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Advertising prescription drugs to the general public is forbidden in the EU. Any over-the-counter mood-alternating substances, including sleeping pills must not

Advertising prescription drugs to the general public is forbidden in the EU. Any over-the-counter mood-alternating substances, including sleeping pills must not be advertised, too (speaking of Germany, not sure whether this applies everywhere). In TV ads you mostly see over-the-counter painkillers and meds against digestion problems like flatulences. I have never seen an ad for a clinic either. Similar rules exist worldwide: http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/87/8/09-040809/en/ http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/87/8/09-040809/en/ The US and New Zealand seem to be the only countries allowing this kind of marketing. I find medicine or health-related ads from the US utterly disturbing. While such laws existed nationally since the beginning of the 20th century, the newer EU laws here were made specifically to prevent a situation like in the US (i.e. thanks for providing the useful bad example, guys).

nicktelford 8y ago
Not sure if it's EU-wide, but it's certainly the case in the UK too. Here, we predominantly see adverts for: basic over-the-counter painkillers, cold/flu "remedies" (winter) and hayfever/allergy remedies (summer). It's really quite jarring visiting the US and watching TV there. Not only because of the seriousness of the drugs they advertise, but also the sheer volume of pharmaceutical ads. I swear it often felt like 50% of the ads were for prescription drugs. Really weird.
- isostatic 8y ago
  The U.S. spends 3 times as much per person on healthcare than the UK. Where do you think the money goes? Of course this gives "free" TV, that you pay for through more expensive medicine.
- lawn 8y ago
  Same in Sweden.
- Sharlin 8y ago
  As an aside, is the current prescription opioid epidemic in the US unique? I’ve certainly never heard of a nationwide drug problem stemming from legally prescribed drugs, as opposed to contraband ones. The closest thing I know is abuse of heroin replacement drugs, but the root cause in that is the heroin…
- elorant 8y ago
  Greece too. Everything prescription based is banned from advertising. Furthermore the whole market is regulated and even non-prescription drugs like vitamin supplements are exclusively sold through pharmacies.
jobigoud 8y ago
On the other hand their TV ads have good comedic value when they spend 3/4 of the ad listing side effects, including the condition the medicine is supposed to cure or death, in a voice over while stupidly happy people play with their dogs and kids. Ask your doctor about Humira.
- meigwilym 8y ago
  > their TV ads have good comedic value when they spend 3/4 of the ad listing side effects I had no idea about this, so I searched for the humira ad. You are absolutely right. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPw3IQ5MZtw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPw3IQ5MZtw
- AndrewOMartin 8y ago
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG1hdWb8yBM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG1hdWb8yBM When taking Ambien CR don't drive or operate machinery, sleepwalking and eating or driving while not fully awake, with memory loss for the event, as well as abnormal behaviours such as more outgoing or aggressive than normal, confusion, agitation and hallucinations may occur. Don't take it with alcohol as it may increase these behaviours, allergic reactions such as shortness of breath, swallowing of your tongue or throat may occur and in rare cases may be fatal. Side effects may include next day drowsiness, dizziness and headache. In patients with depression, worsening of depression including the risk of suicide may occur. If you experience any of these behaviours or reactions contact your doctor immediately. Wake up ready for your day. Ask your healthcare provider for two-layer AmbienCR. All put to visions of a woman sleeping peacefully, waking happily, and arriving to work in high spirits.
rasz 8y ago
>In TV ads you mostly see over-the-counter .. meds against digestion problems like flatulences. In Poland they started advertising those by boasting about "side effects" such as losing weight ....

nicktelford 8y ago

Not sure if it's EU-wide, but it's certainly the case in the UK too. Here, we predominantly see adverts for: basic over-the-counter painkillers, cold/flu "remedies" (winter) and hayfever/allergy remedies (summer). It's really quite jarring visiting the US and watching TV there. Not only because of the seriousness of the drugs they advertise, but also the sheer volume of pharmaceutical ads. I swear it often felt like 50% of the ads were for prescription drugs. Really weird.

isostatic 8y ago
The U.S. spends 3 times as much per person on healthcare than the UK. Where do you think the money goes? Of course this gives "free" TV, that you pay for through more expensive medicine.
lawn 8y ago
Same in Sweden.
Sharlin 8y ago
As an aside, is the current prescription opioid epidemic in the US unique? I’ve certainly never heard of a nationwide drug problem stemming from legally prescribed drugs, as opposed to contraband ones. The closest thing I know is abuse of heroin replacement drugs, but the root cause in that is the heroin…
elorant 8y ago
Greece too. Everything prescription based is banned from advertising. Furthermore the whole market is regulated and even non-prescription drugs like vitamin supplements are exclusively sold through pharmacies.

jobigoud 8y ago

On the other hand their TV ads have good comedic value when they spend 3/4 of the ad listing side effects, including the condition the medicine is supposed to cure or death, in a voice over while stupidly happy people play with their dogs and kids. Ask your doctor about Humira.

meigwilym 8y ago
> their TV ads have good comedic value when they spend 3/4 of the ad listing side effects I had no idea about this, so I searched for the humira ad. You are absolutely right. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPw3IQ5MZtw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPw3IQ5MZtw
AndrewOMartin 8y ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG1hdWb8yBM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG1hdWb8yBM When taking Ambien CR don't drive or operate machinery, sleepwalking and eating or driving while not fully awake, with memory loss for the event, as well as abnormal behaviours such as more outgoing or aggressive than normal, confusion, agitation and hallucinations may occur. Don't take it with alcohol as it may increase these behaviours, allergic reactions such as shortness of breath, swallowing of your tongue or throat may occur and in rare cases may be fatal. Side effects may include next day drowsiness, dizziness and headache. In patients with depression, worsening of depression including the risk of suicide may occur. If you experience any of these behaviours or reactions contact your doctor immediately. Wake up ready for your day. Ask your healthcare provider for two-layer AmbienCR. All put to visions of a woman sleeping peacefully, waking happily, and arriving to work in high spirits.

rasz 8y ago

>In TV ads you mostly see over-the-counter .. meds against digestion problems like flatulences. In Poland they started advertising those by boasting about "side effects" such as losing weight ....