By Southington Chiropractor – Rob Shaw, DC
You rarely hear drug commercials on the radio. Television’s a different story. Seems like every other commercial on TV is for a magic pill to fix your stomach problems, sleep disturbances or allergy issues. And they all end with a fast talking guy with the low voice spurting off multitudes of side effects, while distracting visions of happy people running hand in hand in a field of daisies play over his monologue. You definitely can’t pull off that masquerade on radio. If you ever HEARD some of the side effects while listening to your car radio, you just might drive off the road!
The FDA has urged pharmaceutical companies to stop using distracting images and music in their TV drug ads following complaints that manufacturers deliberately used misleading techniques to downplay their products’ risks while emphasizing potential benefits. The FDA suggested they use highlights to emphasize documented side effects and slow the pace at which the risks were being read so viewers could better understand the drug’s potential dangers.
We have a better solution. When a drug commercial comes on TV just close your eyes and LISTEN… just like you would to a radio spot. The side effects will be more apparent (and disturbing) when you’re not distracted by the ‘pretty visuals.’ Big Pharma doesn’t want you to comprehend the multitude of risks associated with taking their drugs. But if you close your eyes and listen closely, you’ll learn just how ridiculous, dangerous and deadly their products can be. The lesson could save your life. Until next time…
