TV drug commercials are frightening

DEAR DR. GOTT: What is your opinion of TV commercials that spend more time on warnings and disclaimers of medications than on what the products will do? And the information is usually at such high speeds that it is hard to understand. For example, one current sleep-aid advertisement warns users of possible aggressive behavior, depression, agitation, allergies, dizziness, swelling of the tongue or throat that could result in death, memory loss and suicidal thoughts. Why would a physician prescribe such a product?

DEAR READER: You have tapped into one of my greatest pet peeves. I listen to TV commercials about drugs that are going to make EVERYTHING all better. There’s nothing that can’t be improved on [Read more...]