Comments on: The Story Behind Prescription Drug Advertisements

By: Russell: Single Use Containers

Russell: Single Use Containers — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:58:33 +0000

Clearly there must be a better way than going directly to the consumer, after all who has enough information to make a decision on what a patient may need? Per KC’s comments above, the result just creates more unnecessary havoc.

By: Rob Bennett

Rob Bennett — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:33:44 +0000

Because the “logical” consumer is actually a complete idiot, this strategy works. Yet the theories by which our economy is governed are rooted in the premise that all money decisions are made by Rational Man. What could go wrong? Rob .-= Rob Bennett´s last blog ..Podcast #170 — Behavioral Finance 2.0 =-.

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:45:26 +0000

It seems unethical to advertise prescription drugs on television. It seems patients and doctors are too willing to turn to a drug these days when there still might be drug-free solution.

We don’t have ads for pharmaceuticals here on Australian TV yet. But when something happens in the US it’s not long before it catches on down here too…..

By: KC

KC — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:53:23 +0000

My husband is an endocrinologist (diabetes, thyroid conditions) and he shudders at pharma commercials. He says they are the reason we pay so much for drugs. He says so many patients come in asking (demanding) for a drug that either interacts with something else they are taking or , in the doctors experience, doesn’t work too well. But the patient DEMANDS it, despite the doctor’s years of education, training, and knowledge. This is what the drug companies want – they’ll sell much more medication this way.

Another example are those one touch blood sugar readers. They advertise that you no longer have painful needle pricks in your fingers. So the patients come in wanting this new reader so they dont’ have to stick themselves anymore. What One Touch doesn’t tell you is you have to stick your arm. How in the h— can you check your blood sugar without pricking the skin in some location? The commercials don’t tell you that.