I was just wondering how effective those endless TV ads for new, expensive drugs really are.
Have you ever asked your doctor about a drug you first saw on a TV commercial?
I never have and never would insult and irritate my doctor that way.
I always thought it would be hilarious to have one of those ads, and add an increasingly bizzare list of side effects.
You know, have the ad show happy golfing and flower-arrangering seniors for two minutes after an ad for an arthritis drug commerial starts, while the voice-over drones "may cause anal leakage. There is a small chance your cerebrum may sponatiously combust, causing instant death to you, and anyone close to you. May cause some tentacle formation on the genetalia. If your genetal tentacles start to move without your concious control, please consult your doctor … "
I have on occasion asked my father, a professional pharmacist, about such a drug.
Once or twice I have asked my sister, who is an MD, about such a drug.
But I sense that is not what the OP is asking, even if those two people are knowledgeable medical professionals.
No, I have never, as a patient, asked my doctor who is treating me about a drug I saw on a TV commercial - unless the doctor first brought it up in reference to treating some problem. Then I’d probably asked about pros vs. cons and where to get more information just as I would any other drug prescribed.
I once saw on TV a sendup of such ads. The punch line was that you might grow a second head.
I answered “moron” because as a neat side-effect of our system in the UK is that we don’t have prescription medicines advertised on TV, so I’m not really in a position to ask.
Sounds similar to this classic old SNL “commercial”
(sorry about the video quality, it was what I could find.
I’ve got a physical coming up in a few weeks with a new doctor (my previous doctor retired earlier this year) and I have been seriously thinking about bringing in a list as long as my arm of drugs I should be asking my doctor about. I thought it would be a fun way to break the ice. 
Nope. I prefer drugs that have been around long enough to have lost their patent.
My dad is a primary care doctor. I asked him if patients actually ask him about drugs they had seen on a commercial. He said all the time.
No. I do not do drugs. I have a major addictive personality, and I don’t need to go down that road again.
True story: I was in a very bad time in my life, and a therapist said I should be on antidepressants (like that was going to change the problems in my life). I agreed to take them if he agreed to give me one that he would state in writing would not make me suicidal. He said my problem was that I wanted guarantees, and life doesn’t come with guarantees.
He thought my problem was that I did not want to take a drug that could make me suicidal? I think he had a bigger problem.
Many if not most of the drugs advertised on TV are not for psychological disorders. Do you avoid those as well, even if you might need them?
On the other hand, if my prostate medicine or blood pressure medicine (if I needed them) had the chance of making me suicidal, I guess I’d want to know that too. :eek:
Only once, because I had cycled through other options. And my doctor had planned, as it turns out, to mention the same drug to me.
I second that.
My doctor actually follows that logic as well. For my cholesterol medication he specifically chose an older established drug. Not only is it cheaper, side effects are pretty well documented. He prefers to stick with more established options unless your situation dictates something else. I found that quite interesting especially since he is a fairly young guy.
The only time I ever asked for a change of prescriptions was over a medication I was taking for my high blood pressure (which is the only medication I take on an ongoing basis). The medication I was taking worked fine for controlling my blood pressure but it made me feel “dopey”. It was a mild enough effect that I didn’t even realize it was happening until my prescription ran out one time and there was a delay of a few days before it could be refilled. On the third day after I stopped taking the medication, I woke up with a clear head and realized how fogged up I had been for the last year. I made an appointment with my doctor and got a prescription for a different medication.
Yes, right now I am not on any prescription drugs. Which at my age is fantastic.
REMEMBER: The drug companies want to make money. PERIOD. They do not give a damn about you. They just want everybody to buy their drugs, regardless of need or effectiveness.
I’ve asked about drugs after doing my own research, but never from any type of ad. Any drug that has an ad is going to be rather expensive, and there are almost always alternatives that are generics and cheaper.
I chose “moron” because no I haven’t ever asked my doctor about a drug on tv, but that’s because the opportunity has never presented itself
So it’s a no with an astrisk
My tongue is bleeding…
(my bold)
So you avoid needed medication because…? why?
This is just not true. I’ve worked as a scientist at three different companies. I got into this to help patients. Most of the people I know are scientists at companies. They got into this to help patients.
I have a drug in development going into patients next year. I’m beside myself that I have this opportunity to help patients with very serious diseases. 've been working on it for the better part of ten years now. But, if I found out tomorrow that the data was all a mistake I would pull the plug that moment.