I hate commercials for medicine. The worst one is the the Cialis ad that warns you to see a doctor if you have a 4 hour erection or start to have vision problems. The idea that a medication could do that to someone disturbs me beyond all reason.

Ooh, I like the ads that show "death" among the side effects.

The worst was the diet drug (Meridia? can't remember) that affected your bowel movements, plus might cause "the inability to control them." Yay, fecal incontinence! I'd rather stay fat.

I don't know if it qualifies as "medicine" per se, but I love/hate/am disgusted by the Enzyte commercials. I haven't seen it in awhile, but my favorite is the one about "wood" and how there's different qualities and, ahem, hardnesses. The third grader that lives inside me finds that shit hilarious.

I am getting annoyed by the Lunesta commercials that repeat the phrase: "This night of sleep brought to you by Lunesta." Every time it comes on I find myself mocking it saying things like "This night of sleep is brought to you by who? Oh, that's right, Lunesta! Who else?"

I also think this is the commercial where one of the side effects they mention is that it will make you sleepy. And the drug is a sleep-aid. I want to know who sued to get that into the commercial.

I could have lived my whole life without seeing Digger, the toenail fungus. I'd rather look at Mr. Fang's scaly yellow toenails than even think about using whatever that stuff is.

Digger and The King need to go away and make little scarred-for-life commercial babies. And never show up on my television again.

There was an interesting piece on Today (today, today!) about concerns with erratic driving, etc. following use of Ambien. Here's an article for your edification:
Ambien Take The Wheel

I really hate the commercial with the big globs of mucus that walk and talk. I get that they're not supposed to be cute and cuddly but it's a bad thing when your spokesperson (spokesblob?) is so gross that it makes people turn the channel.

How bout the commercial for Detrol (bladder control) with the the oh-so happy ending where the woman decides to wear the piss-yellow dress? Good times!

Why are the lamest commercials the ones for nasal sprays? The Flonase film noir detective and the one for ... oh, I mercifully forget the brand ... that has the badly computer-animated bee with the death's-head underbite.

Tenderfoot, you're spot on with this. There used to be a nasal spray called Nasalcrom. And the oh-so-serious pitch man would say something like 'You've got all these problems xyz...you need Nasalcrom. THAT'S RIGHT. Nasalcrom!'

I would always think- that's the worst product name ever. You shouldn't sound so proud of yourself there, Mr. Pitchman. Not that Flonase is much better. No matter how stuffed up I am, I'm sure I don't need too much flow there.

I return...a changed bee.

All I keep thinking is get that giant moth out of my bed!

I hate the bladder control one with the "Gotta go! Gotta go! Gotta go right now!" jingle.

That one makes me have to go to the bathroom, VersesBatman. Is there medication for incontinence medicine commercial-onset incontinence?

I mostly hate medicine commercials, but find the 'side effects may include' disclaimers hysterically funny. Said side effects not only include death, as mentioned above, but also from time to time the exact opposite of the desired result.

On a related note, I believe that the people who make and distribute the diet pills advertised on tv should be arrested. If they're fake it's fraud and if they're real they shouldn't be sold to any idiot with a credit card.

One I find hysterical was for depression medicine. The disclaimer said it could cause erectal disfunction.

That's great. Give the patient more reason to be depressed.

Well, he could always take Cialas but then he might have to deal with a 4 hour erection or vision trouble. I'm sorry, but if a medication can give you an erection so powerful that it makes you go blind no one should be taking it.


That Ambien is powerful stuff. My mom once took one and fell asleep while using the computer. She slept with her face on the keyboard for about an hour before my dad found her like that. I like to tease her about it whenever I see one of those commercials.

This isn't exactly a medicine commercial, but I am powerfully bothered by the new ad promoting Ensure as a great supplement for healthy, active adults, which shows said healthy, active adults swigging Ensure as they go about their healthy activities.

I think my discomfort stems from the fact that Ensure was introduced, as I recall, as a supplement for seriously ill or infirm elderly patients who couldn't get solid food down. Then they started pushing it for picky-eater children (with the wretchedly aggravating "I don't like chicken" brat). Now it's for healthy people! It squicks me out.

