmacists mostly get pens and notepads, occasionally kleenex. Doctors receive neat gadgets and samples too. But, drug companies are the worst when they try to influence drug buyers or people who advise drug buyers. One of my classmates is married to a hospital pharmacy administrator and he gets calls all the time offering him free trips to seminars about their products. These seminars are generally fancy dinners in town, or held at resorts out of town where they let you stay a bit longer and take a mini vacation on their dime.

 

[28657]

Pharmaceutical ads make being a Family Practioner a heck of a lot easier. Patients walk in the FP's office, tells the FP what condition they have and what they want to fix it, FP writes a script, FP pockets lots of cash.

Damn why didn't I think to be a family practitioner!

 

[Bruinized]

I think I've seen a lot more Toyota commercials, too. No offense, but it is easy to complain that drug prices are too high, and drug companies should bridle their advertisements. However, no company, Pfizer included, is in the business of charity. I know I wouldn't go to work solely because it makes me "feel good".

Just my opinion, I've been blasted for it before.

I agree with you on this one MNnaloxone. And I don't see why you should be criticized for feeling this way.

 

[MNnaloxone]

I agree with you on this one MNnaloxone. And I don't see why you should be criticized for feeling this way.

That is absolutely refreshing. I just got into it last weekend with a know-it-all customer at my weekend retail gig over essentially this topic. Usually I let it go, but this one was the mother of my sister's ex (who we both still like. All parties involved think that mom is crazy).

I try to think of it this way: An increase in lifespan doesn't come free. How much are you willing to pay for an extra year? An extra 5? It may be simplistic, but it works for me.

Thanks. Back to work for me.