Pharmaceutical Drug Ads Not Compliant With FDA Regulations, Study Finds

[usregimechange]

Only 18 percent of pharmaceutical drug ads are compliant with Food and Drug Administration regulations, a new study from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine found.

Dr. Deborah Korenstein, lead author of the study and Associate Professor of Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, said in a press release "Our study, the first in nearly 20 years to provide a systematic assessment of the adherence of U.S. advertisements to FDA guidance, shows that the current system is not in the best interest of the health of the public."

The study, which appeared online Wednesday in the journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) One, looked at 192 advertisements in nine biomedical journals appearing in November 2008. Researchers found only 57.8 percent of the ads quantified serious risks, including death. Only 48 percent had verifiable references and 29 percent could not accurately quantify effectiveness.

The study used the 20 prescription drug advertising guidelines provided by the FDA. About 49 percent of the ads didn't adhere to at least one of the guidelines, and 33 percent contained incomplete information.

http://www.thirdage.com/news/pharmaceutical-drug-ads-not-compliant-with-fda-regulations-study-finds_08-20-2011

[truedelphi]

1. Other studies have shown that the ads are not very helpful

Back when they were a novelty, they paid off, in terms of interesting us consumers into asking the doctor to prescribe the meds we saw on TV.

But now we are apathetic.

So it is my theeory that the real reason for the ads is to make sure that the networks understand who is providing them with the most "pocket change." That way, all discussions about Big Pharma and Big Insurers are slanted toward the side of the Bigger Industries.

I mean, during the summer of 2009, did you ever even hear the words "Universal Single Payer HC" uttered on network TV ? The money keeps the Talking Heads talking about nonsense, while avoiding the Health Care issue.

[spanone]

2. just wait till the media watchdogs hear about this...oh, nevermind

[SoCalDem]

3. Could we please go back to the good old days

BEFORE prescription drugs were advertised on tv.. and while we're at it, how about taking off the "feminine-needs" ads too..

and let's eliminate the hospital/HMO & lawyer ads too.. Most people do not have a choice of hospital/HMO anyway..

I think we got as much information back when Speedy AlkaSeltzer was on..

Bathtub boners & exzema drugs that could give you cancer are not my cup of tea..

but then we record stuff & whizz past most commercials anyway:)

[glinda]

4. Ban Pharma commercials and make them lower costs with the savings.