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Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

arstechnica.com

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Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#51

Post by FireBeyond »

paxtonab wrote: post #23

One of the arguments I've commonly heard against a ban like this is that pharmaceutical companies need to market their products because of the cost developing new drugs. However, this has turned into a strategy of expanding the medical uses of already approved drugs and then marketing the "new uses". Tylenol is the perfect example of this. Everyone "knows" that it reduces the risk of heart attacks, because of the mar…

As noted, I'm sure you mean aspirin.

True, aspirin as a daily regime for people with no CVA/TIA (stroke) or cardiac history is of dubious efficacy, but worthwhile of consideration. It is however, certainly not going to alleviate chest discomfort indicative of an impending cardiac event (or prevent said event).

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#52

Post by MichaelGG »

FireBeyond wrote: post #46
rtl49 wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have no direct experience seeking a prescription, but I do know a doctor who has repeatedly complained to me about patients coming to him with the expectation of receiving a particular drug. He's considered giving up his DEA license to reduce this problem.

One I see in the field as a paramedic? "Any drug allergies?" "Aspirin, Tylenol, Tramadol, etc" "Oh, so you're allergic to 'all' non-narcotic pain medication? That must be ... inconvenient."

How do you respond to such a thing? If a patient is allergic to aspirin, concerned about liver toxicity from APAP, doesn't want stomach issues from NSAIDs, etc.? Do they just have to suffer or do you "give in" and provide them desired relief?

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#53

Post by Aloisius »

I'm surprised the AMA, insurance companies or the US government haven't built a simple website that compares the drugs used to treat various conditions to combat the problem of people switching drugs because they are new or are heavily advertised.

While a layman can't be expected to fully understand the benefits/drawbacks/interactions of a drug in detail, it seems like it should be possible to have an easy to understand grid of positives, negatives, retail price, etc. that would make comparing say, the brand new bipolar drug to old generic lithium.

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#54

Post by dboreham »

joshuaheard wrote: post #10

I've never understood the logic behind prescription drug ads. The first rule of sales is to pitch the decision maker. You can't buy prescription drugs without a doctor's authorization, so basically the ads are asking people to go beg their doctors for medicine they may, or may not, need. The doctor, in turn, may give in to the patient's emotional pleas, since they are, in effect, in a customer service business. This…

The logic is that they make a vast amount of money.

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#56

Post by ghaff »

mindcrime wrote: post #27
paxtonab wrote: post #23

One of the arguments I've commonly heard against a ban like this is that pharmaceutical companies need to market their products because of the cost developing new drugs. However, this has turned into a strategy of expanding the medical uses of already approved drugs and then marketing the "new uses". Tylenol is the perfect example of this. Everyone "knows" that it reduces the risk of heart attacks, because of the mar…

Tylenol is the perfect example of this. Everyone "knows" that it reduces the risk of heart attacks, because of the marketing campaigns. I've never heard a soul mention Tylenol in connection with decreased heart attack risk. Are you sure you aren't thinking about aspirin?

Furthermore, given that I can buy a a jar of 1,000 low dosage store-brand aspirin for $10 or so, I doubt that the adult use of baby aspirin came about because of a vast pharma-financed advertising campaign.

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#57

Post by MichaelGG »

Retric wrote: post #45
MichaelGG wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Flip side is that it's vile that we need a "doctor's authorization" to even buy chemicals. While there certainly should be regulation to curb abusive advertising (e.g. fraud), it's sad anyone would find it wrong to ask a doctor for drugs. The way things are set up, that's exactly what many people are forced to do. Also, nitpick, but the news and ads in general are almost certainly far more harmful (for your daughter;…

Antibiotics are an obvious counter example to this.

Sure, things that are cause for large scale disease/biohazard might be a good exceptions. The medicines patients seem to be seeking most (psychedelics, relaxants, stimulants, painkillers, erection-assistants) don't seem to fall into this category.

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#58

Post by Yakimoto »

Archio wrote: post #39
jtuente wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a healthy, single, white male who hasn't had a threatening reason to visit a doctor, This. I probably wouldn't have health insurance right now if it weren't for the Affordable Care Act (even though my employer pays most of it). Sure that could bite me in the ass if something were to happen to me, but I'm comfortable with that risk and have family to help me out. There's no good reason for me to "outsource" my heal…

> Sure that could bite me in the ass if something were to happen to me, but I'm comfortable with that risk Has it ever occurred to you don't have much control over that risk, and that you are a human being that like every other can become sick for no reason at all? > and have family to help me out Has it ever occurred to you that many people in the United States do not have family to help them out?

Has it ever occurred to you that you have a ton of control over your general health and can protect yourself from physical injury extremely well?

Has it ever occurred to you that many people in the United State don't have legs?

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#59

Post by kansface »

littletimmy wrote: post #17
tosseraccount wrote: post #11

Can't a free market sort out the problems with drug use?

In the long run, yes. However, in the long run we're all dead.

There is no free market for drugs or medicine. I also don't think markets converge on free over time.

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#60

Post by alkonaut »

tosseraccount wrote: post #11

Can't a free market sort out the problems with drug use?

Yes, the market works the buyers are the doctors (or organizations with medical expertise such as Surgeon general, Insurance company). They are informed enough to make a transaction with the producer of a drug.

A patient will never be able to make a rational decision when buying a drug. So the market economy clearly breaks down if you ever consider patients to be the customers.

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