Ads for prescription drugs
 

I really can't stand them. It's not like it something you can go into the store and buy. I am not a doctor and I am not going to try a self-diagnosis so i can go tell my doctor what I need. The ads are everywhere! I especially hate the ones where they say "If you feel these sypmtoms..." Well I know that everyone probably feels those symptoms sometimes...

I hate them too. The worst ones are the ones that say "Ask your doctor about such-and-such drug" without actually telling you what the drug is for. It was a while before I knew what Nexium did...for the longest time all they said in their ads was that it was "the purple pill."

Totally agree. Strattera (ADD drug "Does your concentration sometimes wander in meetings?") is a prime example.

Some of the things you see, you get all excited about. And then it turns out it's herpes medication. I don't need that. KSig RC needs it, but not I!!!

-Rudey

Know what's even more annoying than the commercials? The drug reps. I'd say about 95% of them are extremely annoying to be around.

I tested clean :cool:

-RC
--only b/c i asked my doctor - I got lucky this time

There is nothing more fun than a case of genital herpes.

-Rudey
--So I hear

My personal favourites are the ones that while "curing" you of one problem 'may' inflict some pretty horrible other crap on you...

ie. This 'miracle pill' cures erectile disfunction - but may cause strokes, heart-attcks, severe adomenal cramps, sleeplessness, muscle spasms...etc..

Most of the docs I know flat at tell the drug reps that their commercials cause them to prescribe the prescription drug less b/c their patients come in and 'feel' all the negative side effects and want something different.

I'm not sure of the term...hypocondric (horrible spelling). The doc is like 'fine try this'. Most docs get pissed at the actual reps also. I don't think anyone likes salesmen.

You're probably looking for "psychosomatic" for the word there, although hypochondriac may work too - and yeah, most drug reps are douche bags, there's been a massive push in the pharmaceutical industry to hire/train younger reps and pay them better, in an attempt to pull out college grads instead of used car salesmen. They are trying to go compassionate and interested in public health and ethical concerns, rather than pure profit-driven market techniques - obviously it's not quite working yet, but I know that myself and quite a few others I know were aggressively contacted by some headhunters for pharma sales jobs. It's a weird ass industry, kids.

Some hospitals have also increased restrictions on drug reps. At some institutions, they have to check in when on property, check out when they leave, and are heavily restricted in what areas they can go.

I know Harvard Medical School has a limit on how much income MD's can receive outside of their hospital/academic salary, probably in part to check the influence of these reps. I'm not sure if other medical schools/hospitals have this policy.

Hell, the list of side effects is enough to scare me away from most of them.

Ohhhhhh, yeah. I'll take my symptoms of anxiety over uncontrollable diarrhea and heart problems any day.

I hate pharmaceutical salesmen, too. My sister desperately wants me to be one because I'd make so much money, but I just can't seem to reconcile myself to being a legal drug dealer, especially since I hate drug companies and how they operate, too. I hate the whole pharmaceutical industry. :p

Exactly!! I'll just keep the symptoms I already have, thank you.