I'm not sure this really fits in here, since it might be more of an informercial than a medicine commercial. But anyway, it was for something called "Rotrevore???" or a similar sounding word and went something like this:

"Rotrevore is the number one diet aid in the nation...blah blah blah, but it also makes you happier. Even if you don't lose weight, you'll still be feeling great! So call now, and get the stress-reducing, weight-reducing miracle drug now!"

I just stared at my TV thinking it was a joke. Apparently it's not, but WTF?

I don't mind most prescription commercials because I know how sue-happy the U.S. is, and by giving that lengthy list of side effects I'm sure they're trying to avert having their companies being put out of business by a large number of possible litigants. I'm even not bothered by the animations you guys are grossed out by; Digger the Dermatophite is but a cutesy representative of all-too realistic nail fungus (it's serious -- my mom lost a toenail to it), and the phlegm animation for Mucinex hasn't grossed me out since it cleared me up a year ago. But what really bothers me are all these products that pass themselves off as regular medications but are really "natural remedies", i.e. nothing but snake oil and a dream. But yet they try to pass themselves off as though they're worthy medicine. I mean, who knows if they've even tested out their remedies in a clinical laboratory? You know, with all the rigorous and stringent study that would be necessary in any regular pharmaceutical, even the OTC ones. I mean, I can see vitamins not being regulated, but something that's not just supposed to be a nutritional supplement should be viewed with scrutiny lest one be harmed by it (and even with vitamins people are told to beware of any off-market brands).

I'm sorry. That was an overlong explanation of something.

I hate how everytime I see a commercial for a prescription medicine for some condition I've never heard of, I immediately start to wonder whether I have that condition. Except ED, because, you know, being a girl and all. I am half-convinced I have Restless Leg Syndrome right now, because I am such a sucker.

I'm bugged by the ad for some sort of medicine that helps with the pain of genital herpes breakouts. What gets me the most is the list of side effects. IIRC, one of them has something to do with suffering from end-stage HIV or AIDS. While I can't remember exactly what the particular side effect was, I can't help but think if you are that far gone with HIV or AIDS, maybe genital herpes isn't your biggest concern.

I'm a little concerned about these viagra (and other ED medication) ads that warn me to seek medical attention attention for 4-hour erections. See, the thing is, that is, ummm, I have that sometimes. But I don't take medication. Am I running some sort of health risk here, or should I just shut up and enjoy it?

I think that may be a new ad for good old Relacore - I seem to recall reading in the old Commercials thread that it was going to be promoted as a feel-good supplement.

As for the lists of side effects, eh, if a prescription drug is going to cause me some anal leakage or possibly kill me, I would like to know that in advance of taking it.

The real question, IMO, is the ethical aspect of advertising prescription drugs in the first place - pushing consumers to demand drugs from doctors. But is it worse than private promotions directly to doctors - which (used to, at least) come complete with kickbacks for prescribing? I don't know.

ETA: Congratulations, Sandman87!

I can never not laugh at those.

What was the medication that caused a greasy anal discharge? That was such a scary thought. It was a medication, I think, but now I'm wondering if it wasn't one of those fat substitutes. Crap.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn’t there a commercial for asthma medicine where on of the side effects mentioned was a respiratory infection?

Probably true, but Valtrex and other herpes drugs are also used to treat shingles, which can be pretty severe in someone with a suppressed immune system. (I dunno if STD herpes is a problem, because all I know about that disease I learned from tv -- and as far as I can tell, it causes you to overparticipate in outdoor sports and whine about taking pills.)

My friend's doctor warned her to take it in bed, because some of his patients would take it before going to bed and end up falling asleep before they got there. I want me some of them pills.

The prescription drug commercials that bother me are the ones that don't even state what the drug is for; they just urge you to "ask your doctor if you need [them]." Because everyone needs more pills, right? I thought Levitra was an arthritis medicine for months, since a guy throwing a football doesn't have much to do with ED.

