stop drug ads

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marnie.glickman@gmail.com - 23 Jan 2006 20:20 GMT

These days, we're swamped with ads for prescription drugs that are
supposed to make us feel happier, sleep better and enhance our sex
lives.

The ads may seem ridiculous at times, with people prancing through
fields of flowers, looking healed and nearly ecstatic.

But the ads have a darker side, too. When Merck spent over $300 million
to advertise its drug Vioxx, it created huge demand for the drug, which
in turn led to as many as 140,000 heart attacks and strokes in the
U.S., and 60,000 deaths.

We can't let tragedies like that ever happen again.

So, today, we're launching a new website, www.StopDrugAds.org. The
purpose of the website is to educate the public about the dangers of
prescription drug ads, and to mobilize thousands of Americans to voice
their opposition to the ads.

Drug executives are not qualified to tell you what drugs to buy. They
should not be allowed to meddle in your personal health care decisions.
After all, they don't even know you. It's like practicing
medicine without a license.

Please take a minute to visit StopDrugAds.org, and send comments to the
FDA. Tell them to end prescription drug advertising in the United
States.

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Robert - 23 Jan 2006 21:20 GMT

> These days, we're swamped with ads for prescription drugs that are
> supposed to make us feel happier, sleep better and enhance our sex
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> in turn led to as many as 140,000 heart attacks and strokes in the
> U.S., and 60,000 deaths.

The deaths were not due to ads. The demand for drugs to relief pain are in
demand. If you were or are in pain and the drug helped then you would
understand. The huge demand was because of the need. The ads simply notified
people that a drug which was FDA approved was available.
The demand is still there as Vioxx was withdrawn so let's not start this
myth that the ads created the demand. It was the pain.

> We can't let tragedies like that ever happen again.

You don't live with chronic pain. People have taken narcotics from local
dealers.

> So, today, we're launching a new website, www.StopDrugAds.org. The
> purpose of the website is to educate the public about the dangers of
> prescription drug ads, and to mobilize thousands of Americans to voice
> their opposition to the ads.

You oppose the ads of FDA approved drugs? You prefer the companies directly
market to the doctors then. Keep a low profile and nothing visible in the
public and when deaths occur then the low profile would help the companies?
Or, in your face ads and then make them a target for publicity and info from
the public.
People know what Vioxx is because of the ads. Removing the ads don't make
new drugs any safer. Having a reduced number of patients on the drugs
doesn't make them any safer as it only takes longer to see the effects. I
don't have a problem banning ads but don't believe for a second that it has
any impact on the safety of drugs.

> Drug executives are not qualified to tell you what drugs to buy. They
> should not be allowed to meddle in your personal health care decisions.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> FDA. Tell them to end prescription drug advertising in the United
> States.

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Twittering One - 23 Jan 2006 22:01 GMT

"Heck, know ~ !

Responisble advertisement.
NOT no advertisement."
~ Folly

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