These DAMN DRUG Commercials!!!

[Inchworm]

Are they part of The War on Drugs conspiracy?

you know..

"please, please.. buy our legal addictive/body-debilitating drugs so you don't have to buy weed? You know.. weed/crack/meth people are bad... just look in the private prison system. It's loaded with these evil people..."

Hmmm...

:shrug:

[Triana]

1. sitting in the dentist's office last week - their waiting room teevee was on..

...the daytime soaps were on - but every 5 minutes or so - 5-6 commercials IN A ROW hocking some goddamned drug or another for some goddamned symptom or another. I must have seen 20 drug commercials just sitting there for a short while - it was REDICULOUS! And the warnings that came with each commercial - SCARY. They're hocking POISON on national television for profit. Sonsabitches!

THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES NEED TO BE STOPPED FROM ADVERTISING DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC - PERIOD.

[Lex]

3. I agree. I don't think hard liquor is allowed to be advertised on tv, is it?

Or it used to be that way.
I'd rather get liquor advertised on the tv than all these prescription drugs.
It's insane.

[RB TexLa]

11. It is allowed, that was a self imposed ban by television stations. They sell them ads now.

The liquor industry went along with it because it saved them money.

[BrklynLiberal]

15. No more cigarette ads either.

[Inchworm]

4. It's driving me fucking nuts

Smiling faces with deadly voice-over...

every 8 minutes!!

:grr:

[glinda]

6. Pharma has a big hold on Dental Industry so you were part of the commercial! LOL

[lunatica]

46. They're targeting the daytime soap audience with those drugs

Knowing full well that it's mostly women who are the ones I think of when I see the ads. The women in the ad might as well be saying, "Look my life is just like yours" and, "I have the perfect pill for you"

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. Bring Back the Beer and Cigarettes...

:D :hide:

[Inchworm]

5. I bet Beer and Cigarette people donate

to the Drug Commercial people.

See? Bad drugs bad.. get GOOD drugs!

:grr:

[pacalo]

7. 98% of commercials are about prescription drugs & their side effects!

TiVo = greatest tool since sliced bread.

[Inchworm]

8. I want it fixed

:D

I don't want to fall into the Digital TV peoples pockets!!

:rofl:

[pacalo]

10. Thinking about how much money it must cost the pharm co's for so many of them,

it's no wonder we're having to pay so much for prescriptions. And this should be making the insurance companies mad as hell, too.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

9. "You may be suffering from WSP - Watermelon-Sized Prostate"

That's what they could say if they were being frank.

:rofl:

And don't forget the Viva Viagra commercials, featuring the FIX-A-FLAT FIVE!!! :evilgrin:

[Inchworm]

12. I first heard the term...

"anal leakage"

Thanks to these commercials :D

[napi21]

13. In almost every ad I've seen, I'd rather have the problem than the cure!

I just remarked to my husband today "What the hell? They have a drug that women can't touch???" The one with the "If you have an erection for more than four hours, seek medical help immediately cracks me up! My cousin who is a psychologist said "4 hours? Every man I know would say they just went to heaven?"

I've heard so many dire warnings, even if I thought I had what ever problem they're peddeling at the time, I think I'd stick with the problem rather than their cure!

[Inchworm]

14. Plus it's misleading.. another favorite line of mine is..

something like..

"studies show that 2 out of 3 people who are on medications for depression STILL have depression symptoms"

I think to myself.. der. Does that mean 1 in 3 doesn't need meds then? :rofl:

[Maru Kitteh]

18. I hope your cousin has sense enough not to make that uninformed joke with clients.

A Psychiatrist would know that priapism is no joke. Tissues in the penis die. Dead penis tissue is not heaven.

[napi21]

43. NO! He just said that while we were all griping about the stupid ads.

It was at a Christmas family gathering and I'm sure he would never make light of any problem an actual client had. Sorry I triggered your objection. I guess I should have included the circumstances of the comment in my post.

[ejpoeta]

37. but they try to distract you from the side effects by showing the people smiling

laughing playing doing something distracting. I am convinced there must be some research or something out there that tells these guys that if they play music and show people walking or doing something while the disclaimer is running, you can't focus on it all at the same time and will miss the side effects. and i would see why. like for asthma, side effects are basically the symptoms OF the asthma. so you might as well just have the thing.

i think i hate the erection pills commercials the most. and they are on every channel at the same time so you can't avoid them!! like when i am watching discovery channel or history channel and my daughter comes in and watches. i am waiting for the day i have to explain what an erection is to my 10 year old. sure, I am going to have to have 'the talk' with her. but should erection be part of that talk??

