Comments on: FDA To Advertise Fake Blood Pressure Pill http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/fda-to-advertise-fake-blood-pressure-pill/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:22:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Bob Freeman http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/fda-to-advertise-fake-blood-pressure-pill/#comment-368902 Bob Freeman Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:37:37 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14986#comment-368902 James2 and others: I was able to find some of Larson's work on the believability of prescription drug ads. He's done research on both patients and physicians using randomized exposure of variable ad content. I'm going to try to post a link: if it doesn't come through I can forward the links via e-mail: http://www.haworthpress.com/store/ArticleAbstract.asp?sid=Q9PX01CC954V8JGUMBJSS2R4GH6H9726&ID=75221 (Ah, I see it worked.) Anyway, use google scholar and the name "Lon N. Larson". You'll get some but not all of his citations. James2 and others: I was able to find some of Larson’s work on the believability of prescription drug ads. He’s done research on both patients and physicians using randomized exposure of variable ad content.

I’m going to try to post a link: if it doesn’t come through I can forward the links via e-mail:

http://www.haworthpress.com/store/ArticleAbstract.asp?sid=Q9PX01CC954V8JGUMBJSS2R4GH6H9726&ID=75221

(Ah, I see it worked.) Anyway, use google scholar and the name “Lon N. Larson”. You’ll get some but not all of his citations.

]]> By: Just A Thought http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/fda-to-advertise-fake-blood-pressure-pill/#comment-368893 Just A Thought Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:28:56 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14986#comment-368893 Strikes me strange that they chose a blood pressure medication for this. I would have chosen something that people might be lured to ask for from their doctors, something that piqued interest. Blood pressure medications are not 'one size fits all' drugs and it's hard to imagine anyone requesting a certain BP drug for their treatment. If you're going to test the effect of these ads, doesn't it seem more appropriate to use a fake product that would tempt the population- to see what they might choose to ingnore for the amazing product? Maybe I'm missing the point but a beta blocker, for instance, is not the answer to everyone's BP woes. Do most people know what kind of med they need and if this fake will fit their needs? BP meds would be a hard sell. Just sayin'. Strikes me strange that they chose a blood pressure medication for this. I would have chosen something that people might be lured to ask for from their doctors, something that piqued interest. Blood pressure medications are not ‘one size fits all’ drugs and it’s hard to imagine anyone requesting a certain BP drug for their treatment. If you’re going to test the effect of these ads, doesn’t it seem more appropriate to use a fake product that would tempt the population- to see what they might choose to ingnore for the amazing product?

Maybe I’m missing the point but a beta blocker, for instance, is not the answer to everyone’s BP woes. Do most people know what kind of med they need and if this fake will fit their needs? BP meds would be a hard sell. Just sayin’.

]]> By: Sorrowful http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/fda-to-advertise-fake-blood-pressure-pill/#comment-368827 Sorrowful Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:31:16 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14986#comment-368827 I watched Ruth Day's fascinating presentation to a Congressional committee and this summer, when I can bring myself to stand it, I watch DTC ads. The variety of tricks used to make your eyes glaze over when the risk section is presented is mind-boggling, and heartbreaking. People will die because they won't get the truth, from the ad OR from their doctor (example: neither the ads NOR the doctors are telling people they put on SSRIs of the danger during starting or ending the drug of suicide or homicide). Soon I will go home and return to my preferred way of watching - Netflix. I watched Ruth Day’s fascinating presentation to a Congressional committee and this summer, when I can bring myself to stand it, I watch DTC ads. The variety of tricks used to make your eyes glaze over when the risk section is presented is mind-boggling, and heartbreaking. People will die because they won’t get the truth, from the ad OR from their doctor (example: neither the ads NOR the doctors are telling people they put on SSRIs of the danger during starting or ending the drug of suicide or homicide).

Soon I will go home and return to my preferred way of watching - Netflix.

