Prescription Drug Advertising To Consumers

Our experts speak out on prescription drug advertising and its effects on patients, doctors' practices and drug prices. Drugs for arthritis, cholesterol, mental health, allergies and heartburn are among the most heavily advertised and our experts in those areas tell us whether the ads help or hurt.

The Original Survey and Stories on Drug Ads

Main Story in USA Today
Prescription drug advertising may raise drug prices and may cause doctors to write more prescriptions for advertised drugs. Read the story here.

Our Doctors' Voices

Doctors Do What Their Patients Ask
Depression expert Dr. Chris Ballas: I'm against drug ads.
Are consumers better off?
Rheumatoid Arthritis expert Dr. Mark Borigini: Advertising should not result in pressure to prescribe.
Do Drug Ads Do Any Good?
Heart Disease expert Dr. William Davis: Advertising should never serve as the basis for taking a drug.
Yay or Nay on Drug Ads?
Acid Reflux expert Dr. Todd Eisner: Marketing to patients probably does more good than bad.
Drug ads influence drug prescription rate
Cholesterol expert Dr. Steven Kang: Informed patients have better relationships with their doctors.
Patient Requests for Asthma and Allergy Medicine
Asthma expert Dr.Fred Little: Think critically about prescription drug advertising.
Advertising Allergy Drugs to Consumers
Allergy expert Dr. James Thompson: Many people simply wanted my opinion about the drug.

Our Patient Community

Prescription Drug Ads Educate
Acid Reflux expert Tracy Davenport: Losing TV drug ads would hurt those with no Internet access.
Are the Ads Influential?
Acid Reflux expert Jan Gambino: I do worry about the cost of the marketing.
Which Drug Is Which? Who Decides?
Allergy and Asthma expert Kathleen MacNaughton: I want the information without inflated drug prices.
Ads May Spark Discussion
Rheumatoid Arthritis patient Christine Miller: People want information and will talk to their doctors.
Ads for Prescriptions
Arthritis patient Pattye Snyder: I trust my doctors implicitly.
Drug Ads: For better or worse?
Heart Disease patient Deanne Stein: I don't believe people should pop a pill for every little problem.