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Sleep News Blog

Prescription Sleep Medicine

Avoid Watching Drug Companies Adverts

Posted by sleepyguy in Prescription Sleep Medicine on August 17th, 2011

Fewer new drugs are being discovered now than ever before. Pharmaceutical companies have shifted their focus from new drug development to reformulation so that more patent drugs can be introduced into the market. It seems like a good idea. But what are they really creating? New and better drugs? Or are they creating drugs that are different enough from the originals that they can make more money?

Most of the drugs that are used in the pharmaceutical market were discovered between 1935 and 1975. The core drugs have been reformulated into thousands of different combinations and strengths over and over again since then. When a drug patent expires and is available to become generic it is no longer a major money maker for the drug company. These companies seem to follow the modern tactic of reformulating that drug and issuing an additional patent to cover the new form. Drug representative then take the new formulation out to the medical community and offer incentives for the switch to the new formula. In this way, the drug companies make more money off the new higher price patented drug then they would if every took the same drug as before but paid the generic price.

Another troubling trend is mass market advertising of new drugs. Major pharmaceutical companies advertise their drugs in magazines, on the internet and even on TV. For example, a drug used for menopause symptoms is often advertised in women’s magazines with a market age of 35 to 65. The women reading those magazines are more than likely thinking about menopause and the advertiser’s bank on this and often include cards or discount forms for the reader to take to her doctor. Do you see a problem with this trend? Would you rather take medical suggestions from a magazine ad or from your physician? Which is the higher authority?

New drugs are supposed to be better, and have fewer side effects, but often they are not. Scientific evidence is often biased to show positive results for the pharmaceutical companies who are funding the research. Listen closely to the next advertisement you hear for the next great on the market, and pay attention toward the end when they are almost whispering and talking fast about all the possible side effects. Some of the side effects are worse than the disorder they are attempting to treat. Buyer beware!