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PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox
I admit this is quite similar to a story/rant i wrote five years ago February Nothing’s changed. If anything things have only gotten worse. So you may refer this as a sequel.
Genre: Anectdotal Rant
Word Count: 100
ONE PILL CAN KILL
Every day a new one appears. If you live in these Divided States, you know what I’m talking about. Prescription drug advertisements.
Who comes up with those colorful names? They’re insane, usually starting with the letters X and Z. They treat everything from obesity to bipolar disorder.
Ya gotta love ‘em—from bright and breezy to sensual and sleezy. They all make me queasy. While happy people prance across the screen celebrating life, the gentle voice over recites a list of possible side effects.
Wait! I got lost somewhere between anaphylaxis and cardiac arrest. What was this supposed to treat?
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Okay, this one starts with A. But it’s pretty much what I’m talking about.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Yes! So many of these drugs have so many side effects listed! In Ireland, we don’t have as much drug advertising on TV, I am glad that we don’t!
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Dear Carol Anne,
I’m jealous. Like I said, this is my second rant. Nothing’s changed. If anything there are more of those drug ads now than there were five years ago. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,’
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle, the worst side effect is addiction to pointless medication. Unfortunately, some doctors do prescribe to the industries demands and. not necessarily to the benefit of the patient. Buying serious medication online is a risk and in my view a serious problem.
I see you have dragged me into your rant!
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Dear James,
Welcome to my rant. The more the merrier. And now you can’t get away from these ads on streaming services unless you want to pay extra for no ads. Just remember not to take this drug if you’re allergic to it. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I loved the rant and the poetry of “from bright and breezy to sensual and sleezy. They all make me queasy.“
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Dear Neil,
Glad you enjoyed. It seems the ads are becoming more prevalent. Every day a new one crops up with another rididculous name. Not to mention another condition most of us have never heard of. Then we wonder why we pay so much for prescription drugs. We’re paying for the infernal ads. Grrrrrr Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I will never forget when in the late 90’s I really listened to one of these commercials for the first time. I could not stop laughing when it was over!
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Dear Violet,
My favorite line in most of them is “Do not take if you’re allergic to blah blah.” And you would know this how? Bring on the Charmin bears and the Fresh Pet commercials. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yeah, like I’m going to visit my doctor and ask him to please put me on a drug I saw advertised on TV or the internet.
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Of course, James. Doesn’t everybody? Sadly, there are people that do just that.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m so glad I live in the UK. They’re not allowed to advertise prescription only drugs here, though we do get a lot of rubbish about over-the-counter slimming drugs!!
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Dear Denarii,
I long for the day when these ads are banned like cigarette ads of the past. I’m not a big fan of advertisements but these prescription drug ads are the worst. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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There was a rumor that RFK is trying to stop Big Pharma from advertising on TV and online. I wish it were true. In my years as a therapist, I would often have to convince a client that I was not a medical doctor, and could not prescribe medication on demand. They’d come into my office literally demanding that I give them the latest advertised fix for everything. “I’m sorry. I’m not a psychiatrist. I cannot prescribe anything for you.”
“But I saw it on TV last night, and it sounds like EXACTLY what I need.”
“I’m sorry. Go see your medical doctor. In the meantime, let’s talk about what’s keeping you awake all night.”
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Rant away amiga. I am firmly against direct drug marketing to patients. I absolutely believe in informed consent but prescription drugs ads are not educational or informative. Rant over.
Aside from the message, I liked the writing.
Tracey
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Querida Tracey,
Your comment as a physician is validating. These drug ads are worse than cigarette ads ever were IMHO and I wasn’t sorry to see those go. I ranted five years ago and the ads have only gotten worse. They’re advertising drugs for diseases I never heard of except for, maybe on House or The Resident. Ugh. There I go again.
I’m glad you liked the writing, too. 😉 Gracias.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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de nada amiga
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I am NOT anonymous! I’m granonine!
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Dear Linda,
Thank you for identifying yourself. I kind of figured it was you.
I recently streamed The Resident. On one episode there was a man, convinced he had cancer and needed a drug that was advertised on TV. He broke into the hospital pharmacy to steal the drug because they doctors wouldn’t prescribe it. Insanity.
