Drug Ad Guidelines

Earlier this week in my usual medscape email, I read an article discussing guidelines that the FDA was proposing for drug and device makers in regards to their print, TV and I suppose web ads. The link to the FDA document is not working for me today, but this issue is still a good one. In many ads that we view, hear or read, the part about how wonderful the medicine is is presented very differently than the information about how it may be harmful and even habit forming. Sometimes the ads will have a distracting graphic during the side effect piece or a different voice with a less serious or convincing tone and the message is often in smaller print or faster voice. Pay close attention to the next few drug commercials you see and you'll spot it quit easily.
I am often taken aback at some ads. Apparently some medicines cause flatulence and leaky stools. Others can cause an erection that lasts hours upon hours if not heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. The FDA is not making rules or regulations at this time, but they have these guidelines and are asking that they be followed so that we, the consumer, hear both the good and the bad with the same measure of seriousness and effect.

I have two notable examples. One is the breathing treatment for COPD that tells us it is meant for smoker's cough (doesn't that sound benign? COPD kills most of the smokers who get it) and the ad says the medicine can be used by current smokers. Well, shame on the doctor who prescribes it before assisting that patient in quitting. That is treatment waste.

The other more often than not makes me laugh. It is one of the ED medicine commercials, ED being erectile dysfunction. The announcer advises that you can ask your doctor about once a day XXX also. And I am thinking, well isn't that optimistic! Seriously, lack of blood flow to the penis is often a consequence of poor diet, inactivity and smoking. In other words, some impotence can be prevented or addressed without medicine. Oh that reminds me, what is this "you may have low T" business. Is that supposed to be code speak for low testosterone. Give me a break.