Can someone explain why all the drug companies are advertising directly to the general public via TV ads? Most drugs have to come from your Dr via prescriptions so why all the advertising to the people? We had this discussion at work last week .. not sure we really understand why it's being done

So people will ask their doctor about those drugs.

One of my relatives would ask the doctor about every single drug she saw on TV no matter what it was for, thinking it would be the cure for all that ailed her.

people like to self diagnose and can be hypochondriacs.....so they see this new drug helps with xyz and they go into their doctor and 1) mention it in hopes the Dr prescribes it or 2) throw a hissy fit until Dr prescribes it

probably a small percentage of doctors that are influenced enough to fall for it but who knows.

Pharma companies almost spend as much on marketing as they do R&D.

Watch "Dopesick" and you'll understand.

The US is one of two countries (New Zealand) that allow drug companies to advertise directly to consumers. 9 of the top 10 drug companies in the US spend more on advertising than R&D. In the US, these ads make up a huge portion of TV advertising.

This is how we turned "2 weeks to flatten the curve" into that clown show called Covid.

It's a problem.

Money, duh

These should go back to being illegal, but they won't because they are the number 1 revenue generator for networks

It blows my mind when I see a commercial advertising a drug for some rare condition.

Like what's the probability that a person with Rabson-Mendenhall Syndrome isn't already working with doctors and being treated?

How are those commercials profitable?

Now this is one thread that don't understand. Such commercials appear to have been ominpresent LOOONNGG before Covid came on the scene.

Is the distinction that commercials for a drug you can only get by going to a doctor are showing?
Edit: I see that may be precisely the distinction.]

Because commericals for medicine of all kinds have been beyond legion.

In fact, it had become notorious that you can't watch a show without hearing the 500 different ways something as simple as aspirin may now be dangerous or lethal, and to "talk to your doctor" before getting. In truth, watching TV today you can only be thankful those were not the commercials back when you got used to the use of certain staples and somewhat trust now. You would never take a thing today new, hardly, if could help it.

I love how the side effects are worse than the disease.

"Do you have problems sleeping at night? Ask your doctor about xyquinor"

*side effects include insomnia, muscle cramps, eye floaters, numbness in the fingers, loss of hearing, and anal leakage

These ads convince me that the cure is worse than the disease.

Have a little itchy itch? Take Verbotim XC. Side effects include anal bleeding, kidney disease, pancreatic cancer, heart attacks, UTI's, blindness, and impotence.

But my favorite line in all these commercials:

Don't take X if you are allergic to X.
Come on… Really?

fullback44 said:

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Can someone explain why all the drug companies are advertising directly to the general public via TV ads? Most drugs have to come from your Dr via prescriptions so why all the advertising to the people? We had this discussion at work last week .. not sure we really understand why it's being done

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People that are sad, depressed, lonely, in pain or all of the above are most likely glued to a device of some sort.

They got a captive audience during the holidays.

And all the ones for gay-oriented diseases have the most flameboi gays and bulldyke lesbians one can find. I'd be mad if I were L or G, honestly.

rocky the dog said:

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#TRUTH

I just grab the kitchen shears these days.

1872walker said:

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Watch "Dopesick" and you'll understand.

The US is one of two countries (New Zealand) that allow drug companies to advertise directly to consumers. 9 of the top 10 drug companies in the US spend more on advertising than R&D. In the US, these ads make up a huge portion of TV advertising.

This is how we turned "2 weeks to flatten the curve" into that clown show called Covid.

It's a problem.

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Humanity is over medicated. It feels like doctors don't heal anything anymore. They just medicate.

My favorite is espn playing an aids med commercial w dudes making out & groping each other during every single commercial break of football games

I'm sure parents watching games w their kids love having to explain that one…

BigRobSA said:

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And all the ones for gay-oriented diseases have the most flameboi gays and bulldyke lesbians one can find. I'd be mad if I were L or G, honestly.

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yeah the HIV drugs make me LOL every single time. I cannot believe the black community tolerates over-representation but I guess if they tolerate black on black murder rates, what harm is a little mainstream advertising insinuating HIV is a black problem?

