Prescription drug advertisements often “display before-and-after scenarios of symptoms a patient may experience prior to taking the advertised drug and the dramatic improvement in life after using the product. This type of advertising may create, whether consciously or not, a desire in the consumer to experience pre-treatment symptoms in order to meet the recommend course of therapy requirements (Melby 332-333). Direct-to-consumer advertising can be attributed to the various issues in the United States which have resulted in consumers relying far too heavily on prescription medications. In Should Prescription Drugs be Advertised Directly to Consumers, by ProCon.org Headlines it is reported:
Direct to consumer (DTC) drug ads misinform patients. 63% of physicians surveyed in Apr. 2013 believed DTC …show more content…
As noted by ProCon.org, “Opponents contend that DTC drug ads misinform patients, promote drugs before long-term safety-profiles can be known, medicalize and stigmatize normal conditions and bodily functions like wrinkles and low testosterone, waste valuable medical appointment time, and have led to our society’s overuse of prescription drugs.”
In, Should Prescription Drugs Be Advertised Directly to Consumers, ProCon.org argues against direct-to-consumer drug advertising:
DTC ads create the idea that normal conditions are “bad,” resulting in the stigmatization of non-problematic conditions. Botox is promoted to treat wrinkles and Latisse is advertised for thin eyelashes while Androgel is marketed for “LowT” or low testosterone resulting in erectile dysfunction and other conditions. [51] Ads for “LowT” drugs include statements like, “Some men may think loss of energy is just a part of aging. However, low energy may not just be a sign of getting older–it may also be a symptom of Low
Direct to consumer (DTC) drug ads misinform patients. 63% of physicians surveyed in Apr. 2013 believed DTC …show more content…
As noted by ProCon.org, “Opponents contend that DTC drug ads misinform patients, promote drugs before long-term safety-profiles can be known, medicalize and stigmatize normal conditions and bodily functions like wrinkles and low testosterone, waste valuable medical appointment time, and have led to our society’s overuse of prescription drugs.”
In, Should Prescription Drugs Be Advertised Directly to Consumers, ProCon.org argues against direct-to-consumer drug advertising:
DTC ads create the idea that normal conditions are “bad,” resulting in the stigmatization of non-problematic conditions. Botox is promoted to treat wrinkles and Latisse is advertised for thin eyelashes while Androgel is marketed for “LowT” or low testosterone resulting in erectile dysfunction and other conditions. [51] Ads for “LowT” drugs include statements like, “Some men may think loss of energy is just a part of aging. However, low energy may not just be a sign of getting older–it may also be a symptom of Low