How do you feel about prescription drugs being advertised on TV?

Question

Do you like them? Do they help the public? Are they just annoying? What do you think?

Answer 1

advertising costs money, costs increase price.
it is not a consumer product ie: see it advertised go buy it, otc meds.
its not as if you can just purchase whatever prescription med you see advertised.

Answer 2

In one sense, it's a good thing, so that people know there's a new drug out there which could help them. On the other hand, most drugs are so diease-specific, what's the chances that you will see an ad for a disease you have? Also, most drug ads are so vague you have no idea what they treat. It's a lady on a swing at dusk and with a list of side effects, and then it says "talk to your doctor."
It should be up to your doctor to educate you on available medicines for your condition....however....a lot people don't realize that your medical doctor, who went to school for many years to become a doctor, is educated on new drugs by drug company sales reps who have no medical background.

Answer 3

Pros
They educate the public

Cons
They drive up costs
They can lead people to self diagnose

I'm against them on TV, but ads in magazines don't bother me, I just flip past.

Answer 4

I do not like them

pharmaceutical companies marketing directly to consumers bypasses the doctor

it should open them up to liability

plus, now, pharmaceutical companies are making drugs that people WANT, and not the drugs that people NEED (viagra... cough cough)

Answer 5

I don't like it. I think that a doctor should be recommending drugs if you need them, you shouldn't be picking them off TV and asking for them.