Prescription drugs on TV ads

[La lamy]

I find TV ads about prescription drugs quite disturbing. The crazy long list of side effects included in these ads are such a turn off while watching TV. In Canada, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is prohibited as a health protection measure. Manufacturers cannot advertise prescription-only drugs directly to the public because of their toxicity and the potential for harm from medically unnecessary or inappropriate use.
For me, I assume my doctor is the professional who will know what meds are appropriate for me. So my question to you is: has anyone ever gone to their doctor and tell them they want a certain drug they saw on TV?

[Dana1963]

I find TV ads about prescription drugs quite disturbing. The crazy long list of side effects included in these ads are such a turn off while watching TV. In Canada, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is prohibited as a health protection measure. Manufacturers cannot advertise prescription-only drugs directly to the public because of their toxicity and the potential for harm from medically unnecessary or inappropriate use.
For me, I assume my doctor is the professional who will know what meds are appropriate for me. So my question to you is: has anyone ever gone to their doctor and tell them they want a certain drug they saw on TV?
Americans are gullible and over-medicated. If you wish to get better then you must need another prescription.

[retiredguy123]

I am more irritated by the non-prescription "food supplement" ads for things like Balance of Nature and Relief Factor. At least the prescription drugs have been tested and are approved by the FDA, and require a medical doctor to write a prescription.

[Tom52]

I find TV ads about prescription drugs quite disturbing. The crazy long list of side effects included in these ads are such a turn off while watching TV. In Canada, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is prohibited as a health protection measure. Manufacturers cannot advertise prescription-only drugs directly to the public because of their toxicity and the potential for harm from medically unnecessary or inappropriate use.
For me, I assume my doctor is the professional who will know what meds are appropriate for me. So my question to you is: has anyone ever gone to their doctor and tell them they want a certain drug they saw on TV?

In answer to your question I have to assume people do see the ads for prescription drugs then ask their doctor to prescribe to them. Why else would drug companies pay the huge advertising dollars? I personally think the TV ads should not be allowed because it contributes to the outrageous cost of drugs in the U.S. If people are concerned that their doctor is not aware of a drug and it's potential benefits, they should find a better doctor.

[Lindsyburnsy]

In answer to your question I have to assume people do see the ads for prescription drugs then ask their doctor to prescribe to them. Why else would drug companies pay the huge advertising dollars? I personally think the TV ads should not be allowed because it contributes to the outrageous cost of drugs in the U.S. If people are concerned that their doctor is not aware of a drug and it's potential benefits, they should find a better doctor.
Those drug ads are for making money. Those drugs are so expensive and mostly not covered by Medicare. Doctors can’t know about every drug on the market, which is why pharmaceutical reps visit doctors offices and tell them all the “benefits” of their drug. Doctors were persuaded by money and luxury vacation junkets. This is one reason we hv pain medication addiction. Doctors were told that they were not addicting which wasn’t true. I don’t know what the answer is.

[Pinball wizard]

I've looking into one or two but that's it. What also irks me is when the ad says "Don't take this if you are allergic to it". How would you know unless you took it!!!!

[La lamy]

In answer to your question I have to assume people do see the ads for prescription drugs then ask their doctor to prescribe to them. Why else would drug companies pay the huge advertising dollars? I personally think the TV ads should not be allowed because it contributes to the outrageous cost of drugs in the U.S. If people are concerned that their doctor is not aware of a drug and it's potential benefits, they should find a better doctor.

Agreed!! The cost of drugs is unconscionable in the US.

[TSO/ISPF]

In answer to your question I have to assume people do see the ads for prescription drugs then ask their doctor to prescribe to them. Why else would drug companies pay the huge advertising dollars? I personally think the TV ads should not be allowed because it contributes to the outrageous cost of drugs in the U.S. If people are concerned that their doctor is not aware of a drug and it's potential benefits, they should find a better doctor.

Whatever happened to that bill?? AARP pushed it hard. I guess it's
not going to happen. I wonder why?

[golfing eagles]

I find TV ads about prescription drugs quite disturbing. The crazy long list of side effects included in these ads are such a turn off while watching TV. In Canada, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is prohibited as a health protection measure. Manufacturers cannot advertise prescription-only drugs directly to the public because of their toxicity and the potential for harm from medically unnecessary or inappropriate use.
For me, I assume my doctor is the professional who will know what meds are appropriate for me. So my question to you is: has anyone ever gone to their doctor and tell them they want a certain drug they saw on TV?

I should preface my answer with :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Ever since the first direct to consumer ads in 1983-84 for Rufen and Trental, patients have come to doctor's offices with specific requests for specific drugs that they know nothing about other than they saw an ad. The internet magnified this problem 100 fold, the patients would come to the office with some blurb they googled from God knows what site and try to convince me to prescribe that med for whatever condition they thought they had. The best part was when they wanted to argue with me---actually, sort of like some posters on TOTV who worship Dr. Google.

[golfing eagles]

Those drug ads are for making money. Those drugs are so expensive and mostly not covered by Medicare. Doctors can’t know about every drug on the market, which is why pharmaceutical reps visit doctors offices and tell them all the “benefits” of their drug. Doctors were persuaded by money and luxury vacation junkets. This is one reason we hv pain medication addiction. Doctors were told that they were not addicting which wasn’t true. I don’t know what the answer is.

Really??? And your basis for this ridiculous statement is???????

Now for reality: Pharmaceutical reps are limited to handing out pens with their drug name on it and a meal if it is associated with an educational event. The days of "vacation junkets" ended in the 80's as a result of federal legislation. The ultimate hypocrisy of that legislation was that the bill was signed by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy while on a "vacation junket" skiing in the Alps courtesy of US Steel. As far as our group went, we didn't even talk to drug reps. And may I assume that part of that post was based on that TV show about oxycodone, which stretched the truth to the point of absurdity?

[PugMom]

Americans are gullible and over-medicated. If you wish to get better then you must need another prescription.

:1rotfl::clap2::1rotfl: :mademyday:

[PugMom]

I find TV ads about prescription drugs quite disturbing. The crazy long list of side effects included in these ads are such a turn off while watching TV. In Canada, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is prohibited as a health protection measure. Manufacturers cannot advertise prescription-only drugs directly to the public because of their toxicity and the potential for harm from medically unnecessary or inappropriate use.
For me, I assume my doctor is the professional who will know what meds are appropriate for me. So my question to you is: has anyone ever gone to their doctor and tell them they want a certain drug they saw on TV?

I should preface my answer with :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Ever since the first direct to consumer ads in 1983-84 for Rufen and Trental, patients have come to doctor's offices with specific requests for specific drugs that they know nothing about other than they saw an ad. The internet magnified this problem 100 fold, the patients would come to the office with some blurb they googled from God knows what site and try to convince me to prescribe that med for whatever condition they thought they had. The best part was when they wanted to argue with me---actually, sort of like some posters on TOTV who worship Dr. Google.

i once asked my dr for one of the new(@ the time) drugs, nexium. i admit i saw the ad on tv & felt this was for me, lol, just like you said. my dr refused to prescribe, saying it had too many unresolved side effects. i was a tad irked from her refusal, but years later we see she was correct. your post was spot on.

