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Annoyances Of Drug Advertising

Q. I find many prescription drug commercials to be totally inappropriate. My kids and I are watching TV when suddenly we see a commercial for Cialis for erectile dysfunction.

I am also fed up with all these intials! ED, RLS? Who on earth ever heard of restless leg syndrome? Are they for real? What’s next–AIW for age induced wrinkles?

A. People have been complaining about restless legs for decades, but “RLS” didn’t become a familiar abbreviation until a drug was developed to treat it. We agree with you that prescription drug commercials are annoying. Only one other industrialized nation (New Zealand) permits prescription drug advertising directly to consumers.

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About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
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