[Maru Kitteh]

16. So. You don't think meth is bad?

And you base this on?


Upfront: I don't think that drug companies should be allowed to advertise prescription drugs to the public.

But it's patently uninformed to believe or state that
a) most prescription drugs are addictive
b) most prescription drugs are debilitating
c) most prescription drugs could be replaced by pot

I know it may seem that way from the idiotic commercials you see on TV, but the commercials you see on TV are - well - idiotic. It's why they call it the idiot box.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Meth - IS bad.

[Inchworm]

17. Oh, I know it is

I just think the commercials make "idiots" think that drugs are ok.. so long as you see it advertized. Oh yea.. if you see that "our" drug is good, legal, and worthy, then those other ILLEGAL drugs are very different.

Have a beer, a smoke, and an oxy...

:shrug:

[Maru Kitteh]

23. I agree with that completely. It also sets up the idea that nobody should ever have

any disease symptoms, ever. Jittery? take a pill. Are you a total asshole to your family? Not your fault - take a pill. Want to eat sausage pizza every night but it pisses your body off? Take a pill.

For the record, the bizzare rules set up in '97 mean they have to list even the most OBSCURE side-effects. Most people don't suffer those side effects or they could never afford to keep advertising them. Even though it's misleading, If they're allowed to advertise at all - I'm kinda glad it's set up that way.

[Inchworm]

25. True about the symptoms

Being a whacked dude, I've seen that certain pshche docs think all can be fixed with meds. Some think meds aren't needed. Some..both.

I never noticed, now that I think, but were cold commercials doing this all along? Saying.. umm.. you have been out in 20 degree weather all day yet have the sniffles.. don't you need XX drug?

Hmm...

[boppers]

19. Legalize pot = even more stoopid TV ads from the very same companies.

"Now, Merck has Cannabinatra, ask your doctor about it!"*

"BreezyLeaf, brought to you by Pfizer."*

"GSK brings you THCforMe, a new treatment for chronic pain."*

They'll advertise any drug people can, and will, buy. Some drugs are "off the table" at times, but if they can advertise, and get sales, the actual drug isn't really relevant.

*WARNING: May cause cancer, munchies, impotence, paranoia, delusions, euphoria, and suicidal ideations.

[Inchworm]

21. Decriminalizing weed is another topic

Hmm.. unless we are still on the "war on Drug" thing.

I wonder how many people are in jail/prison for weed alone...

:shrug:

[boppers]

24. How many people are in jail for illegal distribution of Oxycontin?

Food for thought, decriminalizing a substance isn't the same as making all channels legal....

...and if pot *was* legal for Pharma to sell, well, they then have economic incentive to lobby for harsh penalties for the black market.

Be careful what you wish for? ;)

[Inchworm]

27. Well it is all in my head

hehe

I don't know who this Pharma guy is folks keep mentioning... but .. I think privatizing prisons was silly. It doesn't benifit society to lock up a guy who had 3 ozs of weed in his house.

BUT, it does benifit someone.

I have no sense of Oxy sellers because it doesn't usually get much news.

[boppers]

32. Illegal pharma use is 10-15 times that of meth, weed, etc.

It's a freaking huge industry.

However, because of the controls involved, it's not like a doctor ever gets busted with "ten prescription pads with 100 sheets each in his house".

No sexy TV story to sell.

[ejpoeta]

38. they won't want marijuana legalized. you don't need them to manufacture something like that.

it grows anywhere and people can do it themselves. I think that is one of the reasons it is not legal. what is the cost of a bag of weed or a joint vs the pills the drug companies are selling?? I don't know... but i'm going to bet the drug companies make more. I could be wrong. I am a very cynical person. but I have heard that there are medical benefits to marijuana and drug companies wanted to extract things from the marijuana to make pills with it. this was a LONG time ago, mind you. but i would believe it.

[The_Casual_Observer]

20. I can't imagine a situation where I would go to a doctor & ask

him to prescribe any of that shit, the way they suggest that you do.

