Pharmaceutical Marketing

One question that has been running through my mind for the longest time is why do prescription drug companies have ads? When I am watching TV all of a sudden an add will come on for Abilify or Nexium saying if I have these symptoms then I should go to my doctor and ask for this medication. Hold on here is it not the doctors job to tell me what is best for my health? I shouldn’t go to my doctor saying I need this medication because of x, y, and z, instead I should go to my doctor and say hey I have x, y, and z what can I do to fix this. Doctors now a day are way too quick into prescribing a patient with a medication because more often than not they get reimbursed by these drug companies to sell their product. Let’s take a look at the first ad here for Nexium a prescription for acid reflux. 

I didn’t know what Nexium was until I saw this commercial. From the start it seemed like an anti-depressant because of all the family shots, but really it is to cure acid reflux. The ad targets us by using the word “you” in saying that they have been helping people like you for over a decade. Nexium also now has a new service where they can deliver it right to your door. Why do I have a problem with this? It all comes back from my original point, people see this as a cure and then go to their doctors to get it. But does the patient even know what the cause of acid reflux is? Acid reflux can be caused by eating too big of a meal, being overweight, eating before bed, smoking, drinking coffee, or even eating acidic food like tomatoes, chocolate, or spicy food. I know as both my mom and dad got older then experienced some acid reflux due to body changes. Instead of going to a doctor about this problem they simply changed their diet by drinking less coffee and eating less acidic foods. Now I’m not saying this is the cure all for everyone, but it should be the first step before taking some pill. 

The next drug I am looking it is actually the leading drug in sales for anti-depression, and is meant to be taken with any other anti-depressants we already take.

I chose to just play the side effects to this and not the actual commercial because who in their right mind would take this with all of this horrible things that can happen. Just like acid reflux, depression is probably being caused by something that can be fixed before having to rely on a medication. This person might just need to talk to someone about whatever is bothering them, or just needs a change of pace in life. Instead these marketers come in and say “hey just take this pill and everything will be better.” Like all medication though eventually it won’t have the same effects, so we have to take more or move to s stronger medication.

I acknowledge that there may be so people out there that need these medications, but I don't like how these companies tell you to ask your about them. We are supposed to go to a doctor with a problem and then they give us a solution. The other problem I have is that people don't take some time to research their own symptoms and find alternatives instead of just taking a pill. In fact many illnesses today can be fixed simply by changing something in our everyday life. Lastly I am going to to show you all an amazing drug, its called nature and everyone should take some of it.