TV Ads

[[sh...]]

Does anyone else get pissed off when they see the ads for drugs to treat depresssion on TV?

 

Sharil

[[Pa...]]

Yes, especially when they say, "this drug is thought to do this or that", they don't even know how this stuff does what it does, scary!  Oh and hey, if your antidepressant isn't working, add this one because everyone knows more is better! 

[[...]]

 

I never really paid these advertisements any mind, until I was in benzo withdrawal.

 

As Pam said, when they say they think this is how a drug works...I think..well what if you are wrong?

 

Another thing that has changed for is...when I see these ads for people to join lawsuits against the drug manufacturers...I now view them in a totally different light...before I was indifferent....now, I think.....good for you....stand up to these people and protect the people being harmed...

 

It certainly gives you a whole new outlook on things..

 

TC

[[Pa...]]

Hey TC, what about the Ambien commercials where they spend three quarters of the commercial time telling you the life threatening side effects, addiction and suicide warnings, I never used to hear that voice droning on in the background until Ambien nearly killed me! 

[[...]]

...and then they say you can get the "first 14 days FREE"!  That's the worst part of all.  After rattling off the bad side effects, they offer you two weeks worth to get you hooked for free!  Then, they've got you!  Such a deal!  ~~mbr

[[Ma...]]

I was at my psychology appointment on Monday (I go to help talk about my journey with Benzos and w/d).

 

I picked up a copy of "US News & World Report" and every third or fourth page was a drug ad.  (I counted.)  The ads ranged from diabetes treatments to psychoactive agents to sleep aids.

 

Every single ad of course listed the side effects.  Some of these were ridiculously dangerous.  One of the diabetes drugs was found to give test subjects cancer of the thyroid and another drug caused fatal heart attack in patients who can't metabolize the drug in their liver due to a genetic difference.

 

The message is horrifying:  Drug companies are interested in just making drugs in order to make drugs - and the FDA is ignoring relevant safety data to push drugs to market.  (The FDA relies on drug makers to supply their test data for review.  And much like a job candidate embellishes his resume to seem more appropriate for a job, drug companies do the same with their data to lessen the negatives.)

 

However, the one good thing that I took from reading one of the drug warnings about people who lack a certain enzyme for drug metabolism .  This demonstrates that science now acknowledges that people ARE different, and not all drugs act in the same way from person to person.  I always told my doctor to cut initial doses of things in 1/2 because I was always drug sensitive.  And when I said things to her about Lisinopril making me sick - she was in disbelief. 

 

PBS had a show last night about medical schools and doctors who receive payment to push drugs in their practice.  It's actually an ethics violation to do so, but "everyone does it" is the excuse.  What it also proves is that medicine isn't about the treatment and comfort of humans - it's about getting rich and being viewed higher up on that totem pole.

 

Having lived in Australia and the US, I can say that the US medical system is "numbers oriented" and that's it.  In Australia, my medical treatment was so different.  And no, we're not having this stupid socialism vs. capitalism comparison -- Australia is a democratic, free enterprise, capitalist society just like we are here in the US.  However, Australia has done a better job of keeping the good of the public in mind and doesn't let industry go crazy and self-regulate.

 

When I'm healed and can once again fly, I'll return to Australia.

 

 

[[sh...]]

Matthew, thanks for your message, you have a "neighbor" going through this in Dayton oh

 

Sharil

[[lp...]]

Yes everyday since there on everday ugh

[[...]]

Pam,

 

What about the Lunesta one with the butterfly?  I am thinking fly away butterfly..fly far away!!

 

Then the commecial goes on to tell you about how it may effect your GABA receptors, like this is a very good thing.

 

GRRRR!

 

TC

[[Pa...]]

Pam,

 

What about the Lunesta one with the butterfly?  I am thinking fly away butterfly..fly far away!!

 

Then the commecial goes on to tell you about how it may effect your GABA receptors, like this is a very good thing.

 

GRRRR!

 

TC

 

I loved the butterfly so much, I went to my Dr to get a prescription to get the butterfly.  Now when I see it, and hear the voice go on and on in the background about all of the dangers and side effects, I want to kick my TV.    Good think it's up so high in a nook that I can't reach it with my foot.