There’s
a lot of hype that surrounds the marketing of pharmaceuticals. According to a
report published in a London medical journal BMJ, the prescription drug
companies aren’t gearing their resources towards new product development, but
are only making small variations to the drugs present already on the market.
Steady profits are being generated from the sales of these drugs.
The
report goes on to say that 19 dollar is the outcome that’s used on marketing
and promotion of every 1 dollar that is spent on basic-level research.
Pharmaceuticals
have lately turned towards internet
marketing for increasing their sales and revenue as they find it
cost-effective compared to traditional marketing. They’re able to reach out to
the masses through social media and search engine marketing.
However,
there are many drugs, medications, supplements and prescriptions being sold
online that make claims that are unproven, and some of them may cause more harm
than good. They may mask symptoms of the underlying problem, making the patients
think they’ve found a cure and leading them to the same lifestyle which led
them to suffer the disease in the first place.
There
are medicines that claim to offer treatments ‘within a single day’, and
supplements that offer ‘weight loss in just 2 weeks without dieting or any
physical activity’. Even with all the hype, consumers still fall for them;
perhaps because of the marketing image they’re presented with that overtakes
their emotion, leading them to a purchase. With so many leading personalities involved
in marketing, these solutions are made to look more real and credible.
There
are many media articles floating in search engines that are written by
individuals with little or no knowledge on the topic they’re writing on. They
fail to describe the actual workings of the drug, all possible side effects of
its consumption, and whether it’s actually worth spending on or otherwise. Such
articles focus more on call-to-action with claims that are unproven or untrue,
without actually focusing on the details. They’re then pushed out to internet
users (which also include doctors who do online research) through social
media, content marketing and other means.
Scientists
have also come out to accuse pharmas of inventing and medicalizing diseases to
increase sales. Some medical conditions that people suffer are exaggerating and
shown as something more serious by the industry. For example, restless legs
syndrome and AHDH (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) have been termed
as new diseases, converting healthy females into patients.
On
the contrary, there are problems and mid-to-serious diseases that are real and
require multiple treatment plans which include a combination of medicines,
exercise and diet. Due all the hype that surrounds pharmaceuticals drugs and
solutions, there are some effective drugs that may be overlooked in the shadow
of ineffective, overhyped pharma drugs.
For
example, patients suffering from heartburn or acid reflux have the option to buy Nexium and
other effective drugs that are backed by pure research and can be easily
combined with diet and exercise.
It’s
very difficult for consumers to find out the difference between hype and
reality when purchasing drugs that claim to offer a miracle solution online.
However, it’s not an impossible feat. A bit of research and reading of analysis
from credible and reputable sources can result in a well-informed decision
that’s effective and doesn’t lead to regrets later on.