Speaking of ED, the Cialis commercials that bothered me most were the ones with the bathtubs. They showed a scene of an old couple in separate bathtubs, which were out on the porch overlooking their backyard. Who has one bathtub on the porch, let alone two? Why the porch? If the Cialis starts working, will one climb into the other's tub, or what?

Years ago, before Ensure was advertized to anyone and only used in nursing homes, a friend told me it was terribly popular with heroin addicts. I guess because they get so malnurished. I have no idea if it was ever true. But I think of it every time I see Ensure commercials to this day.

Of course he also told me heroin addicts really like orange juice when they need a fix, something about the sugar. I never knew where he got his info.

Those ads that say Ensure tastes great? They lie. It is horrid, foul stuff. I drank a few cans of it when my mouth was wired shut after jaw surgery and, trust me, it sucks.

I always have to laugh about the side effect stuff. I actually do have Restless Leg Syndrome, though I don't take Requip, and the side effects listed on the packaging include hallucinations (woo!), insomnia, and sleepiness. Go figure.

There's a reason why some drug ads list all the scary side effects, while others just give the drug's name and a statement, such as "Ask your healthcare provider about..."
The first type of ad is required to cover the "brief summary" - sort of the highlights of the product labeling. The second type of ad is known as a reminder ad- and it is specifically structured not to make any type of claims. The FDA has a division, known as DDMAC, which supervises drug advertising.
Here's the government's explanation: Our Government Explains It All For You
Check who's been busted for their advertising approach; see "Warning Letters" under "Enforcement Actions":DDMAC Action Letters

I can't watch those commercials for RLS medicince because they make my legs start twitching.


I've always wondered about that too. I didn't think that most men took ED medication just to then lay around in a tub.

I hate, hate, hate the Cialis commerical with the couple at the opera. As far as I can tell, the point is that their drug makes whoever takes it exceedingly rude and stupid, and somehow simultaneously makes everyone around them a pushover. Who seats people at an opera ten seconds before the end of the show?

I've yet to see a medicine commercial that was either amusing or memorable for positive reasons.

I too hate the Lamisil commercial showing the fungi lifting up the toenail to crawl in and turn the nail bed all yellow and cracked.

There's also a nasal spray one that bugs. This woman who ironically sounds like she has a cold, saying how getting the flu almost spoiled her wedding or some such crap. Then there's a shot of her giving the thumbs up while kissing her husband at the alter. She bugs.

Basically I hate all these freakin' talking head extra ultra close-up commercials. Excedrin girl also falls under this category.

One more gripe, the Wellbutrin commercial. I got it the first time, you like it because there's a low risk of sexual side effects. No need to repeat it.

I saw a similar commercial for an anti-anxiety medication (maybe Paxil?), where one of the side effects was nervousness. I had to laugh every time I saw it.

I think they're hedging their bets on some of these. A flu or asthma medication with a possible "respiratory infection" side effect? Or the migraine meds with the possible "headache" side effect. I've even noticed that phenegrin (anti-nausea med) has a "may cause nausea" warning. So how do you know the medicine works? If you stick the original symptom in with the side effects, that's cheating.

I can't stand the phlegmy family. Those commercials send me diving for the remote control.

The commercials that say, "Ask your doctor if ##@@## is right for you" bug me too. There's no way in the world I'm going to ask my doctor if it's right for me if I don't know what it does. I can see my doctor falling down laughing at me for asking about some medicine and if it's "Right for me" only to learn it's for Testicular cancer, or prostate health or something.

Oh, God, yes -- especially if they give no clue about what the drug does. I remember an early ad for Imitrex that showed a smiling nurse in a maternity ward playing with all the widdle babies. For the longest time I thought Imitrex was a fertility drug, which lead to a really weird moment when a friend of mine picked some up and I gave her a really weird look until she explained "no, these are for my migraines."

I don't remember that one, but I vaguely recall an ad for some flu medication where pneumonia was a possible side effect.

I think it was Meridian. The medicine for appetite supressant.

