A nation of drug addicts!

I remember a time before there were advertisements in every form of mass media for the latest and greatest pharmacological 'cure'. When you were sick you went to your doctor who prescribed an appropriate medicine for your condition. Now it seems that due to advertising, people go to their doctors and 'ask' for particular meds.

I would also propose that these commercials make people seek treatment for conditions that they do not suffer from. Listing symptoms can sometimes make someone think they are suffering from a malady that they do not have!

Now, I certainly believe that an educated public is a good thing, but does any of this really make sense?

Drug costs are thru the roof. These advertising campaigns are expensive - would removing the ads from aour televisions, magazines, radio result in a lower cost to the consumer?

People in this country are more medicated now than ever before. Everyone is taking a pill for something. Senior citizens are forced to choose between buying meds and food. Have we become a nation of drug addicts with the pushers being big pharma?

I don't think removing ads would lower the cost of drugs. The drug companies are businesses. They want to make profit. The cost of placing an ad is a small percentage of the amount of profit they would make from increased sales.

The reason for a major influx of ads is because several drugs hit the time line when they become available for generics to be made. Previous to that, only one company has it. It is in effect a monopoly. When it opens up to other companies, there is now competition. Everyone is basically selling the same base drug, so they have to compete for the consumer to purchase theirs.

Personally, I don't even like taking aspirin unless I have to.

i agree and disagree, go figure

for one,,,i am guilty of asking my doctors about a certain medication i may have seen advertised---and sure enuff it was prescribed to me!!!

so,,,while weshould be influential in what we take----at the same time i basically prescribed my own meds---there wasn't much discussion, argument etcc---just handed over---ok here you go----and really what the hell do i know??? i have no degree, training---just a fancy commercial!!!

zand where i disagree---i think we, the patients have to do our own research and homework----you here all the time of misdiagnoses,,,or someone not trusting a doctors opinion----gettinga second opinion and sure enuff they have cancer

and i believe this because my father had cancer---the doctors don't tell you about natural cures,, alternative therapies,,, or even vitamins or supplements that can make a sickness less miserable or more manageable
also---we had mentioned new methods or promising meds to try---the doctor----the professional,,,blah blah,,, had never heard of----and many times i think they get familiar with a certain few brand names or procedures and stick to them instead of researching or offering newer methods or types of meds

for instance i have a brother in law who is a general doctor and specializes in pediatrics..now his father is also a doctor------they can't see eye to eye----the son knows new methods or treatments while the father sticks to old faithfuls----the son finally gave up inheriting his fathers huge business to work at a hospital because of there3 constant bickering and differing point of views

also this worries me----whatever condition i have there is probably one right way to fix or treat it right?? how can i have two doctors arguing over how to fix me????? who is right---is one wrong---is this the one treatring me---that's scary

also---his father,,,,if at all possible prescribes medicines he currently hold stocks in------that is so horrible and narrow minded--and although they may work or be what is needed----i would not want my doctor having these views-----another argument for doing your own homework


i can't stand having viagra commercials on----when i'm babysitting my nieces ---try explaining that----"""what is erectile dysfunction---CAN I CATCH THAT AT SCHOOL?""----FROM MY 6 YEAR OLD NIECE

reply to post by pavlovsdog


When will you realize that the public are simply a fertile ground from which to harvest profits?

This isn't a country of really free people. See Freedom means Anarchy, and that won't happen here any time soon.

Reply to Quazga
Pharmaceutical companies are profit making entities with total disregard for sufferings. More and prolonged disease simply means better profits. Do you expect them to invent ``one dose cures and loose entire business lines''. They have lobbies at Senate and Congress, poor patients just dont count anywhere.

reply to post by Ed Sha

Exactly, there is more profit in treating disease than curing it. Drug companies answer to stock holders on the bottom line profits.