Drug Ads. Damn . . .
Jul 31st, 2008 | By moneyking | Category: Business
For your consideration: Drug Ads. Damn . . .
You gotta face the fact that a large amount of people make their money from the stupidity of others. Our government is supposed to protect us, right? How would you feel if you found out that some governments actually ban drug ads–ENTIRELY?
Why don’t we ban drug ads here? There’s a simple answer to this:
Because people are dumb.
People will see an ad for depression medication, and then really think they’re depressed and therefore need the drug. People will see an ad for headache medication, and then think they’re more prone to headaches than others and therefore buy more drugs.
Don’t be a sucker.
Also, check out this organization founded by an Australian doctor actually NOT taking money from the drug companies.
Good luck out there.
Keywords: drugs, ads, dumb, stupid, people, money, need, manufactured illness
People are dumb. I wonder if the drug companies are in cahoots with the insurance companies. Hmmm….Well, fancy ads lead to higher sales. Can’t see an end to them…
Jerry
http://www.leads4insurance.com
This is one of my biggest beefs - particularly, drug ads on TV. They just seem so inappropriate - shouldn’t my doctor be telling me about this stuff anyway?? Drugs are marketed like candy to the public at large, smart and dumb alike. I hit the mute button because I don’t care that those particular shareholders need to be kept happy. Half the drugs out there either don’t work or produce a whole other set of symptoms anyhow!
Can’t get around this one, can you?
I ordered some fancy fish tacos today at a restaurant, because they had one of those ads that made them look oh so good!
They were good, actually. But, again, the ad had 99% to do with me making the order.
Don’t quote me, but I think at one time in the US (and maybe this is how it is in some other countries) drug companies were only allowed to advertise to doctors, which is the way it should be. In fact, with all the regulations on what drug companies can, can’t and have to say in drug ads and commercials, it’s a wonder they work at all. A lot of times I’ll see a commercial on TV where someone’s riding a bike through a park and having a good time; then they hug their kids or some crap. What kind of conclusion am I supposed to draw from that?
OK that’s enough for my rambling comment.
You’re absolutely right. Big Pharma has no business pedaling their wares as if it’s breakfast cereal. No wonder Americans are taking so many prescription drugs. And yet I don’t see a realistic end in sight…
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Does anyone have the numbers on big pharma’s advertising increases during the last few years?
I see the ads everywhere…
The best example of this is “restless leg syndrome”. Never have I heard of a more unreal disorder in my life, but anyone who can’t sleep is going to automatically think they have it. But hey, if you can make the commercial to drive the profit… why not?
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I’ve seen ads on TV for Caduet. It has two ingredients. One is Amlodipine and the other is Atorvastatin. With my RxDrugCard I can get 30 tablets of Amlodipine for $9 and 30 tablets of Simvastatin for $9. I’ll bet they are charging more than $18 for this new drug! The unthinking public is going to pressure their doctors into giving them something just because it’s new when something old or generic would do the job for cheaper.