New Med Commercials

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by rcooled

Most of these ads are for prescription meds. Are the makers suggesting that you insist your physician prescribe some drug for you that you saw in a TV ad? I'm sure doctors just love that...

I wonder how doctors feel about that. I’ve never talked to one about it.

I’m concerned about fostering the idea that there is a drug for every human problem, and downplaying the need for personal responsibility. Staying healthier takes work, and the older you get the more work it is. I would like to see that fact advertised as much as the latest pill.
A lot of the “new” OTC drugs are the same as some old drug, just repackaged and maybe combined with some other old drug.
My favorite stupid drug ad is for a drug that cures constipation in opioid users. The ad shows a guy in a hard hat out on the job. I wouldn’t want to be working out on a hard hat job along side a guy hammered on OxyContin, I don’t care whether he can crap or not.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

A lot of the “new” OTC drugs are the same as some old drug, just repackaged and maybe combined with some other old drug.

When a prescription med has been in use long enough and there is a good safety profile, the FDA may approve it for OTC use.

As for combination drugs, the process for that is very rigorous. Combining two active ingredients, even from previously approved meds usually requires new studies , new applications and extensive reviews. Such a process costs millions.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

When a prescription med has been in use long enough and there is a good safety profile, the FDA may approve it for OTC use.

Like omeprazole

Originally Posted by flatbutt

As for combination drugs, the process for that is very rigorous. Combining two active ingredients, even from previously approved meds usually requires new studies , new applications and extensive reviews. Such a process costs millions.

It must me profitable, otherwise why would they do it? Add Benadryl to Tylenol and you get Tylenol PM, which gives you additional space on the drug store shelf and a new opportunity for people to overmedicate themselves.

[techman1]

Anyone else take issue when the symptom listed is “Heart Failure “
In my old ways, that symptom means you are dead.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

Yes, pharma is exactly suggesting that you ask your doc for a product by name. There definitely is some kind of mutually beneficial linkage between a particular pharma product and your healthcare provider with you and your insurance carrier footing the bill.

yeah, does that even work though ? I imagine it must to a degree or they would not spend the $, but still... I've never gone to my doctor and asked for a drug - let alone by name. I imagine doctors on this board could tell us if that works on them ? I suspect the opposite !

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

yeah, does that even work though ? I imagine it must to a degree or they would not spend the $, but still... I've never gone to my doctor and asked for a drug - let alone by name. I imagine doctors on this board could tell us if that works on them ? I suspect the opposite !

It damn sure drives sales.

What is the reason to advertise?

[Hawkeye's-911T]

Many of the drug's side effects mentioned in the ads sound worse than whatever problem they're meant to help with

To Sammy's point: Caveats deemed necessary as a result of living in a litigious society (?)

Cheers
JB

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye's-911T

To Sammy's point: Caveats deemed necessary as a result of living in a litigious society (?)

Cheers
JB

Yep, they have to. How many warning stickers on a new car. Why do they have to say "Professional driver on a closed course " under a video of a car making a 50' jump.

[KFC911]

^^^^^ Have ya ever noticed how many stickers are on a Stihl chainsaw...even a professional model .

I happened to actually notice one recently so I started counting....had to take off a shoe .

I lightened every Stihl in my arsenal...

[Gretch]

The background "happy music" while they read off a list of 37 side effects, from suicidal thoughts to anal leakage, is doubly annoying, as is the cast of PC characters in stepford wife modus blissfully smiling, while engaging in shyt NO BODY does.

Assuming the advertising causes sales, seems too simple to me.........

Try another route. How do these companies justify the price of their product. Government pricing is a huge component in Pharm business.........

Yes, color me skeptical. I am the target market for this crap, and the ads annoy the hell out of me.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by Gretch

The background "happy music" while they read off a list of 37 side effects, from suicidal thoughts to anal leakage, is doubly annoying, as is the cast of PC characters in stepford wife modus blissfully smiling, while engaging in shyt NO BODY does.

