Depression Meds - Page 2

WildHeart69 · #1 02-03-2010, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

A side effect of more DTC pharm ads is that there is a heightened sense of awareness about personal health.

Agreed. Some cynics, however, would call this "creating the disease" - ie "restless leg syndrome" or "erectile dysfunction"... I do not consider myself one of these people though.

sara1998 · #2 02-03-2010, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildHeart69

^This is not the case... detailing drugs to physicians is completely legal and is always done. The "promotion" you are speaking of is that in the form of pens, clocks, mugs, etc that display the name of the drug, and promotional spend for lunches for nurses and office staff... and even in this case, there is no "legislation" that bars this practice; there are "guidelines" that have been put in place that outline the desired practices for drug companies as far as how they can promote their products in this manner, but these guideline are not really laws. Drug companies follow them, however, because they all kind of keep each other in check and nobody wants to be the one to "break code" because it will look bad for the company...

And as far as direct to consumer ads, I would sort of agree for the most part... but the main reason they do it is because of the type of system we have in place and simply because this is the only country in which they CAN air them (besides New Zealand...but thats another story). You can hear one group of doctors that DO like DTC, one that doesnt, one that says that they aren't influenced by what their patients come in asking about, and some that say they are.... but I think the bottom line is if these ads WEREN'T boosting sales, then they wouldn't be airing them (or printing them in magazines, etc...).

Thanks for sticking up for big pharma. I work for big pharma. No one - EVER - sticks up for us.

With that being said, DTC ads, in my opinion, give the public just a little more information about what's available to them. Then again, it also makes a society of hypochondriacs We shouldn't just blindly follow the doctors. We need to be informed, but it's up to us to take the time to look up the information. In the end, if you trust your doctor, then you should let them make the decisions. They are the professionals.

WildHeart69 · #3 02-04-2010, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sara1998

Thanks for sticking up for big pharma. I work for big pharma. No one - EVER - sticks up for us.

Heh, I just finished earning my MBA in pharmaceutical business last May (BS in pharmacology and toxicology) so its sort of in my nature I guess....

My only gripe w/ Pharma in general is that I can't find a job!

Wanna put a good word in for me at your company!?!?

DavidMn · #4 02-04-2010, 01:17 AM

I am really enjoying the back and forth positive discussion in this thread.

I do agree with Paula that there are some people that rely too heavily on Meds to do it all. One drug I would say that definitely appies to is Ritalin. It seems that at the grocery store I work at women that some thru the line together are frequently discussing how their kids are on that. I took it for 15 years from when I was 5 till 20. It definitely was neccesary for me but it sees to be way overprescribed.

skcin · #5 02-04-2010, 02:44 PM

Maria - you work for big pharm? You are evil & must be destroyed. JK - let the record show that I don't totally disagree with the advertising. And that I miss my pens & pads of paper.

Interestingly enough, I've been invited to a talk by this guy in May:

http://www.amazon.com/Happy-Pills-Am...9115652&sr=8-1