Drug companies are no longer allowed to market as much to the providers, ie lunches, promptions, etc, as it is considered a violation of antikickback laws like Stark. So drug companies are pumping all that extra mktg money into commercial ads now.

fullback44 said:

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Can someone explain why all the drug companies are advertising directly to the general public via TV ads? Most drugs have to come from your Dr via prescriptions so why all the advertising to the people? We had this discussion at work last week .. not sure we really understand why it's being done

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There was a change in the law that opened this up to the public. I can't recall when but we liberalized some laws and they can market directly to you.

It's not about the medicine, its how politicians pay off the media.

Democrats write in pork and make deals for drug companies --> drug companies spend an inordinate amount of money on advertising to tv networks (and make generous contributions to politicians) --> networks carry the water for the dems.
Rinse, repeat.

Wake up and follow the money.

DrEvazanPhD said:

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I love how the side effects are worse than the disease.

"Do you have problems sleeping at night? Ask your doctor about xyquinor"

*side effects include insomnia, muscle cramps, eye floaters, numbness in the fingers, loss of hearing, and anal leakage

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Exactly! Not unlike the reaction to Covid was worse than the virus -- far more destruction to global economy than what it was doing.

C@LAg said:

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they are flush with all of that free covid money from the government

gotta spend it to expense it by year-end.

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did you not own a television pre-covid? mad props to you if not.

Biggest problem I've had since taking Covid vaccine is sausage fingers and cycloptic eye.

Takes me forever to get my shirts buttoned and the whole time I'm doing that I'm completely vulnerable to attack from my Matrix 8 wife because I have no peripheral vision.

fullback44 said:

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Can someone explain why all the drug companies are advertising directly to the general public via TV ads? Most drugs have to come from your Dr via prescriptions so why all the advertising to the people? We had this discussion at work last week .. not sure we really understand why it's being done

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wow so weird I was literally going to post this same thread. crazy how people thousands of miles apart can come to the EXACT SAME CONCLUSIONS about society independently.

anyway, this is pure insanity and the breakdown of culture.

I don't even have television cable anymore, I have Youtube TV. and yet STILL the omnipresent drug prescription ads are revolting

literally revolting

CNBC yesterday during "Fast Money" had for the second time that I have seen it an ad about AIDS drugs with a bunch of ghey guys LITERALLY KISSING EACH OTHER and holding hands.

that is our society in 2022- public television showing biracial MALE COUPLES making out in commercials discussing how they can use drugs to cure their disease

if you don't think this society has collapsed, there was not even a hetero kiss on screen for the first 30 years of moving pictures.

Because they don't let the cigarette companies do it anymore.

BadMoonRisin said:

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Pharma companies almost spend as much on marketing as they do R&D.

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DrEvazanPhD said:

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I love how the side effects are worse than the disease.

"Do you have problems sleeping at night? Ask your doctor about xyquinor"

*side effects include insomnia, muscle cramps, eye floaters, numbness in the fingers, loss of hearing, and anal leakage

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My cousin in pharma sales and promotions makes a TON of money. It is big business.

I'm tired of subsidizing so much of it. I take no meds, because of good fortune but also good health and dietary and exercise self discipline, yet I know the premiums and health related taxes I pay substantially go to subsidize the medication of people who would rather take drugs than do the work.

Where is my discount?

C@LAg said:

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they are flush with all of that free covid money from the government

gotta spend it to expense it by year-end.

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This has been going on since long before COVID.

By the way, have you heard about the water at Camp Lejuene?

Late night tv ads are nothing but drugs, medicare supplements and ambulance chasers.

It's actually an interesting debate. Most countries on earth prohibit direct to consumer advertising from drug companies. Presumably, doing so drives up drug usage/prescriptions, and the government(s) doesn't like that where it is paying for the drugs (socialized medicine).

I think it is often deceptive but I generally favor free speech/the free market alike. I do wish more people treated drug ads with similar contempt as an email from a nigerian prince (and after covid I would like to think more today than before are very skeptical of anything from our 'medical establishment' as well).

Just finished Dopesick. The entire Sackler family should be in prison. Not white Collar prison, but the other Federal kind.