[golfing eagles]

[QUOTE=golfing eagles;2053675]

i once asked my dr for one of the new(@ the time) drugs, nexium. i admit i saw the ad on tv & felt this was for me, lol, just like you said. my dr refused to prescribe, saying it had too many unresolved side effects. i was a tad irked from her refusal, but years later we see she was correct. your post was spot on.

Mainly because I lived with it for 35 years:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl: But I'm sure someone on this site will want to argue:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[JMintzer]

I find TV ads about prescription drugs quite disturbing. The crazy long list of side effects included in these ads are such a turn off while watching TV. In Canada, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is prohibited as a health protection measure. Manufacturers cannot advertise prescription-only drugs directly to the public because of their toxicity and the potential for harm from medically unnecessary or inappropriate use.
For me, I assume my doctor is the professional who will know what meds are appropriate for me. So my question to you is: has anyone ever gone to their doctor and tell them they want a certain drug they saw on TV?

I should preface my answer with :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Ever since the first direct to consumer ads in 1983-84 for Rufen and Trental, patients have come to doctor's offices with specific requests for specific drugs that they know nothing about other than they saw an ad. The internet magnified this problem 100 fold, the patients would come to the office with some blurb they googled from God knows what site and try to convince me to prescribe that med for whatever condition they thought they had. The best part was when they wanted to argue with me---actually, sort of like some posters on TOTV who worship Dr. Google.

You needed one of these...

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ngxdhn6tL._AC_.jpg

[golfing eagles]

[QUOTE=golfing eagles;2053675]

You needed one of these...

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ngxdhn6tL._AC_.jpg

I have one

[JMintzer]

Really??? And your basis for this ridiculous statement is???????

Now for reality: Pharmaceutical reps are limited to handing out pens with their drug name on it and a meal if it is associated with an educational event. The days of "vacation junkets" ended in the 80's as a result of federal legislation. The ultimate hypocrisy of that legislation was that the bill was signed by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy while on a "vacation junket" skiing in the Alps courtesy of US Steel. As far as our group went, we didn't even talk to drug reps. And may I assume that part of that post was based on that TV show about oxycodone, which stretched the truth to the point of absurdity?

Funny, my daughter just recently commented that she went all thru HS and college using Celebrex pens and only recently learned what it was used for... :1rotfl:

All I ever got were pens and post-it notes...

[golfing eagles]

Funny, my daughter just recently commented that she went all thru HS and college using Celebrex pens and only recently learned what it was used for... :1rotfl:

All I ever got were pens and post-it notes...

You got post-it notes???????

Now I'm jealous. It's like a "vacation junket", only different:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[Stu from NYC]

One reason we zap thru commercials.

The day we have to ask our Dr for a drug we saw on TV that also has 14 dozen side effects is the time we search for a new Dr.

[golfing eagles]

One reason we zap thru commercials.

The day we have to ask our Dr for a drug we saw on TV that also has 14 dozen side effects is the time we search for a new Dr.

Actually, that's the day HE searches for a new patient:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[MrFlorida]

Its humorous, the side effects are probably worse than what they are trying to cure....

[blueash]

Really??? And your basis for this ridiculous statement is???????... The days of "vacation junkets" ended in the 80's as a result of federal legislation. The ultimate hypocrisy of that legislation was that the bill was signed by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy while on a "vacation junket" skiing in the Alps courtesy of US Steel.

I don't have your unfailing recall of all things Ted Kennedy did, but please explain to me why a US Senator would have to sign a bill? The POTUS has to sign, a Senator has to vote. And to vote he or she must be in the Senate. So explain why did Kennedy sign a bill while skiing?

The voluntary restriction of medical junkets didn't happen until 2002 in a statement by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
Astra zeneca made headlines (https://www.reuters.com/article/astrazeneca-junkets/astrazeneca-pulls-plug-on-free-trips-for-doctors-idUSLDE74P1YI20110527) when it announced in 2011 it would stop flying doctors to attend resort conferences

The Physician Payments Sunshine Act (https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hpb20141002.272302/full/) passed in 2010 as a section of the Affordable Care Law AKA Obamacare, was the first to require that drug companies report the money they spent on direct physician payment of money or things of value. Not the 1980's not Ted Kennedy and it did not prohibit those payments, only required public disclosure.

So what was the basis for your ridiculous statement?

[golfing eagles]

I don't have your unfailing recall of all things Ted Kennedy did, but please explain to me why a US Senator would have to sign a bill? The POTUS has to sign, a Senator has to vote. And to vote he or she must be in the Senate. So explain why did Kennedy sign a bill while skiing?

The voluntary restriction of medical junkets didn't happen until 2002 in a statement by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
Astra zeneca made headlines (https://www.reuters.com/article/astrazeneca-junkets/astrazeneca-pulls-plug-on-free-trips-for-doctors-idUSLDE74P1YI20110527) when it announced in 2011 it would stop flying doctors to attend resort conferences

The Physician Payments Sunshine Act (https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hpb20141002.272302/full/) passed in 2010 as a section of the Affordable Care Law AKA Obamacare, was the first to require that drug companies report the money they spent on direct physician payment of money or things of value. Not the 1980's not Ted Kennedy and it did not prohibit those payments, only required public disclosure.

So what was the basis for your ridiculous statement?

I never said he signed it into law or voted on the final version. To introduce a bill into the senate or house requires the signature of one or more members, that is what he signed, a preliminary only. I don't know what other legislation and recommendations regarding pharmaceutical "gifts" followed in later years, but this bill introduced by Kennedy was the first I know about. Perhaps it is faulty cause-effect reasoning as well, but I never got more than a pen after 1990. Apparently, some lucky people got post-it notes as well:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I find TV ads about prescription drugs quite disturbing. The crazy long list of side effects included in these ads are such a turn off while watching TV. In Canada, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is prohibited as a health protection measure. Manufacturers cannot advertise prescription-only drugs directly to the public because of their toxicity and the potential for harm from medically unnecessary or inappropriate use.
For me, I assume my doctor is the professional who will know what meds are appropriate for me. So my question to you is: has anyone ever gone to their doctor and tell them they want a certain drug they saw on TV?

No, but it was thanks to a Chantix ad on TV that I was finally able to quit smoking years ago after it became widely available.

I didn't tell my doctor that was what I wanted. It was the other way around. He told me he needed me to quit smoking in order to continue to be my doctor, and he would help me do whatever was necessary to accomplish it. He gave me a list of options, from hypnotism (tried it, failed), nicotine gum (tried it, hated it), behavioral modification (homey don't play that), cold turkey, cutting down, antidepressants, some other med, and Chantix.

I had heard about Chantix from the ad on TV, and it was the only one that seemed to fit my needs. It basically deactivates signals to your nicotine receptors and makes your mind forget that it's addicted. You still have a habit to get over, but you can work on the habit with zero nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

I remembered the risks, most of them involved sleep disorders. Since I was already taking prescription sleep meds that ALSO had those side effects, and had never experienced any of them, I was willing to give it a shot.

Two weeks later, I had quit smoking. The end of that second week, I threw the rest of the Chantix in the trash (even though I was supposed to keep taking it for 3 months) That was 12 years ago. I haven't even been tempted to smoke since.

