FDA to Big Pharma: Stop With the Confusing TV Ads

If you’ve caught even 10 minutes of the nightly news, you’ve seen them: TV drug ads showing happy people hiking, biking, making pottery or otherwise enjoying themselves, thanks to their prescription medications.

You may have also noticed that these folks are so happy with their brand-name meds that they now dress in the brand colors. (Ok. That’s an aside).

What we may miss in these ads, however, is any clear explanation of the medications’ risks and side effects.

 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued new guidelines, according to the AP, that are designed to ensure these ads don’t downplay risk information. The new rules cover both TV and radio and require drugmakers to use simple, consumer-friendly language and eliminate distracting video and audio effects. Special effects examples cited in the AP story included an ad for Nasonex featuring a buzzing bee voiced by Antonio Banderas, which one researcher found distracted viewers from listening to side-effect information.

Legislation pending in Congress would also require the FDA to more tightly police social media ads and the all-powerful social media influencers.

What do you think of Big Pharma’s ads? Use this link to share your opinions and stories with Voices for Affordable Health.