How is direct-to-consumer marketing affecting our healthcare system?

Pharmaceutical companies are known for their lack of ethics and questionable marketing. And yet, their marketing continues to influence the general public and practitioners. Some legal boundaries and required reporting have just recently been put into practice. However, the money-hungry pharmaceutical companies continue to put Americans at risk if it means their pay out will be greater. Now, of even more concern is the declining research of breakthrough drugs because of their lack of profitability. Also, the whole idea of their marketing scheme seems ridiculous. Pharmaceutical companies are promoting a drug before it is even developed in order to have the drug sell that much faster once it is (if ever) on the market. Does it not seem backwards? Maybe we should focus some more effort on perfecting drugs before they are released and knowing more about their therapeutic effect then on how quickly it can be sold…


Applbaum, K. (2009). Is marketing the enemy of pharmaceutical innovation?. The Hastings Center Report, 39(4), 13-17. Retrieved from MEDLINE database

Throughout my entire life my mother has struggled with manic depression and anxiety. I have witnessed her try drug after drug looking for an answer. About a year ago my mother's psychiatrist prescribed a new drug for her to try. Seroquel is an anti-psychotic drug used most often to treat schizophrenia. It has had good results in treating schizophrenia and also some successful trials in treating bipolar depression. However, my mom had an awful experience with this drug and felt no relief of her depression or anxiety. After researching this drug, I am coming to the conclusion that her experience was atypical. My mother experienced a severe drop in blood pressure, severe pain, and overall sick feeling when she took Seroquel. Therefore, she immediately discontinued taking the drug.  Nevertheless, my research did not reveal any other occurrences similar to what she experienced. Several studies on Seroquel reported minor or no side effects and effective treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar depression. My mother takes several over-the-counter and prescription drugs. As a result, it is possible her experience could have been due to an interaction with some other drug she was taking.



The following side effects are usually associated with Seroquel and should be reported to your physician if they are experienced severely or for an extended period of time:

• 
  
  
  drowsiness
• 
  
  
  dizziness
• 
  
  
  pain in the joints, back, neck, or ears
• 
  
  
  weakness
• 
  
  
  dry mouth
• 
  
  
  indigestion
• 
  
  
  constipation
• 
  
  
  gas
• 
  
  
  stomach pain or swelling
• 
  
  
  increased appetite
• 
  
  
  excessive weight gain
• 
  
  
  stuffy nose
• 
  
  
  headache
• 
  
  
  irritability
• 
  
  
  difficulty thinking or concentrating
• 
  
  
  difficulty speaking or using language
• 
  
  
  loss of coordination
• 
  
  
  unusual dreams
• 
  
  
  numbness, burning, or tingling in the arms or legs
• 
  
  
  missed menstrual periods
• 
  
  
  breast enlargement in males
• 
  
  
  discharge from the breasts
• 
  
  
  decreased sexual desire or ability
   Keating, G., & Robinson, D. (2007). Quetiapine: a review of its use in the treatment of bipolar depression. Drugs, 67(7), 1077-1095. Retrieved from MEDLINE database.