[blueash]

I never said he signed it into law or voted on the final version. To introduce a bill into the senate or house requires the signature of one or more members, that is what he signed, a preliminary only. I don't know what other legislation and recommendations regarding pharmaceutical "gifts" followed in later years, but this bill introduced by Kennedy was the first I know about. Perhaps it is faulty cause-effect reasoning as well, but I never got more than a pen after 1990. Apparently, some lucky people got post-it notes as well:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

What bill would that be? There was no law in the 1980s on this topic. There was never a need for any emergency signature on a routine measure. As you are certain Ted Kennedy signed a proposed bill, while on a ski trip in the Alps sponsored by a steel company? You know about it? There is nothing on the Google about it. You don't know about other acts or legislation that actually exist, but this one situation, that mysterious bill that needed a physical signature while a Senator was out of town, that you recall clearly. Hmm.

[Wyseguy]

I find TV ads about prescription drugs quite disturbing. The crazy long list of side effects included in these ads are such a turn off while watching TV. In Canada, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is prohibited as a health protection measure. Manufacturers cannot advertise prescription-only drugs directly to the public because of their toxicity and the potential for harm from medically unnecessary or inappropriate use.
For me, I assume my doctor is the professional who will know what meds are appropriate for me. So my question to you is: has anyone ever gone to their doctor and tell them they want a certain drug they saw on TV?

My favorite part of those ads is when they are pushing a "NEW" drug. Lets call it abivol. In the warnings they say "Don't take abivol if you are allergic of have harmful reaction to Abivol". How would one know?

Also, interesting how meds for something non life threatening as psoriasis has side effects that include cancers, and suicidal tendencies.

[coralway]

I find TV ads about prescription drugs quite disturbing. The crazy long list of side effects included in these ads are such a turn off while watching TV. In Canada, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is prohibited as a health protection measure. Manufacturers cannot advertise prescription-only drugs directly to the public because of their toxicity and the potential for harm from medically unnecessary or inappropriate use.
For me, I assume my doctor is the professional who will know what meds are appropriate for me. So my question to you is: has anyone ever gone to their doctor and tell them they want a certain drug they saw on TV?




If your disturbed - change the channel.

Florida is a "free" state. We can do whatever we want. Laws, rules, suggestions, recommendations mean nothing to us. If you are hearing something you don't like, walk away.

[golfing eagles]

What bill would that be? There was no law in the 1980s on this topic. There was never a need for any emergency signature on a routine measure. As you are certain Ted Kennedy signed a proposed bill, while on a ski trip in the Alps sponsored by a steel company? You know about it? There is nothing on the Google about it. You don't know about other acts or legislation that actually exist, but this one situation, that mysterious bill that needed a physical signature while a Senator was out of town, that you recall clearly. Hmm.

Hmmm----perhaps the bill died in committee. Perhaps you know since you appear to have definitive knowledge on the subject. I didn't "google" it, all I know is what multiple drug reps told me AT THAT TIME. Were you there?????

[dewilson58]

I think TV advertising did very well for the little blue pill.

:a040::a040::a040:

[Pinball wizard]

One reason we zap thru commercials.

The day we have to ask our Dr for a drug we saw on TV that also has 14 dozen side effects is the time we search for a new Dr.

Virtually every drug OTC or prescription has multiple contraindications. Just read the list for everything you take. That's why Dr.'s have the PDR to reference. For example take a look at glipizide/metformin hydrochloride. Glipizide and Metformin Hydrochloride (glipizide/metformin hydrochloride) dose, indications, adverse effects, interactions... from PDR.net (https://www.pdr.net/drug-summary/Glipizide-and-Metformin-Hydrochloride-glipizide-metformin-hydrochloride-1791.5923)

[La lamy]

No, but it was thanks to a Chantix ad on TV that I was finally able to quit smoking years ago after it became widely available.

I didn't tell my doctor that was what I wanted. It was the other way around. He told me he needed me to quit smoking in order to continue to be my doctor, and he would help me do whatever was necessary to accomplish it. He gave me a list of options, from hypnotism (tried it, failed), nicotine gum (tried it, hated it), behavioral modification (homey don't play that), cold turkey, cutting down, antidepressants, some other med, and Chantix.

I had heard about Chantix from the ad on TV, and it was the only one that seemed to fit my needs. It basically deactivates signals to your nicotine receptors and makes your mind forget that it's addicted. You still have a habit to get over, but you can work on the habit with zero nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

I remembered the risks, most of them involved sleep disorders. Since I was already taking prescription sleep meds that ALSO had those side effects, and had never experienced any of them, I was willing to give it a shot.

Two weeks later, I had quit smoking. The end of that second week, I threw the rest of the Chantix in the trash (even though I was supposed to keep taking it for 3 months) That was 12 years ago. I haven't even been tempted to smoke since.

Well that's a great story! Happy to hear prescription meds worked so well for such an insidiously unhealthy habit. A 3 week behaviour modification course from the Lung Association in Canada helped me quit 19 years ago. Best thing I ever gave up, that's for sure.

[La lamy]

My favorite part of those ads is when they are pushing a "NEW" drug. Lets call it abivol. In the warnings they say "Don't take abivol if you are allergic of have harmful reaction to Abivol". How would one know?

Also, interesting how meds for something non life threatening as psoriasis has side effects that include cancers, and suicidal tendencies.

I know! Those warnings are so dire. Yikes.

[Stu from NYC]

Virtually every drug OTC or prescription has multiple contraindications. Just read the list for everything you take. That's why Dr.'s have the PDR to reference. For example take a look at glipizide/metformin hydrochloride. Glipizide and Metformin Hydrochloride (glipizide/metformin hydrochloride) dose, indications, adverse effects, interactions... from PDR.net (https://www.pdr.net/drug-summary/Glipizide-and-Metformin-Hydrochloride-glipizide-metformin-hydrochloride-1791.5923)

I think contraindications should have a dash somewhere in the middle. Irregardless of that think it is not really a word.

[CFrance]

I think contraindications should have a dash somewhere in the middle. Irregardless of that think it is not really a word.
Don't know if you are kidding or not, but it is definitely a word, no hyphen.

A contraindication is a specific situation in which a drug, procedure, or surgery should not be used because it may be harmful to the person.

contraindicate - Google Search (https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=contraindicate)

[Stu from NYC]

Don't know if you are kidding or not, but it is definitely a word, no hyphen.

A contraindication is a specific situation in which a drug, procedure, or surgery should not be used because it may be harmful to the person.

contraindicate - Google Search (https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=contraindicate)

Was kidding, Pinball is a good friend.

[Boomer]

Really??? And your basis for this ridiculous statement is???????

Now for reality: Pharmaceutical reps are limited to handing out pens with their drug name on it and a meal if it is associated with an educational event. The days of "vacation junkets" ended in the 80's as a result of federal legislation. The ultimate hypocrisy of that legislation was that the bill was signed by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy while on a "vacation junket" skiing in the Alps courtesy of US Steel. As far as our group went, we didn't even talk to drug reps. And may I assume that part of that post was based on that TV show about oxycodone, which stretched the truth to the point of absurdity?

