The Purple Pill and Legal Requirements

[Eutychus]

One of my favorite stupid radio commercials right now concerns the purple pill called Nexium. Apparently there is a big party where everyone is meeting and greeting everyone else when someone says “have you asked your doctor about the purple pill called Nexium?” Suddenly the room goes quiet and the understanding is that everyone has en masse left the room to go call their doctor.

Hilarity abounds. I was laughing so hard I had to pull over to the side of the road.

Anyway …

My question concerns something they do in the commercial, or rather something they do not do. They never mention what the pill is for. I’ve noticed this for other TV and print ads for other prescription medications as well, for instance Claritin. Is there some sort of legal requirement that they cannot state what a medication is supposed to be prescribed for? If not, why wouldn’t they just state clearly what the medication is primarily prescribed for?

[Q.E.D]

Apparently this type of ad is calle a “reminder advertisement”. From the FDA:

Yes, there are a few exceptions but only to the requirement to provide a true statement of information in brief summary as required under 21 CFR 202.1(e)(1). 21 CFR 202.1(e)(2) describes which ads are exempt:

1. Reminder advertisements - advertisements which call attention to the name of the drug product but do not include indications or dosage recommendations for use of the product, or any other representation. Reminder ads contain the proprietary name of the drug and the established name of each active ingredient. They may also contain additional limited information, such as the name of the company, price, or dosage form.

Full ads require this information.
Bolding mine.

[aktep]

My favorite is the medication that always advertises with two TV commercials: one at the beginning of the break, and one at the end.

The first commerical tells you there is a drug for whatever malady, that it works great, and you should ask your doctor about it.

Then the last spot has the same music (“It’s a beautiful morning…a-ah…”), the same actors, and the same set, but this time it tells you the name of the drug (which I’ve forgotten), that it works great, and you should ask your doctor about it, but doesn’t tell you what it’s for.

[Chefguy]

They’ll take away my Nexium when they pry it from my cold dead fingers. It’s the true wonder drug of the last century; just ask any reflux sufferer.