Offensive Drug Ads on TV?

[David In Indy]

Vaginal dryness? Erectile dysfunction? Bladder control and urinary incontinence?

And they put them on at SUPPER TIME!! God, who wants to hear about this while they're eating? And I don't have kids, but I'm sure they're asking questions about it. "Mama, what does erectile dysfunction mean"? "Daddy, what's a "vaginal" "?

God, how horrible! 

And now we find out some of these pharmaceutical manufacturers aren't even being honest with us...

http://body.aol.com/news/health/article/_a/congress-probes-doctors-role-in-drug-ad/20080207112009990001

And it's not like we can run to the pharmacy to buy most of these pills ourselves! I think they are trying to turn us into a bunch of hypochondriacs, hoping we'll run straight to our doctor and nag him or her to give us some.

These commercials are on ALL THE TIME! When is enough ENOUGH? In light of what happened to Heath, I am even more offended by these ads than I ever was before! 

Your thoughts?



 

[delalluvia]

Granted, the subject matter is a bit daunting and the timing can be unfortunate, but I don't believe in sheltering kids from the reality of their bodies and the correct terminology for body parts.

I also think the commercials do a great service because these commercials actually detail the side-effects of the medications on TV - not hidden in the very small print or missed because the doctor was too preoccupied and the patient too unknowing to ask.

It boggles the mind because the side effects of some drugs are death and cancer!

[injest]

well the problem is ANY medicine can result in death, Del....it is on just about everything.

and half of them don't even tell what they are for! and how do you know if it is something that would even work with the other stuff you take?

Who goes into the doctor and tells HIM what they want? It is one thing to be informed another to be a sheep!

[delalluvia]

well the problem is ANY medicine can result in death, Del....it is on just about everything.

True, but when they point it out especially - and on TV no less - that you can die or get lymphoma, I think that's saying a lot about who has already suffered from taking the drug and actually reflects well on the pharmaceutical companies for admitting as much on national TV.

and half of them don't even tell what they are for! and how do you know if it is something that would even work with the other stuff you take?

Who goes into the doctor and tells HIM what they want? It is one thing to be informed another to be a sheep!

Heh, lots of people I know actually.  They have a long term condition, they keep up on the latest discoveries and drugs and actually do bring up to their doctor they would like to try drug X and what does he think?  Heck, I learned about the latest birth control pills on TV.

[injest]

I just am real leery about taking commercials at face value.....if they will lie about those strips whitening your teeth they will lie about that drug....they are trying to sell you something...of course they are gonna spin it to make it seem really good.

[delalluvia]

I just am real leery about taking commercials at face value.....if they will lie about those strips whitening your teeth they will lie about that drug....they are trying to sell you something...of course they are gonna spin it to make it seem really good.

Well absolutely you should take commercials with a grain of salt, but as far as controlled substances are concerned, they do have to pass FDA testing, and they do have to prove that they actually do something.  There are laws about that kind of misrepresentation.  Now granted, all pills don't work for all people, but [shrug] everyone is different.

They lied about whitening strips?   

Mine worked just fine and my dentist said the peroxide in them was mild and would just remove superficial stains.

[injest]

Well absolutely you should take commercials with a grain of salt, but as far as controlled substances are concerned, they do have to pass FDA testing, and they do have to prove that they actually do something.  There are laws about that kind of misrepresentation.  Now granted, all pills don't work for all people, but [shrug] everyone is different.

They lied about whitening strips?    

Mine worked just fine and my dentist said the peroxide in them was mild and would just remove superficial stains.

OMG!! GIRL!!

you didn't hear about that???


oh lort....

well I am glad it worked out for YOU....

by the way...

apropos of nothing....have you had a liver screening recently???

[delalluvia]

OMG!! GIRL!!

you didn't hear about that???


oh lort....

well I am glad it worked out for YOU....

by the way...

apropos of nothing....have you had a liver screening recently???

No and I've been using whitening peroxide gels for years now.  If it's good enough for Hollywood...

Are they supposed to be dangerous?

[injest]

No and I've been using whitening peroxide gels for years now.  If it's good enough for Hollywood...

Are they supposed to be dangerous?

LOL!!

no I was just yanking your chain!!

