I’m curious about how effective drug commercials are. Have you ever seen a commercial for a drug, talked to your doctor about it and the received a prescription for it? If you’ve done it more than once and had different outcomes, please vote for option 2.
Stupid server error. I can’t add a poll so just share your experience. Thanks.
I keep my eyes open for migraine meds. I only see my neuro once or twice a year so if there’s a new drug out today, by the time I see her again it may not be new and she may not be thinking about it the next time I see her and just continue to refill my meds as usual.
When I see migraine meds pop up, I’ll make sure to ask her about them.
A while back I started on Aimovig. I couldn’t tell you whether or not she would have brought it up on her own as it was just about the first thing I asked her about when I saw her. It should be noted that if your symptoms/side effects are under control, you don’t skip appointments and otherwise have a good rapport with her, she’ll generally work with you. I’ve never had her decline to prescribe a med I wanted to try unless she felt the side effects weren’t worth the benefits.
Next time I see my doc, I’m going to ask about Cologuard. Any alternative to a colonoscopy seems like a good idea to me. But the meds I take for BP and cholesterol are working generics - no reason to look for alternatives.
I keep an eye on anything for diabetics or high blood pressure, and do my due dilligence research and then and only then if it looks promising will I discuss it with my doctor - I print out information and highlight the criteria that interested me, and we discuss a possible change in medication. Honestly, I have actually dropped more meds from the research as new information comes out than I have added or changed drugs because of advertising.
I did change my glucometer to a FreeStyle Libre 10 day wearable sensor type from the usual jab a huge spear into my fingers [well, with hand neuropathy it sure felt like that!] because a friend got one and she loved it, and after checking out the information I opted to give it a shot, and I absolutely adore it. The only thing that would be better is if I had one that would bluetooth link to my phone and alarm when my blood went out of the range I set without me having to manually check the readings so it would wake me up if I was asleep and started going way too low or way too high [though I havent been over 300 in years other than when I deliberately did enough sugar to do so … I was playing wiht my libre and seeing what different foods do. never combine Godiva chocolate liqueur with a piece of stollen, just dont =)]
What’s the process like for replacing the “implant”? I was thinking about getting it for my dad. He’s 86 and lives in an assisted living facility. He doesn’t have a smart phone but I assume that the med nurses do.
Years ago, when they first introduced Vaniqa (cream to reduce unwanted facial hair in women) I asked my doctor for a prescription. She didn’t have any problem letting me try it, but it didn’t work for me.
And I’m going to ask about Cologuard. Because I’m overdue for a colonoscopy and I can’t deal with them. It took my delicate constitution a week to recover from the last one. I’d even pay out of pocket for that one.
Years ago, when I worked in San Francisco, a pharmaceutical company made the stairs going into the underground BART rail the same color as their acid reflex pill.
That ugly shade of purple and the dozen huge signs added for “good” measure in the way to the station almost made me nauseously sick.
Not effective for me.
I’ve been considering one, but they only work with iPhone, darn it, and I have a perfectly good Android that I won’t give up.
It could work. Back when my heartburn/reflux was really out of control a good puke would make me feel a lot better.
No drug commercial has ever make the slightest difference to me.Since metformin keeps my A1c stable and cannot lead to hypoglycemia, I have no need of glucose tests.
Could not be easier. You just peel it off like a Band-Aid, then pop the new one in.
You may already know this, but you can use a Libre without a phone. There is a Libre “reader” device that is a one-time purchase that you use to scan the sensor with.
Anyway, Libres are fine, but if you want/need alarms you need a real Continuous Glucose Monitor, such as a Dexcom (which, with the newer models, also communicates with a smartphone). The Libre folks call it a CGM, but it’s really not.
mmm
I just got the Dexcom CGM, I’m beginning to like it. At first it’s been at odds with my finger sticks, things are settling down now. It doesn’t hurt to apply the patch thing-y at all. I’m anxious to see if it catches my glucose levels just starting to raise or go too low. Apparently it’s psychic or something. Not sure how that works. The manual that comes with is kinda dry reading.
Never seen a commercial and discussed with my doctor but I do enjoy reading about all of the side effects the drug “cure” may cause.
I’m seriously considering getting one of these, especially since my meals and their times are totally erratic. That bluetooth link would be perfect. Thanks for the info.
I love the commercials that say, “Don’t take this med if you’re allergic to it, or any of its ingredients.” WTF???
The Dexcom tests your interstitial fluid about every 5 minutes - almost 300 times a day. It recognized trends and predicts upcoming highs or lows. Be sure to calibrate it at least twice a day.
I know what you’re saying about drug commercials, but to be fair you could react to the adhesive (minor skin irritation at best).
mmm
easy as pie - i bet there is a youtube vid out there showing someone doing it.
it comes with its own litle reader
I might investigate changing if I get fragile, but I am doing well enough that after a few weeks of playing with my pancreas I just was using it to monitor because of the freaking increase to 4000 calories a day trying to not lose weight while doing the radiation thing [they get really testy when you lose more than a few pound because your internal organs sort of shift around out of focus and it wouldn’t be good to have 54 grey of radiation a day not hitting the target =) ]
i know the libre sort of autochecks every few minutes and keeps track on the monitor device when you download the arm chip
i know, how do you know if you are allergic to a pill if you have never had the pill before - other than fillers/dyes/coatings …
I skin test all topicals I get, which saved me when I determined the hydrocort 2.5 that gave me a quail egg sized hive would be a really bad idea to apply to my perianal area … better a hive on the wrist than the butt =)
I am deeply suspicious of anything pharmaceutical companies say. I have never asked my doctor about a medication advertised anywhere. Of course, my health issues are addressed with prednisone, a thyroid med, and an antipdepressant, so I don’t think the pharmaceutical companies are spending much in the way of R&D there anyway.
Pharmaceutical companies spend a lot on money on them, so they must work some of the time.
There is also the correlation between drug costs and advertising, so there does seem to be a pay-off for advertising.
I have never responded to a drug commercial by “asking my doctor”, and my doctor, and many others, simply prescribe generics when available. Your health insurance also has back-stops that drive toward lower cost alternatives, no matter what you ask for (you will have to try a generic first). If you want to pay more for a brand-name, advertised drug, you can always do so.
The risks and adverse reactions scare the hell out of me.
So, never do I ask about them.