Hmmm----perhaps the bill died in committee. Perhaps you know since you appear to have definitive knowledge on the subject. I didn't "google" it, all I know is what multiple drug reps told me AT THAT TIME. Were you there?????


golfing eagles, OK, which one is it? You never saw drug reps? Or multiple drug reps told you all about it?

And, btw, I was there. :wave:

Boomer

[JMintzer]

You got post-it notes???????

Now I'm jealous. It's like a "vacation junket", only different:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Must have been my "boyish good looks"... The reps were sweet on me... :icon_wink:

[JMintzer]

I never said he signed it into law or voted on the final version. To introduce a bill into the senate or house requires the signature of one or more members, that is what he signed, a preliminary only. I don't know what other legislation and recommendations regarding pharmaceutical "gifts" followed in later years, but this bill introduced by Kennedy was the first I know about. Perhaps it is faulty cause-effect reasoning as well, but I never got more than a pen after 1990. Apparently, some lucky people got post-it notes as well:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Shush already! I don't need the Feds coming after me for post-it notes! :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[JMintzer]

Was kidding, Pinball is a good friend.

"Irregardless", on the other hand... :shocked:

[Pinball wizard]

:smiley:I think contraindications should have a dash somewhere in the middle. Irregardless of that think it is not really a word.

Irregardless - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com (https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/irregardless)
Contraindication Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contraindication)

Just saw your kidding post. Should have used a smiley!:smiley:

[golfing eagles]

golfing eagles, OK, which one is it? You never saw drug reps? Or multiple drug reps told you all about it?

And, btw, I was there. :wave:

Boomer

Never saw them to allow them to "push" their drugs, but certainly would have conversation. Heck, one of my best friends is a rep. And if you were there, you should know exactly what I was talking about. Or perhaps you were lucky enough to get post-it notes as well:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[thevillages2013]

What kills me is they slip in there “this medication may cause weight loss”. What’s the reason for that except to make someone want to try it?

[Zenmama18]

Well that's a great story! Happy to hear prescription meds worked so well for such an insidiously unhealthy habit. A 3 week behaviour modification course from the Lung Association in Canada helped me quit 19 years ago. Best thing I ever gave up, that's for sure.

All it took for my husband to quit was a heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery. But he made it and quit cold turkey and hasn't looked back.

[La lamy]

All it took for my husband to quit was a heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery. But he made it and quit cold turkey and hasn't looked back.

Wow, yea that sure is a wake up call. My dad finally went to get checked out when they discovered arteries were 97% clogged up. He just missed out on a heart attack, had the quadruple bypass and stopped smoking too.

[krick093]

I find TV ads about prescription drugs quite disturbing. The crazy long list of side effects included in these ads are such a turn off while watching TV. In Canada, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is prohibited as a health protection measure. Manufacturers cannot advertise prescription-only drugs directly to the public because of their toxicity and the potential for harm from medically unnecessary or inappropriate use.
For me, I assume my doctor is the professional who will know what meds are appropriate for me. So my question to you is: has anyone ever gone to their doctor and tell them they want a certain drug they saw on TV?
It's called creating pull demand for new drugs and they'll keep doing it as long as it works well enough to justify the marketing expense. Personally I don't think they should be allowed to market direct to consumers. Save that money and reduce the price of the drugs when they first come to market.

[Sandy and Ed]

most of those pharm reps I saw bumping me from my appointment by sashaying right into the md’s office were darn good looking gals carrying trim brief cases and candy for the md’s receptionist (who they called by first name).

[Sandy and Ed]

I found it interesting that a doctor once prescribed meds for me which I did not get filled and a month later he called to ask why I had not gotten it from the pharmacy. How did he know?!? Anyone of you md’s know??

[dewilson58]

most of those pharm reps I saw bumping me from my appointment by sashaying right into the md’s office were darn good looking gals carrying trim brief cases and candy for the md’s receptionist (who they called by first name).

Many times, they would bring in lunch, ice cream bars, and nice little Christmas presents.

[Eg_cruz]

Really??? And your basis for this ridiculous statement is???????

Now for reality: Pharmaceutical reps are limited to handing out pens with their drug name on it and a meal if it is associated with an educational event. The days of "vacation junkets" ended in the 80's as a result of federal legislation. The ultimate hypocrisy of that legislation was that the bill was signed by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy while on a "vacation junket" skiing in the Alps courtesy of US Steel. As far as our group went, we didn't even talk to drug reps. And may I assume that part of that post was based on that TV show about oxycodone, which stretched the truth to the point of absurdity?
So are you stating that doctors do not get paid for writing prescriptions? My doctor client in Ocala makes $100k for his writing ability.
Yes, doctors were BIG part of opium crisis in America, they over prescribed the medicine base off the pain scale(with the faces). The others were Big Pharm and pharmacies NO ONE had a system in place to control overmedicating. And YES BIG PHARM LIED about addiction to the medication.
We are forever overmedicating our population in the United States all for the mighty dollar.

[Eg_cruz]

I find TV ads about prescription drugs quite disturbing. The crazy long list of side effects included in these ads are such a turn off while watching TV. In Canada, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is prohibited as a health protection measure. Manufacturers cannot advertise prescription-only drugs directly to the public because of their toxicity and the potential for harm from medically unnecessary or inappropriate use.
For me, I assume my doctor is the professional who will know what meds are appropriate for me. So my question to you is: has anyone ever gone to their doctor and tell them they want a certain drug they saw on TV?
Very concerned I wish that they would make an a federal law that would not allow them to advertise to the public.
You have to love the disclaimer that says his medication can cause Parkinson’s cancer or even death like it’s nothing, like they are just reading a script in a movie.

[golfing eagles]

So are you stating that doctors do not get paid for writing prescriptions? My doctor client in Ocala makes $100k for his writing ability.
Yes, doctors were BIG part of opium crisis in America, they over prescribed the medicine base off the pain scale(with the faces). The others were Big Pharm and pharmacies NO ONE had a system in place to control overmedicating. And YES BIG PHARM LIED about addiction to the medication.
We are forever overmedicating our population in the United States all for the mighty dollar.

Yes, I AM STATING THAT EMPHATICALLY, and call BS on anyone who states otherwise. And again, that TV show on opiates had a grain of truth but was horribly distorted

[golfing eagles]

So are you stating that doctors do not get paid for writing prescriptions? My doctor client in Ocala makes $100k for his writing ability.
Yes, doctors were BIG part of opium crisis in America, they over prescribed the medicine base off the pain scale(with the faces). The others were Big Pharm and pharmacies NO ONE had a system in place to control overmedicating. And YES BIG PHARM LIED about addiction to the medication.
We are forever overmedicating our population in the United States all for the mighty dollar.

Yes, I AM STATING THAT EMPHATICALLY, and call BS on anyone who states otherwise. And again, that TV show on opiates had a grain of truth but was horribly distorted

Actually, I find that whopper not only insulting to the profession, but personally as well. The behavior that post alleges is not only unethical, it is criminal and would result in severe penalties. I hope your "physician client", whatever that means, reads this and knows who you are.

Any other physicians on this site outraged by this? Have any of you ever been "paid to write prescriptions"? To the tune of 100K????

[paquino]

“Laws … mean nothing “?

