Marketing Mission

I dislike commercials, but I understand what they are for: they sell products. Lately, it seems that big pharmaceutical companies are the only companies advertising all over the airwaves. Products for impotence, high cholesterol, acid reflux disease, depression, adult attention-deficit disorder, social anxiety, allergies, toenail fungus, and rheumatoid arthritis assault us with every commercial break.

It's overwhelming. It makes a consumer think, "Maybe I need this product. Maybe my current blood pressure medication isn't good enough. Maybe I'm not good enough and I need something to help myself. Maybe this product is a magic pill and I will be magically cured." I suppose the companies are trying to get the brand names to the consumer, so that they can ask for it at the doctor's office.

For instance, I went to the site depressionhelp.com, touted by Lorraine Bracco, the actress, and it's nothing but an ad for the depression drug Zoloft. The ad seems to claim that if you go to the website, you will be able to get help for your debilitating depression, but in reality, there is a questionnaire you need to take to your doctor, and then--of course--ask to be put on Zoloft.

These companies are taking advantage of us. The scary part is that nearly every day, another drug gets taken off the market by the FDA because of side effects. I don't understand how these drugs are getting approved in the first place, unless the side effects are not completely studied, or else the FDA is covering its own butt.

Modern medicine is a wonderful advancement, but we need to use a little bit of common sense. Doctors are not infallible, and drug companies certainly aren't. Be aware of all the possible risks when taking medications, and don't go for the latest and greatest drug advertised on tv just because it's a brand-name.