Prescription Drug Ads OLD

Ever notice Coca-Cola commercials never mention that Pepsi and RC are similar sodas? Ever notice that Chevy ads don’t encourage you to consider a Ford or Dodge? Or vice versa.

Drug companies operate the same way. All the marketing research and millions of dollars spent on drug ads have a point: to get consumers to request a certain drug by name. There may be other medications on the market that have the same effects, but you’ll never find that out from the advertisement. All you get from a 30-second television spot or a magazine ad is a limited amount of information, often biased in favor of one drug.

So where do you find out if an advertised drug is right for you? Ask your doctor, nurse practitioner, or pharmacist. Remember, your doctor considers ALL treatment options and balances those with your specific needs. There may be good reasons why the new medication you saw on television or that your friend takes might not work well for you or may even be harmful. Your doctor has your personal medical history in mind when making a decision about treatment.

So be a wary consumer! Remember, there is usually more to the picture than what the ad tells you. Get the rest of the story from your doctor.

Disclaimer
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