[Eg_cruz]

Yes, I AM STATING THAT EMPHATICALLY, and call BS on anyone who states otherwise. And again, that TV show on opiates had a grain of truth but was horribly distorted
It sure what TV show you are taking about. I got my info from helping my grandson with his school project “Did doctors cause the Opium problem in the US”. He did extensive research over period of a few months on the subject. He had to do both sides of the story yes they did, no they did’t. We researched all the different lawsuits and exactly when it started and how it started and where the doctors were involved.

[Eg_cruz]

It sure what TV show you are taking about. I got my info from helping my grandson with his school project “Did doctors cause the Opium problem in the US”. He did extensive research over period of a few months on the subject. He had to do both sides of the story yes they did, no they did’t. We researched all the different lawsuits and exactly when it started and how it started and where the doctors were involved.
FYI I am telling yes he does

[golfing eagles]

It sure what TV show you are taking about. I got my info from helping my grandson with his school project “Did doctors cause the Opium problem in the US”. He did extensive research over period of a few months on the subject. He had to do both sides of the story yes they did, no they did’t. We researched all the different lawsuits and exactly when it started and how it started and where the doctors were involved.

FYI I am telling yes he does

So, your source for that sweeping indictment of the medical profession is a child's school project and your own "research"? Give us a break. Could I find criminals with a medical degree who participate in fraud? Absolutely. But they are few and far between. If I was inclined to take money for "writing prescriptions", I wouldn't even know where to begin and neither would any physician I know. Perhaps I wouldn't be so p***d off if the first post stated "a very small number of doctors get paid...." and "a very small number of doctors contributed to the opiate crisis"....

[Dlbonivich]

Well maybe I would believe that except I saw a doctor google my symptoms right in front of me. LOL needless to say I never went back.

[Rheinl271]

The drug companies are required by law to report all possible side effects in their advertising. I’m sure they’d rather not if they didn’t have to.

[Vicxyz]

US is one of only two countries in which it is legal for companies to advertise medications on television. Coincidentally, Big Pharma also owns 90 percent of the media.

[golfing eagles]

US is one of only two countries in which it is legal for companies to advertise medications on television. Coincidentally, Big Pharma also owns 90 percent of the media.

OK, I'll bite (although it's obvious the response will be crickets). Please cite a source for the assertion that "Big Pharma" owns 90% of the media

[JMintzer]

NOr perhaps you were lucky enough to get post-it notes as well:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Is this gonna' cause a rift between us? If so, I'm happy to share what I have left... :1rotfl:

[JMintzer]

So are you stating that doctors do not get paid for writing prescriptions? My doctor client in Ocala makes $100k for his writing ability.
Yes, doctors were BIG part of opium crisis in America, they over prescribed the medicine base off the pain scale(with the faces). The others were Big Pharm and pharmacies NO ONE had a system in place to control overmedicating. And YES BIG PHARM LIED about addiction to the medication.
We are forever overmedicating our population in the United States all for the mighty dollar.

Not by the Pharma companies...

Now, if they were "Pill Mills", the Feds might want to know about it...

[Wyseguy]

Well that's a great story! Happy to hear prescription meds worked so well for such an insidiously unhealthy habit. A 3 week behaviour modification course from the Lung Association in Canada helped me quit 19 years ago. Best thing I ever gave up, that's for sure.

My girlfriend in HS got me to quit smoking. Wouldn't kiss me if I smoked. I was 16 years old, weighing smoking on one hand vs making out. Quit smoking in one day.

[MandoMan]

I don't have your unfailing recall of all things Ted Kennedy did, but please explain to me why a US Senator would have to sign a bill? The POTUS has to sign, a Senator has to vote. And to vote he or she must be in the Senate. So explain why did Kennedy sign a bill while skiing?

The voluntary restriction of medical junkets didn't happen until 2002 in a statement by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
Astra zeneca made headlines (https://www.reuters.com/article/astrazeneca-junkets/astrazeneca-pulls-plug-on-free-trips-for-doctors-idUSLDE74P1YI20110527) when it announced in 2011 it would stop flying doctors to attend resort conferences

The Physician Payments Sunshine Act (https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hpb20141002.272302/full/) passed in 2010 as a section of the Affordable Care Law AKA Obamacare, was the first to require that drug companies report the money they spent on direct physician payment of money or things of value. Not the 1980's not Ted Kennedy and it did not prohibit those payments, only required public disclosure.

So what was the basis for your ridiculous statement?

Ted Kennedy was for decades the chief senate proponent of socialized medicine. He also had a hand in various bills that affected hospitals, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and health insurance companies. He did a lot of good, even though he wasn’t able to accomplish his goals. However, he was also a politician, with all the bad things that entails. Back in the 70s he had a “fact-finding mission” that traveled around the country holding meetings at hospitals. At the time, my dad was the head chaplain at an excellent church-affiliated hospital in Denver (now part of the AdventHealth system). He was also on the hospital administrative committee, so he was involved in preparation for Kennedy’s visit and in the room while Kennedy was “finding facts” by interrogating administrators while the press watched and snapped photos. My dad felt that Kennedy had no interest in “finding facts,” but was simply seeking publicity and trying to further his agenda. My dad felt that Kennedy seriously misrepresented the hospital, asked unfair questions, and put well-intentioned answers in the worst light. Granted, this seems to be the case with many such meetings held by legislators. They often seem to know the answers they want to hear. As committee chair in the Senate, Kennedy didn’t SIGN these health bills, but he did have to sign off on such bills before they were presented to the entire Senate by the committee.

Health care legislation is difficult partly because of massive lobbying efforts by pharmaceutical companies, the AMA, hospitals, and insurance companies. They all want to protect their profits. One of the effects of Kennedy’s work was that hospitals stopped charging set fees for surgeries and other procedures and began itemizing everything used and billing piece by piece. I was working in an O.R. when that began, and I remember how much extra work it caused the circulating nurses who had to list everything used. I don’t think it saved any money. Hospitals and doctors soon learned how to use the system to maximize income. Similarly, pharmaceutical companies gained the right to advertise drugs, but then a few years later, new regulations required the companies to list side effects in ads—as fast as possible. It’s a constant war between government and businesses trying to make more money. Oh, and we can also throw into the mixture lawyers who promise to find malpractice where none exists and get you a big payout. I’m on the side of the consumer, usually, but I’m also on the side of doctors and hospitals, and I also make money from profits from pharmaceutical companies through my retirement investments.

[golfing eagles]

Ted Kennedy was for decades the chief senate proponent of socialized medicine. He also had a hand in various bills that affected hospitals, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and health insurance companies. He did a lot of good, even though he wasn’t able to accomplish his goals. However, he was also a politician, with all the bad things that entails. Back in the 70s he had a “fact-finding mission” that traveled around the country holding meetings at hospitals. At the time, my dad was the head chaplain at an excellent church-affiliated hospital in Denver (now part of the AdventHealth system). He was also on the hospital administrative committee, so he was involved in preparation for Kennedy’s visit and in the room while Kennedy was “finding facts” by interrogating administrators while the press watched and snapped photos. My dad felt that Kennedy had no interest in “finding facts,” but was simply seeking publicity and trying to further his agenda. My dad felt that Kennedy seriously misrepresented the hospital, asked unfair questions, and put well-intentioned answers in the worst light. Granted, this seems to be the case with many such meetings held by legislators. They often seem to know the answers they want to hear. As committee chair in the Senate, Kennedy didn’t SIGN these health bills, but he did have to sign off on such bills before they were presented to the entire Senate by the committee.

