Network & Cable Television Inundated With Drug Commercials.

[TheMastersNemesis]

The pharmaceutical companies are burying television programs with millions of ads. Well if isn't that many sure seems like it. It seems like there are just strings and strings of ad for every kine of drug you never ever heard of.

How many multimillions are they spending on these ads. They used to be outlawed before Reagan.

[Chipper Chat]

1. They make me feel guilty I'm not taking all of them.

Vibersi, Invocana, Astrozenica, Xyzal, 11 kinds of AlkaSeltzer, 15 kinds of statins, Eloquis, AmmodiumAD, Aleve, Claritin, Soma, Otomotapoea, Phillips 66, Linzess, Robatussin, Gold Bond, Terramyacin, Exlax, Zicam, Lisinopril, Sandals. Please pass me a glass of water.

[lostnfound]

2. Is it to influence consumers to buy, or news channels not to discuss pharma?

Obviously part of it is just advertising, but I wonder sometimes if it isn’t just a lever to rid the networks of any ideas about doing exposes on the price of drugs, for example?

[LeftInTX]

3. It's disgusting

[hunter]

4. Nope, never see any of it.

No cable, no satellite, no network television.

Our television plays movies, that's all it does.

DVDs I find in thrift stores, Redbox rentals, and Netflix.

No commercials.

I don't pay people to deliver garbage to my house.

A cheap cell phone, a medium speed DSL connection from an independent Internet Service Provider, I'm happy.

I quit Comcast a long time ago when they raised their rates to $49. I told them if they wanted to keep me as a customer they'd have to send me $49 a month.

[Puppyjive]

5. American Druggies

Better Homes & Drugs. That is what I like to call it. Magazines are inundated with prescription drug advertisements. All mainstream media is bought by prescription drugs and how many Americans are truly prescription drug free? We are a nation of druggies. It is pathetic. I am sure there is a chart out there that shows a direct correlation between prescription drug advertising and prescription drug usage. In America, if you don't have long enough eyelashes, we have a drug to help you with that. Sorry about the rant. I want the ads to be illegal.

[whathehell]

6. They're not "recreational" drugs

They're medicine.

I'm tired of seeing the ads too, but I wouldn't conflate them with drug addiction.

[askyagerz]

8. They had oxycotin commercials saying how safe it was

They should all be outlawed. Asking consumers to diagnose themselves and then ask their doctor is pointless. If you don't feel well go to the doctor and then you can discuss all your options. Why we would ever let big business dictate our health is beyond me $

[whathehell]

11. I'm not arguing in defense of a gazillion drug ads

such as we have now -- not at all. I was simply defending consumers of medicine as something other than "druggies".

[dalton99a]

7. They're looking for guinea pigs

[Bigredhunk]

9. -

I've always thought it insane. I swear that over the past few years (maybe up to 5?) it's just exploded. Maybe some law went through or something(?) It seems like now you hear about multiple new drugs each week. And there are pharma co's I've never heard of at the bottom of the screen.

I remember reading years ago that for every $1 they spend on advertising they make $4 in profits. I bet the profits are even greater now. I'm pretty sure we're one of only two countries who allow direct advertising for pharmaceuticals.

[FormerOstrich]

10. I did some cursory research

on this a few years ago.

I believe it's not an attempt to drive demand (even thought that is an added benefit) but to insert influence within the media. A LOT of influence.

At one time (before ads were legal) drug companies justified their proprietary rates/protections as necessary to fund R&D (for the greater good). They still are able to maintain the patents/protections/hiwayrobbery and the ads have added exponentially to the costs for end users. Very little is invested back into R&D. They are allowed to get away with it because they curry favor in their spending.

Big Pharma is much more dangerous than the street drug dealers because they have that air of legitimacy and a LOT of money.

[Raine]

12. Disgusting! The prescription drug commercials must cost a fortune, they're so long

and so extravagant with such fancy settings and so many actors in them. It seems like they buy up all the time, I hardly see ads for much else. There used to be ads for gum, toothpaste, real products etc but hardly any of those anymore.

[MariaCSR]

13. I'm so tired of it. I have to mute my TV during commercial breaks

These damned pharmaceutical commercials are out of control.

[MariaCSR]

14. Watch this video, it explains how we got here.

[CanSocDem]

15. That's a brilliant video.

Thanks for posting.

This is the 'smoking gun' of the failing American health industry. Mass advertising that provides a road map to ill health by describing "symptoms" and causes, and appeals to that great American illusion of personal choice by offering a chemical compound for every activity. Sex, sleep, work and leisure time can all be enhanced with pharmaceuticals.

.

[HAB911]

16. I'm wearing out my mute button

[MariaCSR]

17. You and me both, honey

[Raine]

18. So am I

I can't tolerate them and I refuse to, I hit the mute as fast as I can!