They should be video example A under the definition of dissonance.

[flatbutt]

Direct To Consumer advertising has been legal for a long time in the US. I think NZ also allows it and Canada allows a very restricted form of DTC only allowing a med to be mentioned and not detailed. It does help inform the general public and YOU have control over what meds you take. If your MD is in the pocket of Pharma they can / will lose their license. My disability has me in Drs offices a lot. I educate myself about any med a Dr recommends and you can do the same.

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by Gretch

The background "happy music" while they read off a list of 37 side effects, from suicidal thoughts to anal leakage, is doubly annoying, as is the cast of PC characters in stepford wife modus blissfully smiling, while engaging in shyt NO BODY does.

Assuming the advertising causes sales, seems too simple to me.........

Try another route. How do these companies justify the price of their product. Government pricing is a huge component in Pharm business.........

Yes, color me skeptical. I am the target market for this crap, and the ads annoy the hell out of me.

If advertising doesn’t increase sales why do they advertise? It is not a public service announcement.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/03/16/prescription-drug-costs-up-tv-ads/99203878/

Drugmakers were on track to spend an estimated $6.4 billion on DTC advertising in the U.S. last year, up 5% from 2015, according to Kantar. In 2012, spending for pharmaceutical TV ads was the 12th-largest category. By last year, drug ads were sixth.


In 2016, the top three ads based on total spending were Lyrica, with $313 million in spending; rheumatoid arthritis drug Humira at $303 million; and Eliquis, a treatment for a type of heart arrhythmia, at $186 million, according to Kantar.


Reasons why some drugs are advertised more than others vary, with drugmakers evaluating which products are most likely to bring them the most revenue.

Drugmakers don’t care “whether it’s a rare, expensive drug or a popular cheap drug,” said Amanda Starc, associate professor of strategy at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. “They’re looking at the marginal return on advertising. A small number of customers spending a lot or a big number spending a little.”


More at link

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by legion

I remember when they proposed mycoxafloppin as the generic name for Viagra...

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Mydixaflop was also in the running.

mydixadril is the best.

[cassisrot]

I think what you are seeing with all the med ads is the baby boom wave crashing on the beach.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by NY65912

Just saw another new one, Epclusa. Who the heck comes up with the names? 3 new ones so far this week!

That's another HepC drug. My gf was on Harvoni for 3 months and the total was around $90k retail. However, she had a discount card from Gilead that gave her a $5 co-pay. So $15 for $90k worth of meds. Not sure what her insurance company paid out.

[Kraftwerk]

When I belonged to the PCA all the big Pharma guys drove Turbo's.

[masraum]

I didn't want to create a new thread, and this one seemed to fit.

Lately, FB has been throwing this particular ad at me, and it bugs me. I can't even tell what malady the drug treats, it's not obvious from the ad or any of the text that I see on the screen.

The video shows 2 different folks, I think one is a youngish man with a child and the other is a youngish female with both folks doing various activities.

The ad flips back and forth between them alternating the following lines of text:

One of the things that I hope my kids will learn from me is "don’t give up"
Just accepting it as it was, was just a way for me to cope
So I said enough is enough. It’s time to make something happen.
I went to my doctor. I asked about trelegy

I think there may also be a "learn more" link at the bottom of the ad.

But what's crazy to me is that this ad must work on someone. Are there folks that wonder "maybe I should see if I could get this drug even though I have no idea what it treats"?

[Billiam 911 2.8]

There was an ad for an autoimmune drug that listed side effects such as blindness and explosive diarrhea. Can't get that image out of my mind.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Billiam 911 2.8

There was an ad for an autoimmune drug that listed side effects such as blindness and explosive diarrhea. Can't get that image out of my mind.

Although if you've got an autoimmune thing going on, then explosive diarrhea might be better than the alternative.

What cracks me up is when the drug is for something that's not life threatening, but the potential side effects sound pretty catastrophic.