]]> By: Bob Freeman http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/fda-to-advertise-fake-blood-pressure-pill/#comment-368804 Bob Freeman Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:40:39 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14986#comment-368804 James, I'll see if I can track it down but since it was done in the 70s I'm not sure it will be found easily. The lead author was Lon N. Larson. I'll see what I can find via Google Scholar. The dissertation should be available through The University of Michigan, but, again, I imagine a paper copy would have to be purchased. James, I’ll see if I can track it down but since it was done in the 70s I’m not sure it will be found easily.

The lead author was Lon N. Larson. I’ll see what I can find via Google Scholar.

The dissertation should be available through The University of Michigan, but, again, I imagine a paper copy would have to be purchased.

]]> By: atlex http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/fda-to-advertise-fake-blood-pressure-pill/#comment-368803 atlex Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:33:42 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14986#comment-368803 Nathan, This is a study. It's not clear whether they are using focus groups or one-on-ones, but I don't think they are not going to actually advertise over the airwaves or cable. Atlex Nathan,

This is a study. It’s not clear whether they are using focus groups or one-on-ones, but I don’t think they are not going to actually advertise over the airwaves or cable.

Atlex

]]> By: Nathan http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/fda-to-advertise-fake-blood-pressure-pill/#comment-368801 Nathan Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:21:49 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14986#comment-368801 I'm still confused: Is this ACTUAL advertising (as the title of the article suggests) or is this FOCUS GROUPS? If it's the former, it seems that the FDA will violate many of its own guidelines!! If it's the later, the title of this article needs to be changed. I’m still confused: Is this ACTUAL advertising (as the title of the article suggests) or is this FOCUS GROUPS? If it’s the former, it seems that the FDA will violate many of its own guidelines!! If it’s the later, the title of this article needs to be changed.

]]> By: James http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/fda-to-advertise-fake-blood-pressure-pill/#comment-368794 James Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:17:27 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14986#comment-368794 Bob, that's fascinating--I would love to see the specifics of that study. Very anecdotally, I (and I certainly wouldn't consider myself representative of the general population) remember very clearly one DTC ad in particular. It was for Zyban. The spokesperson started the warnings pertion with a very dramatic change in voice: "There's a risk of SEEEIZURE associated with Zyban." At that point I decided that, even if I did smoke, and even if I wanted to quit said smoking, I would be very reluctant to take Zyban. So, chalk up at least one point for soft pedaling the risk section--or at least not going out of your way to draw attention to it. Bob,

that’s fascinating–I would love to see the specifics of that study.

Very anecdotally, I (and I certainly wouldn’t consider myself representative of the general population) remember very clearly one DTC ad in particular. It was for Zyban. The spokesperson started the warnings pertion with a very dramatic change in voice:
“There’s a risk of SEEEIZURE associated with Zyban.”

At that point I decided that, even if I did smoke, and even if I wanted to quit said smoking, I would be very reluctant to take Zyban.

So, chalk up at least one point for soft pedaling the risk section–or at least not going out of your way to draw attention to it.

]]> By: Justice in Michigan http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/fda-to-advertise-fake-blood-pressure-pill/#comment-368792 Justice in Michigan Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:49:49 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14986#comment-368792 Jim Edwards - If you just google "preemption preamble" you will find a lot of sources and views on the issue. Jim Edwards - If you just google “preemption preamble” you will find a lot of sources and views on the issue.

]]> By: Ed Silverman http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/fda-to-advertise-fake-blood-pressure-pill/#comment-368788 Ed Silverman Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:06:39 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14986#comment-368788 Hi Scott, Actually, the study was first proposed by the agency last August as a survey of 1,020 consumers in shopping malls. And since then, the agency made changes to the methodlogy. So this is an update of that story. Hope this helps, ed Hi Scott,

Actually, the study was first proposed by the agency last August as a survey of 1,020 consumers in shopping malls. And since then, the agency made changes to the methodlogy. So this is an update of that story.

Hope this helps,

ed

]]> By: Scott Lawrence http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/fda-to-advertise-fake-blood-pressure-pill/#comment-368787 Scott Lawrence Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:40:08 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14986#comment-368787 This is a non-story. Back in Aug/Sept of last year the FDA made this plan public and solicited comments from the public and industry. This is a non-story. Back in Aug/Sept of last year the FDA made this plan public and solicited comments from the public and industry.

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