Olestra, the fat substitute found in WOW! chips (by Frito-Lay?), causes diarrhea and anal discharge too. My tum got upset when I had a couple by mistake, having been offered them (I knew better than to buy them).

The prescription drug commercials that bother me are the ones that don't even state what the drug is for; they just urge you to "ask your doctor if you need [them]." Because everyone needs more pills, right?

I hate those, too. I try like crazy to figure out what the medicine is for, and why Dorothy Hamill takes it before teaching cute rug rats how to skate [could be arthritis, could be asthma, could be RLS, for Pete's sake!]. But mostly they just seem to be playing coy.

My eyes always start to burn everytime I see the ad with Janine Turner in it. It's for people who don't have enough tears in their eyes.

Maybe someone can remind me because I can't remember what Viagra knock-off product it was for, but a commercial that always cracked me and my friends up was the one where couples are in various places and suddenly get looks on their faces like they are going to immediately have sex. It wouldn't be half as bad if the places they are at aren't in the middle of the woods next to a stream, on their front porch, or in a freaking bookstore. I think the commercial said something about finding "the moment" or something to that effect and so my friends and I would joke about finding "the moment" in the oddest places. Those types of commercials always either crack me up or gross me out.

Gotta be Cialis. They are always going on about how their pill is better because you can take one and then "utilize" it any time over the next 36 hours. (for that unexpected moment...in the bookstore. You two put your clothes back on!)

Is that the one where the couple is bathing in separate tubs, outdoors? What the hell kind of freak pill makes you want to do that?

Maybe I'm an asshole for asking, but WHY is this a problem, exactly? I mean, the commercial certainly doesn't explain it, and I really want to know.

You know that gritty feeling in your eyes if you've been straining them, the kind that makes you reach for the Visine? Imagine feeling that way all the time.

Here's why... Some people (like me) suffer from such severe dry eyes that blinking causes corneal scratches, that eventually scar. You can't see through scar tissue and the potential for blindness is increased. Options such as silicone plugs for the tear ducts don't work for long because your body adjusts to them and just produces *less* tears, making the problem worse. Restasis induces your body to produce the tears necessary to lubricate your eyeballs to prevent the scratches and scarring. [/end medical lecture]

I hate the "I have herpes!" commercials. Oversharing!


eta: cross posted

Ashforth, I share your discomfort regarding the Ensure commercials. I distinctly remember the cases of Ensure in the house for my grandmother, as she died of mouth cancer. She couldn't eat anything else. She drank Ensure. I am grateful that it was available to keep her from starving to death before the cancer killed her, and hope it tasted OK, but I have and will always associate it with my grandmother and her death - which happened almost twenty years ago.



If you've ever had wind-burned eyes, or just stayed up too long and had your eyes get uncomfortably dry and sticky, you'll understand. Although I have plenty of natural tears, so... maybe I'm wrong.

I'm also a bit fascinated by the ways in which drug companies decide to develop and market drugs generally. I know that commercials drive interest and need. I see plenty of medical records, and medical records serially over time, and physicians regularly prescribe the latest drug for whatever rather than perfectly adequate and useful non-patented, older medication. The drug companies sink crazy money into these ads, and get it all back in spades.

I miss the disembodied virtual animated round blob that was the spokesblob for one of the depression medications. (No, really!) I liked the animation: simple, and very emotionally effective, even though I disliked the message (pill makes everything sunshine and roses). Ironically, life can be harder for people suffering from mental illness right when they start to get better - and I dunno if the promise of sunshine and roses is the best promise to make. hmm. Maybe - I suppose they aren't going for people suffering from major illness, but for people who are functional but in a funk.

Ah. You learn something new every day. Maybe if the commercial had explained it to me, I wouldn't have had to ask around. Thanks.

But if they did that, you might get the impression that it was only for serious medical problems, and not just an expensive alternative to Visine, which is where they hope to make most of their money. <grrr>




Same here. My grandfather had suffered severe strokes and had a feeding tube in his stomach. They poured Ensure into the tube for him. I've never been able to see it as a "Slim Fast" alternative either.