Research About advertising Drugs -- Whats your input

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone,

I'm doing some research for a paper I'm working on for school.

We have to talk about either why we are for or against advertising Drugs in the media.

Let me know what your thought are.

(Personally I am against advertising in the media. I think it leads to self-diagnosis, people insisting that they are put on those Brand name drugs and bringing up health costs. Some people say they advertise to bring it to doctors attention -- all they have to do for that is send info to the Doc, puplish in Health journals, etc.)

Hi everyone,

I'm doing some research for a paper I'm working on for school.

We have to talk about either why we are for or against advertising Drugs in the media.

Let me know what your thought are.

(Personally I am against advertising in the media. I think it leads to self-diagnosis, people insisting that they are put on those Brand name drugs and bringing up health costs. Some people say they advertise to bring it to doctors attention -- all they have to do for that is send info to the Doc, puplish in Health journals, etc.)

I hate it when pharmaceutical companies market their drug(s) to the public. Patients will come in all the time to me saying, "I want this pill, because the commercial says it will help me with acne." and they get ticked when you tell them that that's not the best one for them. I REALLY hate when they come in with a COUPON that the drug company sent them if they just use that particular product! Then if you say it's not the right drug, the patient is mad at you for trying to give them a different product. They don't have the background to understand everything that goes into the decision to prescribe one medication or another. And what the commercials DON"T tell them is all of the potentail adverse side effects that could occur, and these adverse effects could be much worse than the reason that they came in for!

Drug companies aren't fooling anyone. They claim that they're trying to help the patient help themselves. They're actually trying to help themselves line their corporate pockets by trying to get the patient to request what may be an inferior drug. Also, the federal laws are clamping down on what the drug companies can do to try to get Healthcare Providers to prescribe their drugs (dinners, gifts, etc), so the marketing to the public is getting more aggressive. It will probably literally take an act of Congress to get the drug companies to stop this practice.

Good luck with your paper, Marcus.

I hate it when pharmaceutical companies market their drug(s) to the public. Patients will come in all the time to me saying, "I want this pill, because the commercial says it will help me with acne." and they get ticked when you tell them that that's not the best one for them. I REALLY hate when they come in with a COUPON that the drug company sent them if they just use that particular product! Then if you say it's not the right drug, the patient is mad at you for trying to give them a different product. They don't have the background to understand everything that goes into the decision to prescribe one medication or another. And what the commercials DON"T tell them is all of the potentail adverse side effects that could occur, and these adverse effects could be much worse than the reason that they came in for!

Drug companies aren't fooling anyone. They claim that they're trying to help the patient help themselves. They're actually trying to help themselves line their corporate pockets by trying to get the patient to request what may be an inferior drug. Also, the federal laws are clamping down on what the drug companies can do to try to get Healthcare Providers to prescribe their drugs (dinners, gifts, etc), so the marketing to the public is getting more aggressive. It will probably literally take an act of Congress to get the drug companies to stop this practice.

Good luck with your paper, Marcus.

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

I also don't agree with drug marketing to the public. In the clinic, too many times patients have come in demanding Allegra over claritin, etc etc. There was a study that showed 70% of physicians will write the order for the requested drug simply to appease the patients.

I believe information should be available for patients to make informed decisions in concert with their physician, however, making drug choices is not one of them. Your physician chose this drug 9 times of out 10 because that's what your insurance pwill pay for anyway. If that drug is ineffective, at THAT point should you discuss other meds. Not just because the ad for Allegra was prettier.

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

I also don't agree with drug marketing to the public. In the clinic, too many times patients have come in demanding Allegra over claritin, etc etc. There was a study that showed 70% of physicians will write the order for the requested drug simply to appease the patients.

I believe information should be available for patients to make informed decisions in concert with their physician, however, making drug choices is not one of them. Your physician chose this drug 9 times of out 10 because that's what your insurance pwill pay for anyway. If that drug is ineffective, at THAT point should you discuss other meds. Not just because the ad for Allegra was prettier.

Such direct advertising is restricted in the UK, but the papers are always on to the latest "miracle" treatment. I work in Elderly Mental Health, and every other patient or their carer is asking about "Ebixa" at present. A couple of years back it was Aricept.

Such direct advertising is restricted in the UK, but the papers are always on to the latest "miracle" treatment. I work in Elderly Mental Health, and every other patient or their carer is asking about "Ebixa" at present. A couple of years back it was Aricept.

Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Med-Surg.

This is a perfectly legal and legitimate activity that can only be expected in a capitalist economy such as the one we are fortunate enough to enjoy.

Should the consumer be left even further in the dark than he already is, leaving all this kind of information (however biased), brand names, etc. solely in the hands of the all-knowing "experts"? That is a very elitist viewpoint.

The only thing that annoys me is seeing the same ones over and over (since I usually only watch the news). It would be a cold day in hell before I'd ever take a "purple pill," the ads are so annoying and repetitive.

IMHO.

Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Med-Surg.

This is a perfectly legal and legitimate activity that can only be expected in a capitalist economy such as the one we are fortunate enough to enjoy.

Should the consumer be left even further in the dark than he already is, leaving all this kind of information (however biased), brand names, etc. solely in the hands of the all-knowing "experts"? That is a very elitist viewpoint.

The only thing that annoys me is seeing the same ones over and over (since I usually only watch the news). It would be a cold day in hell before I'd ever take a "purple pill," the ads are so annoying and repetitive.

IMHO.

Specializes in Critical Care, Long Term Care.

Yes the pharma companies are trying to promote their product...and is that really any different than any other company promoting their sneakers or clothes...

I believe also that you need to be educated and informed and take responsibility for your care...the pt needs to be informed and involved in their medical care. They need to be knowledgeable about what is available to them...can it make our lives as health care professionals difficult?...absolutely ....and I have been in the position of having to tell the pt that the medication they see on TV is not the type of medication that they need.

However on the flip side how many pts are experiencing ie: signs of depression and not knowing that the feelings they are having are not normal and there is help out there.

how many men are experiencing ED and feel they are the only ones out there and not aware there is are treatment options and yes...medication if needed to help....do they not deserve to know this?

Many people may feel they are alone or are just not aware that what they are experiencing is not normal and may need help.

Just my opinion but I feel pharmaceutical products is no different than those fancy sneakers, game boys, perfume or what ever else we see advertised every day....that is putting money in every other company pocket

Specializes in Critical Care, Long Term Care.

Yes the pharma companies are trying to promote their product...and is that really any different than any other company promoting their sneakers or clothes...

I believe also that you need to be educated and informed and take responsibility for your care...the pt needs to be informed and involved in their medical care. They need to be knowledgeable about what is available to them...can it make our lives as health care professionals difficult?...absolutely ....and I have been in the position of having to tell the pt that the medication they see on TV is not the type of medication that they need.

However on the flip side how many pts are experiencing ie: signs of depression and not knowing that the feelings they are having are not normal and there is help out there.

how many men are experiencing ED and feel they are the only ones out there and not aware there is are treatment options and yes...medication if needed to help....do they not deserve to know this?

Many people may feel they are alone or are just not aware that what they are experiencing is not normal and may need help.

Just my opinion but I feel pharmaceutical products is no different than those fancy sneakers, game boys, perfume or what ever else we see advertised every day....that is putting money in every other company pocket

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