He'd Rather Watch Tobacco & Liquor Ads

Tom and I watched the news on MSNBC last night through to the 10 o'clock hour. Between 9pm and 10pm the advertising goes all crazy pharmaceutical. Like disgusting-warning pharmaceutical. It starts to make me itchy.

It made Tom say out loud "I'd rather watch tobacco and liquor ads, at least people were having fun." That's my man.

Jeff Flemings wrote an interesting post at the Digital Hive blog about copywriting in pharma ads. It's totally worth a read.

BoingBoing had a 2005 post that linked to a set of awesome vintage ads (which appear to be from medical trade mags.) I must say that as an agitated, beligerent senile, I may need some Thorazine.

Some sample warnings from the television are below - are your issues bad enough to deal with the potential side effects?

Don’t take Rozerem if you’re taking LUVOX® (fluvoxamine) or have severe liver problems. Avoid taking it with alcohol. Don’t drive or operate machinery until you know how you’ll react to Rozerem. Rozerem may affect certain hormones. Consult your doctor about how this may affect you, or if your insomnia doesn’t improve. Take Rozerem right before bed. Side effects may include drowsiness, fatigue, and dizziness.

CIALIS IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. Tell your doctor about your medical conditions and all medications, and ask if you're healthy enough for sexual activity. Don't take viagra cialis online pharmacy pharmacy if you take nitrates, often prescribed for chest pain, as this may cause a sudden, unsafe drop in blood pressure. Don't drink alcohol in excess (to a level of intoxication) with CIALIS, as this may increase your chances of getting dizzy or lowering your blood pressure. CIALIS does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

The most common side effects with CIALIS were headache and upset stomach. Backache and muscle ache were also reported, sometimes with delayed onset. Most men weren't bothered by the side effects enough to stop taking CIALIS. As with any ED tablet, in the rare event of priapism (an erection lasting more than four hours), seek immediate medical help to avoid long-term injury. In rare instances, men taking prescription ED tablets (including CIALIS) reported a sudden decrease or loss of vision. It's not possible to determine if these events are related directly to the ED tablets or to other factors. If you have a sudden decrease or loss of vision, stop taking any ED tablet and call your doctor right away.

Prescription Requip Tablets are not for everyone. Requip may cause you to fall asleep or feel very sleepy while doing normal activities such as driving; or to faint or feel dizzy, nauseated, or sweaty when you stand up. If you experience these problems, talk with your doctor. Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol or are taking othing medicines that make you drowsy. Side effects include nausea, drowsiness, vomiting, and dizziness. Most patients were not bothered enought to stop taking Requip.

AVODART is used to treat urinary symptoms of Enlarging Prostate. Only your doctor can tell if your symptoms are from an enlarged prostate and not a more serious condition, such as prostate cancer. See your doctor for regular exams. Women and children should not take AVODART. Women who are or could become pregnant should not handle AVODART due to the potential risk of a specific birth defect. Do not donate blood until at least 6 months after stopping AVODART. Tell your doctor if you have liver disease. AVODART may not be right for you. Possible side effects, including sexual side effects and swelling or tenderness of the breast, occur infrequently