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should drug companies be allowed to advertise medications on tv?


this is not allowed in canada. i was watching a baseball game out of minnesota and every second commercial is a drug ad.

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American drug advertising is sooooo shady. Most of the time they don't even tell you what the drug treats, they just show happy people outside in sunshine and imply that you should ask your doctor if it's right for you. Then the list of scary side effects.

Yeah. No.

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Exactly, half or more are selling snake oil

‘Whoo-hoo, my skin used to itch but I swapped that shit out for suicidal thoughts and scrotal cramps and now I’m with my beautiful family at the beach, YAY!

Many of the side effects are as bad as or worse than what the ailment is

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i always figure doctors would know what medications are available and potentially useful.

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Exactly

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Usually the side effects only show up in less than 1% but they are legally required to list ALL of it, significant or not. The extremely minor risks are worth the amelioration of the condition. For instance, millions get allergy shots monthly even though one of the potential side effects is death.

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I understand that completely. I was just commenting on American drug commercials.

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I dunno, I don't mind them so much anymore (on the very rare occasion that I am exposed to tv commercials anymore). If they lead to anyone getting help they needed then it's all good by me. I remember long side effect list jokes on SNL over 20 years ago. Desensitized.

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I don't see them often as they are illegal in my country, but I find it weird that half the time they don't even tell you what it's for. I don't have an issue with them listing the side effects, it's just a funny part of the commercial.

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They are indeed surreal.

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It started in the U.S. back in the 80s, I believe. It's utterly awful. Really highlights the disgusting power of the lobbyists.

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Agreed
If you need meds go to a Doctor and inquire, don’t take the bait between innings of the ballgame

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It started after 1994.

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Power of lobbyists? They're just taking advantage of a bad situation. You can't buy what isn't for sale.

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No. Cigarette ads were eventually abolished. When you listen to the litany of horrendous side effects accompanying them, which are actually worse than the original ailment, why should they be?

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it's difficult to take these ads seriously when they start listing the side effects.

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I don't like it. Besides the US, New Zealand is the only other Western country who does this - - as far as I know.

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it's not something that's needs to be advertised.

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The adverts make it all very slimy…those commercials should be banned

If you show up at a Doctor’s office or an ER with a serious illness there are a number of steps toward treatment with those pills and a lot of health pros in the wings…Ban those dumb commercials

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No, those ads are annoying

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Makes no sense to me. Most of those are prescription medications. You can only get those if your doctor prescribes them to you. Unless you recommend them and the doctor concurs, you have no say in the matter. Most doctors make up their own minds on what to prescribe.

FYI: On the opposite end of the spectrum is an equally repulsive practice. Doctors who only prescribe medications for companies that offer them an incentive in return.

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That shouldn't be allowed either.

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No.

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They should not be allowed to advertise prescription meds - TV, print, Internet - period.

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