[Inchworm]

22. Anyone with sense probably feels the same

But why should us "idiots" recommend anything to educated doctors?

crazy...

:crazy:

[buzzycrumbhunger]

35. You'd be amazed how many do

I was so glad to switch over to acute care transcription because every other patient going to their family practice clinic was bringing up some lame ad they saw and asking if it was something they needed. Mostly, it was old ladies--the same ones who are such easy victims for telemarketers and teevee evangelists. :eyes:

Have you looked through a magazine these days? It doesn't seem to matter which one, but almost a third consists of drug ads, as well.

[DCKit]

42. I can't believe you don't know anyone who would (ask their doctor).

Several people in my immediate circle (those with comprehensive insurance) can't go without seeing a Dr. for more than a month at a time. Hell, I've got a sister with an entire file drawer dedicated to prescription pain-killers and mood altering drugs - all legal, of course, because they're prescribed.

Yes, this does have some relation to the legalization of "teh evil weed" 'cause if we had it, 30% of the population wouldn't need to consume dangerous - but legal - chemicals with potentially lethal side-effects.

[global1]

26. I Still Want To Know What A Man & Woman Sitting In Separate Bathtubs......

has to do with selling Cialis?

[Inchworm]

28. Antici...

PATION

:rofl:

[ejpoeta]

39. i don't think you really do. they can't show these people actually having sex

so they show things they do that might LEAD to sex.

[VenusRising]

29. They are so irresponsible.

Every time one of them comes on tv, I'm the fastest mute button in the west. It really bothers my husband, too. He takes all kinds of meds after a heart attack, and every other commercial is for high cholesterol or heart attacks. It's not something he wants to be reminded of every commercial break, and I can't say that I blame him.

I would love to see a study of the increase of disease vs the kind of drugs peddled on tv and if there is a correlation. I wonder how many people that the drug companies make sick through the power of suggestion?

[Inchworm]

30. Why do we put up with it?

:(

I wish I knew who to holler at.

:grr:

[VenusRising]

31. I do what I can on my end to stop it from comint in my house (mute button).

If they didn't have the money, they couldn't buy the spots. They have gone overboard on patenting and stopping generic brands to be made for lower income people, and have made record profits because of it. They are as bad as Wall Street with their over-inflated egos and self-important lifestyles of grandeur.

I wish I knew who to tell you to holler at, because I know you would really let them have it!

[Inchworm]

33. Hehe, I'll holler nice

:P

oh.. and hi!

:hi:

[Raine]

34. They're disgusting

and the list of side-effects is horrendous, even including death! x(

[silverojo]

36. Why people WANT those drugs is beyond me

Every one of them is filled with warnings about "little" things like kidney failure, coma, and death.

[rcrush]

40. I havent seen a restless legs commercial in awhile. Did they cure it?

I was worried there for a sec. Peoples legs just goin nuts and kickin and flaying everywhere. It would have been a national nightmare.

[lunatica]

47. You'll probably think I'm making this us, but restless leg syndrome is now

one of the side effects of a drug they're making commercials about which is about that dreaded 'depression' they want to help out with.

That one commercial where they sell a drug you can take which is better than the one you've been taking for depression is one they use for people who really suffer from severe mental disorders like full blown manic depression. I think restless leg syndrome is one of the side effects, but another one is hyper-salivation. That's the polite way of saying drooling is a side effect.

[rcrush]

48. Thats awesome I'll take 10

[remember2000forever]

41. Who Comes Up With The Pharma Names?

And pictures of little butterflies soothing people to sleep? It's comical.

[spanone]

44. worse than that...TELL YOUR DOCTOR you want these drugs...

[Ocracoker16]

45. Ask your doctor if X is right for you

I really think that these ads contribute to doctors overprescribing some of these medicines. I happen to have a lot of medical problems and take many medications. I get a little upset when I see some of these medicines that have really major side effects advertised like they were aspirin.

I find magazine ads to be a little disturbing when they provide a checklist of symptoms and encourage you to show it to your doctor if you have answered yes to a certain number of the questions. Checklists from drug ads are really not comprehensive enough to be used for diagnosis and RX. People end up taking medications that are for conditions they don't have. Their real problem goes undiagnosed and untreated while they take some pill that doesn't help them.

[tangent90]

49. I'm waiting for them to come out with a drug to cure hypochondria.

They'll sell billions and billions. :grr: :silly: