What Doesn't Kill You Makes You . . . Wish You Didn't Do It.

FDA regulations on prescription drug advertising requires that the potential risks from taking the drug be presented in balance with the potential benefits. An informed consumer can then make a rational decision whether or not to risk those "oily fecal discharges" as a tradeoff to curing some other malady.  See this related post.

Below are two ads for anti-depressants that have got to give one pause.

Do I Really Need That Prescription Drug?

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations require that if prescription drug manufacturers make representations in advertisements about what their products can cure, then they must also make disclosure about the potential side effects of the drug.  This is one way that the regualtory system works to protect the consumer.  Commercials, such as the examples below, make a viewer understandably cautious about their prescription drug intake.





The Celebrex commercial below is an example of the other kind of ad - one that makes no positive claims  and therefore need not disclose potential side effects.



Unfortunately, I was not able to find a video of the more recent Celebrex ads to exhibit the category of "language butcherng ads." The new ads warn that "patients taking aspirin and the elderly are at increased risk of stomach bleeding and ulcers." Where are those patients taking the elderly?