I was on my GP’s website the other day and followed a link to an NHS report on their performance.
They were criticised for prescribing a too-high proportion of particular brands rather than using the correct non-proprietary titles for the required medication. Apparently, they failed to reach the 80% target.
Except that I don’t happen to remember which of the two drugs you mentioned used that campaign, and it certainly wouldn’t have swayed me to choose it, if I ever happened to need such a product.
But yes, it’s a truism in marketing that even ads that people hate can be effective. A sad commentary on human nature.