Prescription-drug television commercials are packed with warnings, presumably to ensure that consumers are aware of possible adverse effects and contraindications. However, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) isn't sure the right message is coming through.
The agency wonders whether drug advertising's seemingly endless litany of warnings leaves viewers so dazed that they don't remember the most important risks or tune out the information altogether. Would a shorter, prioritized message better educate consumers?
The FDA is asking healthcare professionals and the public at large to comment on a proposal that would pare down direct-to-consumer broadcast advertising so it cites only risks that are life-threatening, serious enough to land people in the hospital or disable them, or actionable — for example, a patient should stop using the product if he or she experiences an adverse event. In addition, ads would have to make a statement about other risks and direct viewers to information about them, as in "talk to your healthcare provider."
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Cite this: Do TV Drug Ads Say Too Much About Risks? - Medscape - Dec 06, 2017.
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