Max Sensor

Mrs. Bell

AP Lang

5/13/19

Side effects include…

A panacea is a drug that is described to cure any ailment. A panacea is a myth that doctors have

attempted reaching but is ultimately only a theory. Many drugs that are pushed in consumer ads claim to

do just this, cure all. But who is to blame for the ads neglecting important information and in extreme

cases causing intense heath issues or even death. The consumer of a ad is persuaded to ask their doctor for

a prescription but the doctor isn't sure what the best course of action for their patient is. In a perfect

situation this interaction is beneficial for both in that they exchange information and form a healthy

relationship. But this unfortunately does not always occur. In most cases the interaction is brief and only

ends in the patient receiving the medication without proper knowledge and understanding. Is the doctor

giving the drug to blame or is the ad producer to blame for not giving proper information in the ad and

lying to sell a product. The consumer is not to blame because they wish only to be healthy and are a

victim of neglect.

Big Pharma pushes ads that overemphasize the effects of intended drugs. Often times the drugs

being marketed are experimental and yet to finish testing. The ads themselves do not specify this and in

effect unintended side effects occur. Experimental drug Vioxx. Vioxx is a COX-2 selective nonsteroidal

anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Vioxx is also related to the nonselective NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen

and naproxen. Vioxx is a prescription medicine used to relieve signs and symptoms of arthritis, acute pain

in adults, and painful menstrual cycles (FDA). Vioxx caused heart failure in people requiring beta
blockers. The ad not specifying enough information about the drug relied on consumer participation and

for doctors to have a relative knowledge on an experimental drug. To assume a targeted audience would

seek this knowledge on their own is criminal. These ads target older americans who are new to this type

of media an do not understand the loose truths these ads utilyze. A patient who asks for a specific

medication will oftentimes receive it when asked. This is due to doctors not having relative knowledge to

new experimental drugs. These companies have little to no responsibility in providing knowledge of the

drugs they are marketing. Solutions to this problem include: appropriate classes to educate patients, at

times mandatory classes, Ads that are shown doctors and not actors describing the product efficiently, and

money to go towards rehab centers for the drugs they have put into early markets. "With these principles,

we commit ourselves to improving the inherent educational value of advertisements. Patients need

accurate and timely information and should be encouraged to discuss diseases and treatment options with

their physicians." (Drug Ad Regulations). Better education programs are critical for any form of a reliable

medication supplier. The suppliers of a product that is relied on to provide a beneficiary result must have

appropriate habits to be trusted to do its intended purpose. Programs are present for those who are

addicted to alcohol or tobacco but no such reasonable programs are present for the opioid crisis our nation

is facing. It is also critical for parents to receive information for their child's prescription. "[F]or every

100 people in the trial, which lasted 3 1/3 years, three people on placebos and two people on Lipitor had

heart attacks. The difference credited to the drug? One fewer heart attack per 100 people. So to spare one

person a heart attack, 100 people had to take Lipitor for more than three years. The other 99 got no

measurable benefit." (Drug Ad Regulations). This quote shows the relative nature trial testing is. The

testing done is not shown in the brief but critical ad shown on tv.

Misdiagnoses is an epidemic in health fields. Misdiagnoses is oftimes caused by patients feeling

paranoid due to misinformation or natural anxiety. Drug ads show images of healthy actors that are doing

activities in arks or on beaches. Often times older actors as well play a part in persuading people the drug

will bring back their vitality and turn back the clock. Ads prey of the feeling of people that are unhealthy
and claim this drug will be their cure all. Ads that also claim to be manditory have the highest price point.

Often the ad targeted shows energetic couples when advertising a foot cream for psoriasis treatment. Ads

over emphasize non critical lifetime complications (Drug Ad Regulations). The more esciential a

medication is the higher the price points go. These prices are not showing prices before insurance but

instead the average price after. This controversy had recently been dealt with in congress which is now

requiring these prices before insurance. Company Johnson & Johnson quickly agreed with congress and

switched prices over. They were the first of the crowd that is now attempting to fight this ruling claiming

it is inaccurate to show because most americans are now covered by insurance. However many

Americans are losing healthcare coverage due to a removal of plans such as ObamaCare. Changing

political fields alter the truth of company's statement. Political intrigue often changes the medical fields

“luck”. Regulations othen go throw long hiatuses in congress to allow current drugs to finish marketing

and change their practices. Lobbyists in the government supporting these companies increase yearly.

Companies such as Fresenius. Philips Healthcare.GE Healthcare. Siemens Healthineers all receive a loose

leash on media outlets and use it to create overmedication and profitable lies that propagate in society.

Direct to consumer ads however are not the prime suspect. Consumer ads are able to spread the

knowledge of newly available treatments are are useful for those in need of it. The fact in retrospect is

that ads are also being used as a spread of influences encouraging people to be medicated. Ads are in need

of heavy reform that should strip away the persuasive techniques in favor of impersonal information

oriented discussions about new medications. Ads have the ability to reach a large audience but a more

consumer oriented focus should be adapted. A patient should discuss the topic with a certified physician

that can have a discussion over the phone or video with a patient that could provide an affordable solution

for them "How are communication and health fostered by manipulating patient-clinician communication

toward drugs and away from healthy behavior, or by denigrating clinician recommendations for non-

pharmacological health interventions? How does a broad-based medium designed to sell to the masses

promote drugs in the individualized way that is essential for safety if the message largely reaches people
who are not candidates for the drug? How does it improve public health to bombard the public with the

message that life is happier, more fulfilling, more socially acceptable on drugs? What are the unintended

consequences of the plethora of images and messages about health that are intended to increase patient

demand for drugs?" (Drug Ad Prescriptions). If we allow ourselves to be trapped in a system of adventure

capitalists altering beneficial growth. However competition in a market means steady growth in the

products effectiveness but also a competitive market focused on more profitable results to stay in the

running. Medical suppliers leaders in profits range between 20 billion to 10 billion. This range of possible

funding must go toward reform and better education to prevent abuse.