*Jess hides behind David so Del can't punch her*

[delalluvia]

LOL!!

no I was just yanking your chain!!

*Jess hides behind David so Del can't punch her*

*Del attacks with her tube of peroxide tooth gel*

"Take that!  I hope it streaks your hair blonde!"

[serious crayons]

Yikes, Jess, you had me scared about whitening strips, too.

And re pills ... I saw the BC pill Lybrel advertised on TV and when my previous pill, Seasonale, came up for represcription I asked the doctor in a phone message to switch me to Lybrel, which she did. Lybrel is that pill that, if you take it, you never get periods.

Sorry, David, I'm sure this is way TMI for you. Hope you're not reading this over dinner. Some of this probably belongs on the "men enter at your own risk" thread.

But anyway, I really like Lybrel. My life is much easier! And after all, I'm 50 and already have two kids, so my doctor probably figured that if the pill were going to screw up my reproductive system at this point it doesn't matter.

But I wonder: Would she have prescribed it as readily to a younger woman? And would that be a good thing?

[injest]

*Del attacks with her tube of peroxide tooth gel*

"Take that!  I hope it streaks your hair blonde!"

ARGH!! MY HAIR!!

[delalluvia]

But anyway, I really like Lybrel. My life is much easier! And after all, I'm 50 and already have two kids, so my doctor probably figured that if the pill were going to screw up my reproductive system at this point it doesn't matter.

But I wonder: Would she have prescribed it as readily to a younger woman? And would that be a good thing?

Did she have time to check your records?  Or was it an immediate thing?  It's possible when she got your message - if she wasn't quite sure who you were - I expect that a good doctor would pull your file first and see if you can switch meds without a problem.

[delalluvia]

ARGH!! MY HAIR!!

Muwahahahaha!   

[injest]

Muwahahahaha!   

 

[serious crayons]

Did she have time to check your records?  Or was it an immediate thing?  It's possible when she got your message - if she wasn't quite sure who you were - I expect that a good doctor would pull your file first and see if you can switch meds without a problem.

Oh, she had time to check my records. I left a message with her nurse, and her nurse called back later with the 'scrip. But it wasn't so much whether I, with my own individual health profile, would have a problem switching. I don't have any big health issues.

I guess I'm just wondering about Lybrel in general, what doctors say when younger women want to go on it. I think it's probably safe, because the periods you get on a regular pill are artificial anyway, and the regular pill has been around long enough that its health pros and cons are pretty well known. Still, if I were early on in my reproductive years, I'd be more nervous about it.

[injest]

I do understand though what you mean, David....but even the erectile disfunction ads are not as bad as those ol feminine hygiene commercials were (tampons, pads wiith wings, deodorant sprays, douches, cleansers...) 

I think that is what turned my son gay....

"Just how bad IS it, Dad???"

and talk about sappy!!

EMBARRASSING...


I wanted them to come up with one for jock itch....a man and a son walking on the beach..."Dad" the son says earnestly "Sometimes.........sometimes I just don't feel 'fresh'"

Dad puts his arm around his son and sighs "Son, it is time I told you about Athlete Powder"

Son: "Does it work?"

dad: "It's what my dad used and it is what I have always used!!"

cue the sad music and as the sun goes down in a burst of gold light the son turns to dad and says "I am glad we had this talk, Dad"

"me too son"

 


 

[David In Indy]

I do understand though what you mean, David....but even the erectile disfunction ads are not as bad as those ol feminine hygiene commercials were (tampons, pads wiith wings, deodorant sprays, douches, cleansers...) 

I think that is what turned my son gay....

"Just how bad IS it, Dad???"

and talk about sappy!!

EMBARRASSING...


I wanted them to come up with one for jock itch....a man and a son walking on the beach..."Dad" the son says earnestly "Sometimes.........sometimes I just don't feel 'fresh'"

Dad puts his arm around his son and sighs "Son, it is time I told you about Athlete Powder"

Son: "Does it work?"

dad: "It's what my dad used and it is what I have always used!!"

cue the sad music and as the sun goes down in a burst of gold light the son turns to dad and says "I am glad we had this talk, Dad"

"me too son"

 


 

Now give me a few minutes to think of something!