# Medical practitioners of the Dope: Do people really ask for advertised prescription drugs? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2024, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995 "2024-02-02T00:24:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/1 "2024-02-02T00:24:14Z")
You’d think I, of all people, would know this one way or another, but I haven’t heard anything consistent about it. I’m guessing that, in many cases, telling them that it costs $10,000 a month and it’s for a disease that they do not have shuts them up really fast. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/2 "2024-02-02T01:45:12Z")
It doesn’t cost them $10,000; they only pay the cost of the copay–and often there are manufacturer coupons which will cover most or all of this copay. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/3 "2024-02-02T02:41:41Z")
The only time I asked for an advertised drug the doctor asked where I went to medical school. Turns out he was right. Exactly the big cost of those fancy drugs turn many people back…Lots of insurances don’t cover them at all. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/4 "2024-02-02T05:40:46Z")
I imagine MD’s must love the Brandexx\* commercials that end with “Ask your Doctor if YOU can need Brandexx!” - not a real drug name ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/5 "2024-02-02T05:44:58Z")
It might, if the deductible hasn’t been met and the patient isn’t eligible for a manufacturer coupon. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/6 "2024-02-02T05:45:30Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > not a real drug name Not yet. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/7 "2024-02-02T06:19:00Z")
Mr. Legend’s on a cancer drug that supposedly retails for $14,000, and they’ve sent it to him for free for almost three years. That is, they _were_ - we got a letter that said he no longer qualified for the program and they needed documentation of income. We’re wending our way through the re-approval process now, but I’m not all that stressed just because I can’t believe there’s any way they actually get any significant numbers of people to pay that out of pocket. We are what I consider to be pretty well-off, but we don’t have “increase your budget by $168,000 next year” money. And no, he didn’t ask for it by name. I can’t imagine suggesting a drug to the oncologist instead of the other way around. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/8 "2024-02-02T06:24:45Z")
IANARD, but I have, and I discussed it with my doctor-me being the patient of course. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/9 "2024-02-02T06:30:21Z")
Anytime they casually mention DEATH or something nearly as horrible as a possible side effect, I cross it off my list of drugs to ask about. I’m at zero. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/10 "2024-02-02T06:34:19Z")
They all have seemingly horrid side effects listed. Even the non-existent “ **Brandexx** ” has them listed, I bet 😏 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/11 "2024-02-02T06:38:53Z")
There’s not a drug on earth that doesn’t have death as a potential side effect. We all know that misuse of dihydrogen monoxide can even cause death. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/12 "2024-02-02T06:40:14Z")
The diseases that advertised drugs treat have some pretty dreadful symptoms. Used to be, advertised drugs were for things like high cholesterol or allergies. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/13 "2024-02-02T08:30:26Z")
When it comes to purchases, I have 2 rules. As yet, I have never considered using any drug advertised on TV nor do I ever buy anything from anyone who knocks on my front door. I’ll listen to my doctor on medical issues and make personal decisions on almost everything else. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/14 "2024-02-02T10:23:38Z")
Here’s some good medical advice from a comedian :[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px\_6ta4bMw8&t=1s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px_6ta4bMw8&t=1s) –. –. (Ismo is a standup comic from Finland. His English is fluent, but his delivery is a bit odd, which actually makes him funnier. He has lots of clips on youtube, and they are all good.) ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/15 "2024-02-02T11:29:13Z")
I had my annual physical a couple of weeks ago, doctor I have been seeing most of my adult life (and his, we’ve gone from young professionals to near retirement together). Two years ago he was discouraged by the idiots who refused to get vaccinated. He had lost quite a few patients to COVID. This time he was complaining about all his overweight patients at risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes are not concerned about dieting because of the Ozempic Effect. If they have “good” insurance (usually means Union or Government employment) they are demanding that they go on a GLP-1. CVS’s third quarter earnings have listed as the first cause of higher sales “pharmacy drug mix”. This is the impact of Ozempic and other drugs used off-label for weight loss. Just anecdotally I know several people who have struggled with their weight for decades who have all lost 20-40 pounds in the last year. I know twenty five years ago people were demanding cholesterol reducing drugs, rather than controlling it with diet and exercise. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/16 "2024-02-02T13:05:36Z")
Slightly off-topic, but there’s good evidence that very few people stay on Ozempic / GLP-1s for long. They try it, they lose some weight, then they lose interest or the side effects are troubleseome, and they get off it. It’s not clear what if any rebound effect there will be on weight. But non-expert me predicts a lot of yo-yo Ozempic-ing to go along with yo-yo dieting. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/17 "2024-02-02T13:07:25Z")
They must. When my doctor said I needed another colonoscopy, he said I could not use Colace. He brought it up, not me, and I can only conclude that patients ask him about it pretty regularly. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/18 "2024-02-02T13:33:45Z")
ISWYDT. [@discobot] ---
**Author:** ![discobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/discobot/32/570_2.png) [@discobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/discobot)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/19 "2024-02-02T13:33:46Z")
You’ve disabled me in your preferences. You need to allow new user onboarding tips to interact with me. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995/20 "2024-02-02T13:41:03Z")
Time to mention that the US and New Zealand are the only two countries allowing direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising. So, non-US dopers may be wondering about this discussion. I am sure there are enough people persuaded to “ask their doctor” about some drug they saw a commercial for that had a cheery and energetic song (Skyrizi and Jardience come to mind), even if they dont have the condition the drug is supposed to treat. But, even if the doctor tries to acquiesce to the request, the patient’s insurance will likely require them try a less-costly generic or alternative first anyway (the doctor doesn’t have complete control). The ads never mention “ask your health insurance provider if they cover this drug.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-practitioners-of-the-dope-do-people-really-ask-for-advertised-prescription-drugs/996995.md?page=2)