The other side to this issue is the doctors being held responsible for the well being of their

patients when put on these medications. This burden is not to be carried by professionals attempting to

assist patients. When a patient believes that they should receive a particular medication for an ailment

they suffer the doctor not understanding all the side effects of a newly marketed drug may put the trust

with the patient who seems to be more educated on the subject due to the consumer ad. I believe that this

system has the potential to be beneficial in creating a healthy relationship with their doctor but without

regulations on what these ads say it is inefficient and disastrous (“prescription drug ads”). Doctors are

also being victimized by the greedy behavior of the megalomania medical suppliers that cherry pick what

the consumer sees and neglects to perform adequate testing to provide a the beneficial cure they claim in

their advertisements. Doctors all over the country suffer from an overbearing patient list that prevents

them from having a conversation with their patients. Their work schedule constricts many to a 5 minute

check up. This work practice may not be able to change but the information provided in the small ads can.

If the ads were to focus on the medical information the doctor would have less of a responsibility to

inform and may focus on if the medication is needed or best suited for their body.

Vioxx was released by Merck & Co., Inc. and was pulled from markets by Merck after world

wide cases of heart failure caused by the drug. Vioxx is a cautionary tale for what the lack of research and
informational ads can cause. The decision to pull this product was made by Merck with no input from the

FDA. The government organization that is responsible for regulating drugs was unaware of the drugs

involuntary effects on those taking beta blockers for heart attacks. While the decision to pull this market

was a calculated move it reeks of PR control. It was a hasty cleanup act that should have been avoid with

a small but critical warning in the consumer ad. Thousands suffered from strokes and heart attacks as a

result of Vioxx (“prescription drug ads”). The company settled all lawsuits with a 4.85 billion dollar

settlement to quiet down those who suffered as a last effort to save face. 3,100 claims were settled

following 3,100 deaths due to strokes suffered from the drug. This drug should have never left market and

the hasty recall from the company shows the side effects of this drug were known well allowing them to

clean up fast. Garret Adare FitzGerald, MD of the University of Pennsylvania ITMAT was heavily

involved with the research of Vioxx and was paid off to alter results and allow the release of this

dangerous product. FitzGerald did not have his license revoked as a result of him being bought and went

on to win several commendations in his field. This was 2004 could things be better now in 2019?

Unfortunately the answer is no. Opioid epidemics are sprouting up in rural towns every day and negligent

behaviors run rampant in medical supply companies all over the world. Without proper regulations put

on medical companies they are permitted to buy out professionals and buy out the public with propaganda

type ads. Medical officials are given a platform of authority and the public believes what they say due to

their credentials and under a guise of what they say is “scientific fact”. Medical companies are a piggy

bank of an essential market. People in need of a pill to stay healthy or even alive are taken
advantage by corporations who pull money from patients pockets.

Martin Shkreli. “Most hated man in AMerica”. “Pharma Bro”. Shkreli shows us what power

money has over the medical field. Shkreli’s medical supply company bought production rights to an

antiparasitic drug, daraprim, The cost point of the drug was raised from $13.5 to $750. Luckily he did

receive a fine of $7.5 million and served 7 years in prison. Shkreli was born to a working class family of

immigrant parents. His mother was croatian and his father Albanian. Both of Shkreli’s parents worked as

janitors. Shkreli’s story is an early age american success novel. Martin grew up with an incredible work

ethic and an eye to win something wis family didn't have. Money. Martin had a brain for business and his

time at Cramer earned him the respect he demanded when he offered financial advice on the stocks

involving Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. Martin has had involvement in the business world since his

internship at Hedge fund Cramer and this lifestyle has been his life since then. Martin is a result of the

dog eat dog world that the medical field operates. If Martin were to be a more experienced businessman
there is little doubt he couldn't have gotten away with his egregious misdemeanor. Despite his jail time he

was invited and permitted to speak at harvard’s graduation ceremony in 2017.

Please consult your doctor to see if Pancea is right for you. A little pill and you’re pain free. The

medical field rears its ugly head when money is present. Medical suppliers are corrupted at every end and

put the consumers in a corner to navigate medications while avoiding life altering health complications.

They place blame on doctors who are not experienced on experimental drugs and have too many patients

to discuss a healthcare plan that works best with the patient. Regulations can and must be placed on the

suppliers that have enough leeway to step on the lower classes. However, It is not all doom and gloom.

There are always was to combat their misinformation. A key is to be well informed before making a

decision to talk to your doctor. Educate yourself on your medications and educate yourself on the

manufacturer of the drug you take. There are always new candidates to support that share skepticism in

the manufacturers and those are the candidates that should be on congress if you share similar concerns.

So remember, with one little pill it can make all the difference in the world.
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Fda.gov. (9/20/2004)