Just saw it on TV.

They certainly are casting that net pretty wide. If you watch it and have ever forgotten anything or been late. Yikes, you could have ADD!

Hi Motorbrain.
Are you implying that the drug company is broadcasting this ad to create and promote a new "flavor of the month" disorder? Do you remember the zoloft commercials with the little white blobs that snivel around and look all sad? I have always questioned why drug companies would preach prescription drugs to the public. The doctor makes the decision to prescribe.

It seems suspicious the way these drug companies go to great expense and marketing strategies to introduce new drugs to the public like the unveiling of a masterpiece.

But in my case, it was the little white blob that led me to the doctor when I went through a serious depression. I went in to see him and said " I feel like a commercial...I am a snivelling white blob.." I could not have told him the name of the drug, because the blob was what I identified with .....funny :) So in that case, the commercial was educational to me.....even though I never took the Zoloft.

I am also the little white embarrassed blob with social anxiety (GRIN!) but was fully aware of that and did not need to know the blob to be one :)

Again, with the Strattera ad... I was already familiar with the drug because my son has taken it for some time now. But I did not know about adult ADD.
The ad with the woman worrying over the channels turning in her head? The symptoms they suggested sounded like the bi-polar I was beginning to believe I might had.
I couldn't get my butt to the doctor fast enough....so again, whatever the drug company's motive it proved to be educational to me in my case.

Did I say that right?

I do hope that the ad does not lead to misdiagnosis.


~gourmet~

Prescription drug ads are one reason I gave up watching TV about 3 years ago. That description of the Zoloft ad (which I've never seen, btw) sounds... I don't know, pathetic maybe? Back to the topic, though, I have seen the Strattera commercial. I think it purposely tries to make many more people think they may have ADD than actually do. Those who don't really have it won't be prescribed Strattera anyway, right? But, at least, they might end up in the doctor's office with a prescription for something else.

I am not quite sure what I think about the whole concept of ads for prescription drugs.

Has anyone seen the version of the Strattera commericial where they set up the screen like a video game, and they have the little numbers going up in the corner. (Like they're saying that you "increase your score in the game of life" if Strattera helps you with your ADD.) I thought that was cute...apparently they know that people with ADD love video games!!! That commercial worked, it got my attention more than the others! :D

Just saw it on TV.

They certainly are casting that net pretty wide. If you watch it and have ever forgotten anything or been late. Yikes, you could have ADD!
Next there will be someone saying everyones got 'a little ADHD' in them,and selling ritalin in sweet shops,over comercialisation is a big problem with things like this-they're giving bad awareness to ADHD,people think it's just about hyper,or forgetting things.

I can understand how some may feel as though the drug commercials make it seem like add/adhd is the "flavor of the month."

When I started taking my Adderall, I mentioned to my "two sisters in denial" that I saw an immediate improvement on the very first day. They both said "yea right...don't you think it's psychological...that you "think" you felt it but really didn't....like a placebo effect....It's takes a while for it to get into your system...weeks....".

No...I felt it immediately after the very first day. Especially when driving. Everything was clearer. No matter how much I talk (my son has been medicated for 9 years), they won't listen to what I say. But the commercials, they listen to. (strange but true.)

In playing the devils advocate on the drug commercials, atleast it's bringing challenges such as add/adhd, depression, stress, etc... "Out of the closet". They are no longer hush hush words to be embarrassed about.

Awareness is good. The more people that talk about it, the better. Mass media. Commercials. Newspaper ads. Magazines. Get the word out there. We are normal. We just need a little this or that to make our genius brains function correctly.

The more people that hear the statistics of 1 in however many kids have add/adhd is great.

It's not that it is overly diagnosed. It's just that with modern technology they are able to diagnose things earlier on, which prevents years of suffering.

Maybe people won't be so quick to judge whether it's a real issue or not.

I don't mind the commercials. It's no different than viagara commercials. Look at how many men had sexual disfunction issues and were in the closet for so many years. Not only the men suffered, but their significant others too. The commercials show good looking young men in order to show that it effects men of all ages.

I think Awareness is good. Get the word out. We need to come out of the closet and we might as well let the drug companies pay for the commercials.

I know alot of people don't like commercials regarding feminine hygiene products and they aren't going away. Oh well....

Just my opinion....

the problem of course, would be that the drug er i mean pharmaceutical companies have to advertise; advertising costs money; to get that money they have to either 1. pay their stock holders less of a dividend (not to mention the various officers) - yeah, right, i'll hold my breath - NOT or 2. jack up the prices for their drugs. this will increase their sales, which will make them able to develop new drugs they will have to advertise..... :rolleyes:

My problem with prescription drug ads is their sole purpose is to increase demand for the newest, big-name expensive drugs. Ordinarily this wouldn't be a problem except that most of the drug costs are paid by our insurance, who in turn pass the cost back in higher premiums for all. So even if I can resist the flashy ads, I still end up paying for those who can't.

I remember when these drugs weren't advertised, it wouldn't be a bad thing to go back to that IMO.

If they help people, great. But I can't help but wonder how many people are on big-name meds thanks to these ads, who could be helped just as well by older, generic meds?

Hi Motorbrain.
Are you implying that the drug company is broadcasting this ad to create and promote a new "flavor of the month" disorder? Do you remember the zoloft commercials with the little white blobs that snivel around and look all sad? I have always questioned why drug companies would preach prescription drugs to the public. The doctor makes the decision to prescribe.

It seems suspicious the way these drug companies go to great expense and marketing strategies to introduce new drugs to the public like the unveiling of a masterpiece.

But in my case, it was the little white blob that led me to the doctor when I went through a serious depression. I went in to see him and said " I feel like a commercial...I am a snivelling white blob.." I could not have told him the name of the drug, because the blob was what I identified with .....funny :) So in that case, the commercial was educational to me.....even though I never took the Zoloft.

I am also the little white embarrassed blob with social anxiety (GRIN!) but was fully aware of that and did not need to know the blob to be one :)

Again, with the Strattera ad... I was already familiar with the drug because my son has taken it for some time now. But I did not know about adult ADD.
The ad with the woman worrying over the channels turning in her head? The symptoms they suggested sounded like the bi-polar I was beginning to believe I might had.
I couldn't get my butt to the doctor fast enough....so again, whatever the drug company's motive it proved to be educational to me in my case.

Did I say that right?

I do hope that the ad does not lead to misdiagnosis.


~gourmet~

I have to admit that my son used to love the little white blob.

Was it supposed to be a rock? or just a blob?
Beats me...