Recently another drug hit the ads. It’s an injection to neutralized food allergies. One of the main side effects listed is allergic reaction and anaphylaxis. What am I missing here?
OKay….my comment is possibly longer than my story. Again, thank you for reading, commending and identifying.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s a sore point for me, too, Rochelle. So many new meds coming out all the time, but it doesn’t seem as if much is cured, and the side effects are often quite dire. Nonsense!
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About ten years ago, I had a horrid reaction to one Prolia shot. I suppose I have the ad to thank for alerting me to the fact that severe jaw problems could occur. Nonetheless, it’s something my doctor could’ve told me and I still hate the ads.
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I hope the jaw problem was resolved?
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I never understood drug advertising having grown up in the UK where it doesn’t happen. The most confusing for me now are the secret ones. No explanation of what it’s intended the treat (which presumably allows them to avoid listing the side effects), just a bunch of those perky people you describe, followed by “Ask your doctor if [drug] is right for you”. I’m not going to randomly reel off drug names to my doctor in the hope that one of them might be relevant!!!
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Dear Jen,
Well said. I can’t even keep the names straight and help wondering who comes up with them. Ridiculous.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, the ads alone are enough to make you sick. I don’t have cable TV so avoid most of them, but when I occasionally watch HULU, they have zillions that are either selling “men’s products” or are gambling ads (another whole mess of bad side effects for those who get hooked.)
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Dear Lisa,
It’s getting to where, no matter what streaming service, you can’t get away from the insanity. It does indeed make me sick. Thank you for reading and commenting as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are very welcome. Not sure if you saw, but I will be on hiatus until the end of June, so you won’t be seeing me at FF for a few weeks. See you on the flip side.
Shalom,
Lisa
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I did catch your hiatis news. Enjoy and know that the absence of your presence will be felt.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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❤ ❤ ❤
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I had no idea such advertising existed! Im amazed it’s even allowed. Thank goodness we don’t have to put up with it on our side of the pond!
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Consider yourself lucky, Keith. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My non-US friends are convinced we are totally out of our minds with these drug ads. I concur.
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Na’ama Y’karah,
I’d say that there are those who are out of their minds and are intent on driving the rest of us there. (A short putt for many 😉 ) I’ll just carry around my happy face on a stick to hide my depression.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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big pharma is back as one of the biggest advertisers on tv. perhaps because the population’s getting older? as you know, advertisers go where the customers are… or where they will be. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
I’m so ready to be done with the ads. Thank you for your comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I hate commercials and these are the worst!
I read more and more these days.
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Dear Dawn,
You and me both, sister.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle, I am going to show my husband this because he actually reflects on social media with his frustration with drug ads and many times he will share clips – so I think he will LOVE what you did here.
I also liked it – and sadly, we are the divided states – and have been since the Civil War days and hopefully we can start to find more common ground – even if it is just with how dangerous these drugs ads are. My sister lives in Canada and drug ads are not allowed there. But we allow them here? Sigh – and so I appreciated your social advocating here.
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Dear Yvette,
I can’t say I’ve ever seen this country more divided. And social media doesn’t help matters, does it?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh such a tragic story about pills. But it is spot on about divided states.
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Dear Amanda,
The advertisements make me nuts. And I’ve never seen this country more divided. Thank you for your comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Prescription drugs are advertised on TV? That’s pretty strange, i mean is the patient supposed to coerce the doctor into prescribing a particular medicine rather than treat the disease?
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Dear Dahlia,
One would think that’s how it should work. Doctors should explain and prescribe. This wholesale marketing of prescription drugs should be illegal. It’s certainly a nuisance. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, my goodness, the list of side effects usually ends with “and can cause death.” I suppose the constant advertisements for drugs comes from a for-profit medical system. Money. Money. Money. A whole other problem. Thought-provoking piece, Rochelle.
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Dear Brenda,
I don’t know about thought, but it’s certainly provoking. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh my gosh… I’m glad we don’t get bombarded with those. We get a couple but not like that! Great descriptions that you’ve used here. Makes your rant memorable !
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Dear Laurie,
You are lucky. Just another thing that makes me want to pull up roots and move. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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