Health care legislation is difficult partly because of massive lobbying efforts by pharmaceutical companies, the AMA, hospitals, and insurance companies. They all want to protect their profits. One of the effects of Kennedy’s work was that hospitals stopped charging set fees for surgeries and other procedures and began itemizing everything used and billing piece by piece. I was working in an O.R. when that began, and I remember how much extra work it caused the circulating nurses who had to list everything used. I don’t think it saved any money. Hospitals and doctors soon learned how to use the system to maximize income. Similarly, pharmaceutical companies gained the right to advertise drugs, but then a few years later, new regulations required the companies to list side effects in ads—as fast as possible. It’s a constant war between government and businesses trying to make more money. Oh, and we can also throw into the mixture lawyers who promise to find malpractice where none exists and get you a big payout. I’m on the side of the consumer, usually, but I’m also on the side of doctors and hospitals, and I also make money from profits from pharmaceutical companies through my retirement investments.

Great post!!!!

Of course, I can think of at least one poster that will take exception to it:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[Petersweeney]

Ike is turning in his grave thinking about all these Industrial Complexes that run the world…..

[Haggar]

On drugs.com there is an interactions checker. You put all the meds, vits and min you are taking this site will advise you which items interact.

[nn0wheremann]

I find TV ads about prescription drugs quite disturbing. The crazy long list of side effects included in these ads are such a turn off while watching TV. In Canada, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is prohibited as a health protection measure. Manufacturers cannot advertise prescription-only drugs directly to the public because of their toxicity and the potential for harm from medically unnecessary or inappropriate use.
For me, I assume my doctor is the professional who will know what meds are appropriate for me. So my question to you is: has anyone ever gone to their doctor and tell them they want a certain drug they saw on TV?
I tell the doc to avoid any drug advertised on the evening news or the golf game. The co-pays are usually exorbitant anyhow.

[Cliff Fr]

I agree with you. We would be better off without the drug ads and also without all the attorney ads!

[La lamy]

My girlfriend in HS got me to quit smoking. Wouldn't kiss me if I smoked. I was 16 years old, weighing smoking on one hand vs making out. Quit smoking in one day.

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

[Puccini]

QUOTE=La lamy;2053619]I find TV ads about prescription drugs quite disturbing. The crazy long list of side effects included in these ads are such a turn off while watching TV. In Canada, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is prohibited as a health protection measure. Manufacturers cannot advertise prescription-only drugs directly to the public because of their toxicity and the potential for harm from medically unnecessary or inappropriate use.
For me, I assume my doctor is the professional who will know what meds are appropriate for me. So my question to you is: has anyone ever gone to their doctor and tell them they want a certain drug they saw on TV?[/QUOTE]

I so sgree with you! The USA is the only country (that I am aware of) that allows drug commercials on tv. That is one reason, as someone else suggested, that our drug prices are out of control. I do not enjoy hearing about flatulence, psoriasis or toenail fungus or any of the multitude of diseases they claim to alleviate. Have written my congressmen to no avail since they are also being paid by drug companies. What is the answer—other than recording shows so you can skip over commercials? People have to start protesting. A long time ago, cigarette and liquor ads were banned, right?

[waterflower]

The FDA is fully financed bt big pharma..Do a little research..Follow the money.

[NotGolfer]

I for one hate the ads. I have rheumatoid arthritis and the drugs for that show people happily gardening, jogging or some other activity. While many of us are able to do some of those things, the majority cannot. It's a progressive, systemic disease and can affect all of the body (organs, joints, ligaments etc). I belong to a handful of support systems and the majority of people on them would agree with me! We TiVo everything so FF through the ads now.

There is mega-bucks in those ads (think Big Pharma). As for Golfing Eagles saying the doctors no longer get perks---I will respectfully have to disagree. I had a friend back home who was a M.A. and worked for a group. She used to tell us about the fancy dinners they'd be invited to by their vendors (drug companies). Meaning the docs and their support staff. This was in the 2000's prior to 2010.

I'm not sure how many people will purchase a drug product due to the ads. My doctor prescribes what she feels necessary for my issues. Besides the drug ads---particurily annoying are the insurance ads, the attorney ads along with "these will make you beautiful/thinner ads. I won't name any but y'all know the ones. They all seem like "fillers" between the segments of programming.

[blueash]

Originally Posted by Eg_cruz
So are you stating that doctors do not get paid for writing prescriptions? My doctor client in Ocala makes $100k for his writing ability.

Actually, I find that whopper not only insulting to the profession, but personally as well. The behavior that post alleges is not only unethical, it is criminal and would result in severe penalties. I hope your "physician client", whatever that means, reads this and knows who you are.

Any other physicians on this site outraged by this? Have any of you ever been "paid to write prescriptions"? To the tune of 100K????

I was never paid to write a script. However, I was asked to be on an advisory committee for a vaccine company which met twice a year at rotating expensive restaurants to discuss advances in vaccines and also to look at various ads that were to be placed in journals and advise on whether we felt they were effective, honest, eye catching etc. We were also asked about packaging, ordering issues etc.

On the other hand, I was offered potentially thousands a year for NOT prescribing which could risk the health of my patients. One of the hundreds of insurance companies with which we had a contract was capitated. That means instead of being paid for service given, we were paid a fixed amount per month for every person who selected our practice for their care.

I don't recall the numbers, but for example, we'd be contracted to receive 30/month per patient no matter how often we saw them. And they'd put aside 10/mo for paying specialists to whom we referred our patients, and 10/mo for drugs we'd write, and 10/mo for hospital/ER costs, thus spending 60/mo on each patient. Of course they got paid more than 60/mo to provide this coverage.

But then we were told that if we stayed under the amounts set aside for drugs, specialists, hospitals etc we would get 1/2 of it as a year end bonus if the insurance company made money. And we were provided a list of medications they were specifically watching due to high costs. We got a quarterly report on how we were doing. How many antibiotics we wrote, and were they inexpensive generics like amoxicillin or high price drugs like cephalosporins.

Our group did a lot of ADHD management, and all those drugs were on the don't write list other than short acting amphetamines. I don't believe our doctors changed anything in what they used based on this "incentive" But the carrot was waved in our face by the insurance industry. Put your own economic benefit into your calculation of what, if any, meds to write.
If the reader is interested in capitated health care, it still exists, and how it pays the doctor more for making the insurance company more profitable..

READ THIS (https://www.acponline.org/about-acp/about-internal-medicine/career-paths/residency-career-counseling/resident-career-counseling-guidance-and-tips/understanding-capitation)

One place where capitation is the payment method is The Villages Health.
(https://grantcooper.com/job/chief-executive-officer-the-villages-health/)
Many studies have documented (https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/opioids-doctors-prescriptions-payments/) that the opioid companies gave sometimes enormous amounts of money to doctors who were high writers. It was not that they said, write 10 scripts and we'll give you money. Instead they paid high writers to be speakers at dinners or at conventions etc.

Here is one sentence from the Harvard paper, just looking at 2 years of data:
"The study found that, in 2014 and 2015, opioid manufacturers paid hundreds of doctors sums in the six figures, while thousands more were paid over $25,000."

Funny how that sentence from Harvard says doctors were paid over 100,000 to write opioids, just like the poster wrote that got you outraged. It was not illegal, there were no severe penalties, and whether it is ethical depends on whether the doctors wrote more to get more money or the drug companies picked doctors who were already high users and the payment had no impact [unlikely to have NO impact]

[Robbb]

Most, if not all clinics and hospitals do not allow drug reps to meet with Docs, the days of the bring in lunch for the staff and corner the doc's are over.

[Robbb]

If you really want to get mad, look up the website dollars for doctors. Its an eye opener.

[GeriS]

Follow the money! We are the only country that allows drug commercials on tell a vision.

[golfing eagles]

I was never paid to write a script. However, I was asked to be on an advisory committee for a vaccine company which met twice a year at rotating expensive restaurants to discuss advances in vaccines and also to look at various ads that were to be placed in journals and advise on whether we felt they were effective, honest, eye catching etc. We were also asked about packaging, ordering issues etc.

On the other hand, I was offered potentially thousands a year for NOT prescribing which could risk the health of my patients. One of the hundreds of insurance companies with which we had a contract was capitated. That means instead of being paid for service given, we were paid a fixed amount per month for every person who selected our practice for their care.

I don't recall the numbers, but for example, we'd be contracted to receive 30/month per patient no matter how often we saw them. And they'd put aside 10/mo for paying specialists to whom we referred our patients, and 10/mo for drugs we'd write, and 10/mo for hospital/ER costs, thus spending 60/mo on each patient. Of course they got paid more than 60/mo to provide this coverage.

But then we were told that if we stayed under the amounts set aside for drugs, specialists, hospitals etc we would get 1/2 of it as a year end bonus if the insurance company made money. And we were provided a list of medications they were specifically watching due to high costs. We got a quarterly report on how we were doing. How many antibiotics we wrote, and were they inexpensive generics like amoxicillin or high price drugs like cephalosporins.

Our group did a lot of ADHD management, and all those drugs were on the don't write list other than short acting amphetamines. I don't believe our doctors changed anything in what they used based on this "incentive" But the carrot was waved in our face by the insurance industry. Put your own economic benefit into your calculation of what, if any, meds to write.
If the reader is interested in capitated health care, it still exists, and how it pays the doctor more for making the insurance company more profitable..

READ THIS (https://www.acponline.org/about-acp/about-internal-medicine/career-paths/residency-career-counseling/resident-career-counseling-guidance-and-tips/understanding-capitation)

One place where capitation is the payment method is The Villages Health.
(https://grantcooper.com/job/chief-executive-officer-the-villages-health/)
Many studies have documented (https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/opioids-doctors-prescriptions-payments/) that the opioid companies gave sometimes enormous amounts of money to doctors who were high writers. It was not that they said, write 10 scripts and we'll give you money. Instead they paid high writers to be speakers at dinners or at conventions etc.

Here is one sentence from the Harvard paper, just looking at 2 years of data:
"The study found that, in 2014 and 2015, opioid manufacturers paid hundreds of doctors sums in the six figures, while thousands more were paid over $25,000."

Funny how that sentence from Harvard says doctors were paid over 100,000 to write opioids, just like the poster wrote that got you outraged. It was not illegal, there were no severe penalties, and whether it is ethical depends on whether the doctors wrote more to get more money or the drug companies picked doctors who were already high users and the payment had no impact [unlikely to have NO impact]

Overall, one of your better posts....until that highlighted statement. Surely you don't believe that they were paid to write prescriptions, they'd have to write thousands of them to break even, and that would quickly draw regulatory attention. Now, we both know pharmaceutical companies maintained "speakers bureaus" where they paid select physicians to give lectures at "educational" meetings that they sponsored. The speaker was compensated, I have no idea how generously, for their time and I suppose if one did 30-40 of these they could get 100K. Usually the speaker had some specialty expertise in the conditions a drug was used for, and of course was a "true believer" in the drug being highlighted. Some may have been pain management specialists speaking about oxycodone, and while they might have spoken about its benefits, I very much doubt they would tell other physicians it "wasn't addictive". The hope of the drug company was that these speakers would convince other physicians to use that drug, to gain a larger market share, not to "pay" any one physician to write a lot of Rx's

PS: A lot of ADHD?----psychiatrist or neurologist???

[flflowers]

OK, I'll bite (although it's obvious the response will be crickets). Please cite a source for the assertion that "Big Pharma" owns 90% of the media

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[jimjamuser]

I find TV ads about prescription drugs quite disturbing. The crazy long list of side effects included in these ads are such a turn off while watching TV. In Canada, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is prohibited as a health protection measure. Manufacturers cannot advertise prescription-only drugs directly to the public because of their toxicity and the potential for harm from medically unnecessary or inappropriate use.
For me, I assume my doctor is the professional who will know what meds are appropriate for me. So my question to you is: has anyone ever gone to their doctor and tell them they want a certain drug they saw on TV?
I would NEVER think of doing that, but I can imagine that many people do. The disclaimers are pretty funny - some late-night host ought to come up with a skit about disclaimers. Even the names of the drugs are humorous because they are running out of normal-sounding ones due to copyrights. "Do NOT take benzadroxadingdongdork and call your Doctor if any of these happens to you......itching eyeballs, earlobes, groin, or in your wisdom teeth. Side effects may include rash, , rash on top of a rash, need to sleep upside down, chasing of cars, lifting leg around bushes, howling at moons, or simply choking of mothers-in-law! (which is legal in Texas)
.......Seriously, I wonder if someone has patented any device to detect the (once sought to be changed by Congress) INCREASE in volume for TV ads and MUTING them. I would love that! AND this is a nice thread to have started. Kudos!

[jimjamuser]

I don't have your unfailing recall of all things Ted Kennedy did, but please explain to me why a US Senator would have to sign a bill? The POTUS has to sign, a Senator has to vote. And to vote he or she must be in the Senate. So explain why did Kennedy sign a bill while skiing?

The voluntary restriction of medical junkets didn't happen until 2002 in a statement by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
Astra zeneca made headlines (https://www.reuters.com/article/astrazeneca-junkets/astrazeneca-pulls-plug-on-free-trips-for-doctors-idUSLDE74P1YI20110527) when it announced in 2011 it would stop flying doctors to attend resort conferences

The Physician Payments Sunshine Act (https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hpb20141002.272302/full/) passed in 2010 as a section of the Affordable Care Law AKA Obamacare, was the first to require that drug companies report the money they spent on direct physician payment of money or things of value. Not the 1980's not Ted Kennedy and it did not prohibit those payments, only required public disclosure.

So what was the basis for your ridiculous statement?
Good informative post.

[jimjamuser]

If your disturbed - change the channel.

Florida is a "free" state. We can do whatever we want. Laws, rules, suggestions, recommendations mean nothing to us. If you are hearing something you don't like, walk away.
Oh yes! Fl. is wonderful. And here's to the so-many-people that I have walked away from.

[jimjamuser]

golfing eagles, OK, which one is it? You never saw drug reps? Or multiple drug reps told you all about it?

And, btw, I was there. :wave:

Boomer
The catch of the century - Henry David would be proud of that!

[jimjamuser]

All it took for my husband to quit was a heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery. But he made it and quit cold turkey and hasn't looked back.
There would be a certain level of motivation in that case!

[jimjamuser]

I found it interesting that a doctor once prescribed meds for me which I did not get filled and a month later he called to ask why I had not gotten it from the pharmacy. How did he know?!? Anyone of you md’s know??
Maybe the pill police?

[jimjamuser]

So are you stating that doctors do not get paid for writing prescriptions? My doctor client in Ocala makes $100k for his writing ability.
Yes, doctors were BIG part of opium crisis in America, they over prescribed the medicine base off the pain scale(with the faces). The others were Big Pharm and pharmacies NO ONE had a system in place to control overmedicating. And YES BIG PHARM LIED about addiction to the medication.
We are forever overmedicating our population in the United States all for the mighty dollar.
Recently, and years too late, some (I?) drug maker has gotten Congressional scrutiny and some civil suits - to the point that the owner had to declare bankruptcy for the company to protect himself. Now......I know that I have given a "loosy-goosy" and not a factual account of this. I don't have a photographic memory, so please accept my apologies in advance.
I just wanted to put it out there in case anyone has real tight facts about that.

[jimjamuser]

In reference to post # 56 .........Interesting, because every doctor that I ever went to in the V.A. had a computer in front of them and consulted the V.A. medical-type "google-like" system often. And also civilian Doctors. I would rather they looked something up than just told me some BS made-up lie of their own. I prefer humility-type of truth to confident BS.

[jimjamuser]

My girlfriend in HS got me to quit smoking. Wouldn't kiss me if I smoked. I was 16 years old, weighing smoking on one hand vs making out. Quit smoking in one day.
Oh, the power of hormones at age 16 !!!!!!!!

[Aces4]

In reference to post # 56 .........Interesting, because every doctor that I ever went to in the V.A. had a computer in front of them and consulted the V.A. medical-type "google-like" system often. And also civilian Doctors. I would rather they looked something up than just told me some BS made-up lie of their own. I prefer humility-type of truth to confident BS.

Here is some truth to be shared: a family member in the middle of an office visit, was interrupted by a staff member to tell the Dr the drug rep was there. The Dr disappeared for about 10 minutes, returned and said he had to put in the final details of his ski trip, complements of the drug company!:shocked: He was very upfront about it. Family member left his care within the year. This was about 12-15 years ago.

[golfing eagles]

Good Morning America....brought to you by pfizer
Anderson Cooper ....sponsored by pfizer
Nightline.....brought to you by pfizer
Making a Difference....brought to you by pfizer
CNN Tonight.....brought to you by pfizer
ABC.....brought to you by pfizer
Early Start....brought to you by pfizer
Out Front....brought to you by pfizer
Erin Burnett Friday Night....brought to you by pfizer
ABC This Week With George Stepanopolis....brought to you by pfizer
CBS Sports Update.....brought to you by pfizer
Meet The Press....brought to you by pfizer
CBS This Morning....brought to you by pfizer
60 Minutes....brought to you by pfizer
ETC, ETC, ETC !!!!

100% sponsorship 100% of the time?????? Doubt it. And if you truly believe that, go out and buy shares of Pfizer stock---but hurry, currently it's 53.45 up 0.44:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[golfing eagles]

Good informative post.

would be, if only it were accurate-----see previous response

[golfing eagles]

The catch of the century - Henry David would be proud of that!

Again, it would have been, but alas, you did not read the response

[jimjamuser]

Ted Kennedy was for decades the chief senate proponent of socialized medicine. He also had a hand in various bills that affected hospitals, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and health insurance companies. He did a lot of good, even though he wasn’t able to accomplish his goals. However, he was also a politician, with all the bad things that entails. Back in the 70s he had a “fact-finding mission” that traveled around the country holding meetings at hospitals. At the time, my dad was the head chaplain at an excellent church-affiliated hospital in Denver (now part of the AdventHealth system). He was also on the hospital administrative committee, so he was involved in preparation for Kennedy’s visit and in the room while Kennedy was “finding facts” by interrogating administrators while the press watched and snapped photos. My dad felt that Kennedy had no interest in “finding facts,” but was simply seeking publicity and trying to further his agenda. My dad felt that Kennedy seriously misrepresented the hospital, asked unfair questions, and put well-intentioned answers in the worst light. Granted, this seems to be the case with many such meetings held by legislators. They often seem to know the answers they want to hear. As committee chair in the Senate, Kennedy didn’t SIGN these health bills, but he did have to sign off on such bills before they were presented to the entire Senate by the committee.

Health care legislation is difficult partly because of massive lobbying efforts by pharmaceutical companies, the AMA, hospitals, and insurance companies. They all want to protect their profits. One of the effects of Kennedy’s work was that hospitals stopped charging set fees for surgeries and other procedures and began itemizing everything used and billing piece by piece. I was working in an O.R. when that began, and I remember how much extra work it caused the circulating nurses who had to list everything used. I don’t think it saved any money. Hospitals and doctors soon learned how to use the system to maximize income. Similarly, pharmaceutical companies gained the right to advertise drugs, but then a few years later, new regulations required the companies to list side effects in ads—as fast as possible. It’s a constant war between government and businesses trying to make more money. Oh, and we can also throw into the mixture lawyers who promise to find malpractice where none exists and get you a big payout. I’m on the side of the consumer, usually, but I’m also on the side of doctors and hospitals, and I also make money from profits from pharmaceutical companies through my retirement investments.
Pretty informative post, thanks. As far as "they (politicians) seem to know the answers to the questions that they ask" - I would point out that MOST Washington politicians are pretty smart people. And, many are lawyers, which are taught to NOT ask witnesses questions for which the lawyers do NOT already know the answer.
.....Funny how Canada, Mexico, and all other 1st world countries have found a way to avoid those problems and pass savings on to the health care consumer.

[golfing eagles]

Pretty informative post, thanks. As far as "they (politicians) seem to know the answers to the questions that they ask" - I would point out that MOST Washington politicians are pretty smart people. And, many are lawyers, which are taught to NOT ask witnesses questions for which the lawyers do NOT already know the answer.
.....Funny how Canada, Mexico, and all other 1st world countries have found a way to avoid those problems and pass savings on to the health care consumer.

And they get what they pay for:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

PS: Mexico is a first world country??????

[slpierce21@gmail.com]

Supplements are not a food or drug so they don't require FDA approval..but they should be made in a FDA approved lab.

[GOLFER54]

I agree with you, and I love it when they say, “ If you are allergic to this medicine, don’t take it .”

[Vicxyz]

Do a simple search and you will find the answer.

[GRACEALLEMAN]

I find TV ads about prescription drugs quite disturbing. The crazy long list of side effects included in these ads are such a turn off while watching TV. In Canada, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is prohibited as a health protection measure. Manufacturers cannot advertise prescription-only drugs directly to the public because of their toxicity and the potential for harm from medically unnecessary or inappropriate use.
For me, I assume my doctor is the professional who will know what meds are appropriate for me. So my question to you is: has anyone ever gone to their doctor and tell them they want a certain drug they saw on TV?

No. Most don't have any idea.