Posted by MB on June 25, 2003, at 0:42:03
I saw a new "Adult ADD" commercial on TV last night. It was sponsored by Lilly with a reference to their web site, so I assume they are promoting Strattera. I've never seen an ADD commercial before. Actually, before Paxil was approved for GAD (back when benzos were the primary approved treatment) I hadn't seen a commercial for GAD. Then all of a sudden, there they were! Now we have a non-scheduled drug approved for ADD, and here come the commercials. Why is it that there aren't any commercials for a mental illness until a non-scheduled drug is approved for it? I mean, you'd never see a Roche commecial addressing viewers, "Are you suffering from sleepless nights and constant worry? Ask your doctor about Xanax..." or a commercial from Abbot saying, "Do you get distracted easily, do you have a difficult time organizing your life? Ask your doctor about Desoxyn..."
Now here come these commercials as if these illnesses are "new", as if the medical community has "just discovered them". The only thing that's new is that some drugs have been approved for the illnesses that aren't scheduled. So, I guess what I'm wondering is whether the drug companies are *afraid* to advertise their scheduled drugs, or if it is actually illegal to advertise a scheduled drug.
Either way, it kinda makes me mad. The message I get is this: "now that we have a non-scheduled drug for your illness, it's safe to talk to your doctor about the possibility you might have this..." or worse yet, "now that we have a non-scheduled drug for your illess, your doctor won't have to be afraid to treat you."
MB
poster:MB
thread:236851
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030624/msgs/236851.html